Page 77 of Seducer

“You should never have been born. You’re a monstrosity, a danger to society. I don’t know why the fuck we allowed you into this house. Tell me you know you’re a disgusting piece of shit. Tell me.”

“I’m a disgusting piece of shit,” I repeated dutifully. I knew better than to fight the man or talk back. The beatings only got worse. Once, I’d dare raise my hand to the man only to have him break two fingers.

And he’d been laughing.

He paced the floor, swinging the bat back and forth. “I’ve tried and tried with you. I’ve given you a roof over your head, food in your stomach, and sent you to school. And you defy me. Constantly. I don’t know what I’m going to do.”

I took a deep breath, eyeing the bat. He’d taken to using something other than his belt. A metal bar. A piece of firewood.Whatever he could get his hands on. Then he’d brought a bat home. When he swung it again, I noticed the dark stain. Blood.

My blood.

I cringed in the shadows, hoping he’d just leave. I just wanted to read. I wouldn’t make a sound. Maybe if I swore it to him, he’d forgive me for whatever sins I’d committed. “I’m sorry.”

“Sorry?” He laughed as he turned in my direction. “You are fucking pathetic. I can’t have a worthless piece of scum living in my house. Stand up, boy. Stand up and take it like a man.”

My legs were shaking, but I did as I was told, rising to a standing position. I was almost taller than him now.

He eyed me warily and laughed for a second time. “Scum.”

Something inside me snapped the moment he swung the bat. I couldn’t take it any longer. A full year of abuse. A full year of torment. Of being called hateful names. Being forced to eat scraps. No one cared. Not my teachers. Not the principal. No one.

I lunged forward, feeling free for the first time in my life. When I grabbed the bat from his hand, he was shocked, stumbling backward.

“You give me that bat. Right now. Do you hear me?”

I took a deep breath, slowly lowering my head so I could stare at the stain. Then I decided to give it to him.

As I brought it down, I heard a loud crack. So I did it again.

And again.

And again.

I fisted my hand, taking several deep breaths. The images and memories were coming too fast and far too often. After a few deep breaths, the man’s face and the stench of blood faded. I was in my office. I wasn’t caged in a basement. I was alive.

I was thriving.

Get your shit together.

As the cobwebs lifted, I slammed my fist on the desk. I refused to be controlled by horrible dreams. That wasn’t allowed.

The warehouse club.

Brant’s club.

The name was Dark Delights. The tagline for his marketing?

Where sin and shame collide.

Catchy, if not trendy as fuck.

Since I wasn’t a man who believed in coincidences, the fact the lovely Sara had a flyer on her desk raised my hackles.

Whether my wild kitty had discovered the club herself or had plans of attending with a friend, my instincts told me she had plans on visiting the warehouse in the next few days. I would certainly want to be there when she did.

Brant owed me one. I’d make certain if her name appeared on the guest list I would be told immediately. It would be the perfect time to add additional elements to the training regimen I had in mind.

A quick knock on my office door was followed with an intrusion.

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