Page 27 of Fervent

I wanted to kill him for touching her.

Leaning closer, he sniffed her skin and scowled. “Which one of you idiots touched what’s mine?”

I clenched my teeth, taking serious issue with that statement.

“We didn’t touch her,” Cleft said, exchanging a worried glance with Brock.

“Someone’s cum is all over her. Who ejaculated on my property?”

“Um…we filmed her sucking off Mason.”

Perrone whirled, his expression thunderous and pummeling Cleft from across the room. “Did I give you permission to use her like that? I thought I made myself clear. She belongs tome. I gave you explicit freedom to break her through corporal punishment. Mostly to goad him,” he said, pointing at me. “Nothingmore. Did you not understand those very simple instructions?”

“No, we just thought—”

“I don’t care what you thought. I’ve heard enough.” He turned back to Alex and unbuckled the strap keeping the gag between her lips. The rubber ball dropped to the floor. “Were you fucked?”

She hardened her jaw and turned her head, but he trapped her chin between his fingers. “I asked you a question.”

“N-no.”

“Did anyone in this room touch you, sexually, aside from the blowjob?”

She blinked, her gaze straying to me, and Perrone tightened his grip. “Eyes on me. Don’t make me repeat myself.”

“No.”

“Good.” He let go of her face and glared at Cleft. “Go get my son, and have Mick and Zander fetch the blonde.”

“Which blonde?”

“The only fucking blonde in this place right now worth mentioning. Tell them tobring her to me.”

“Yes, sir,” Cleft said, scurrying to the door.

“You two,” Perrone barked at Brock and Vinnie after the door slammed shut. “Why is Mason fucking standing around? We have restraints in this room for a reason.”

Vinnie swallowed hard, and he and Brock stalked toward me. My attention shifted between Alex, Perrone, the goons, and the door. I stumbled back, but my fucking head swam. The damn door seemed miles away, and Alex even further.

Vinnie raised the gun. “Boss? He’s not wanting to cooperate.”

“For fuck’s sake. I’ve hired idiots! Shoot him if he gives you any trouble.”

I raised my arms and allowed them to shove me toward the chains before stringing me up again. Perrone cast an appreciative glance at Alex, his tongue darting out to wet his lips.

“So you’re the guy in charge,” I said, trying to draw his attention away from her. “Obviously, I did something to piss you off, so why don’t you have your assholes take her back to the room, and the two of us can have it out?”

I wasn’t stupid enough to think he’d let Alex go, but maybe I could talk him into shutting her away in that shithole, where at least she’d be safe for a while, tucked out of reach from this room. Whatever was about to go down, I didn’t want her around for it.

Perrone arched a brow at me. “You’ve done far more than merely piss me off. And she’s not going anywhere. She needs to see this as well.” He rounded, his expression pinched with rage as he took in his two remaining men. “You all need a fucking lesson in respect! This is my place.I’mthe boss. Nothing happens from here on out without my knowing about it.”

He circled Alex, his lips curving upon seeing the damage to her ass. “Honey,” he said, smacking her sore bottom. “Give me what I want, and I can make all of this go away.”

“I’d rather have Brock whip me again.”

The way she stood up to him made me proud, but at the same time, I wanted to slap my hand over her mouth. Because he was fucking stalking her, just waiting for her to step wrong.

He stalled in front of her and bent down, bringing his face close to hers. “From what I can tell, they went easy on you. Do you know what real pain feels like?”

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