Page 30 of Vengeance of Childhood Proportions

I cocked my head at him. “Here’s my offer. Tell me to block those holes, let Andy’s cell fill up completely with beer and watch him drown.” Andy switched to the wall that separated him and Wyatt, beer splashing as it neared his knees. He pounded on the wall, shouting at his once-friend and teammate. I continued, speaking over him. “If you do, I’ll remove all the bananas from your cell. You’ll never have to eat another banana again.”

Wyatt’s wide, desperate eyes flew to Andy. “And if I don’t?”

I shrugged. “Then you don’t. Maybe he lives, maybe he dies. Either way, you’ll be eating a banana tomorrow.”

Wyatt’s chin quivered as he lowered his face into his hands.

“No! Wyatt! No, don’t do it! Please! Don’t! No! Wyatt!”

Wyatt turned his face away from both me and Andy. “Do it,” he said, his voice cracking. “Block the holes.”

I smiled widely. “Excellent.”

A moment later, mechanical metal sheets came up from the concrete floor. They covered the holes on the connecting walls between John’s, Andy’s, and Wyatt’s cells. It wasn’t enough to block what was happening inside Andy’s cell from their view. The air holes were about thigh-high on a grown man. It did muffle Andy’s screams though.

I moved back to the wall in front of Andy’s cell and literally pulled up a chair to watch the show.

Chapter Eighteen

Holly

I didn’t knowwhat to expect when I got to the club that night. I was dressed in a similar corset to the one I was wearing the night I’d met Master Mal. I had on a black-lace thong with a garter belt, stockings, and suspenders under a pair of jeans. My wig tonight was shoulder length and black; it was pretty stiff, so I didn’t worry about it falling into my eyes. I was wearing the same blue contacts as the night before.

The note had said to meet him at nine, but it was nine-thirty and I had yet to see him. I’d passed up my opportunity to dance on the pole and another sub was doing a show for her Mistress. So here I was at the bar, just tapping Master Mal’s business card against the wood counter in front of me while sipping a water and waiting.

Just…waiting.

Had I gotten the time wrong? The date? I stupidly turned the card over to re-read his message to me one more time, as if it would suddenly have different words on it that would explain why I was being stood up.

Someone came to sit by me. Excited, I turned, only to feel my shoulders droop in disappointment when I saw it was Valentino.

“Sweetling, what is it?”

I knew I should get up and kneel, to ask his permission to remain seated at the bar with him, but I honestly didn’t have the mindset. Rejection was tainting my mood.

“It’s nothing, Sir. I just thought I was going to meet Master Mal here tonight.”

Valentino’s eyebrows drew down. “He told you he would meet you and he’s not here?”

I nodded. Feeling self-conscious, I showed Valentino the card Jason had given me, like I was in high school and needed proof that a boy liked me.

Valentino pulled out a phone from his pocket. He scrolled through it a moment before selecting an option and putting his phone to his ear. “Mal,” he snapped. I stiffened at the harshness in his usually so-polite tone. “Where the fuck are you and why is Dani sitting at my bar looking like she’s about to cry because you’re not here?”

My cheeks heated as my eyes widened, but I did not dare say anything. This was not Valentino right now, butMasterValentino—and he was pissed. The fact that it was on my behalf was the only reason I was not currently kneeling at his feet, begging forgiveness.

Valentino listened to whatever Mal said on the other line before his eyes narrowed. “Did she now?” I stiffened, thinking the ‘she’ was in reference to me, but then tracked Valentino’s eyes towards the front of the club. The only ‘she’ I could think of in that specific direction was Dominique. “Don’t you worry. She will be severely punished for this.” After another pause, “Oh, I’m aware that was likely her intent. But trust me, she will not likethispunishment.” Softer, Valentino turned towards me. He handed me his phone. “Here, sweetling. Talk to Master Mal. I’ll be back in five minutes, I promise.” I took the phone as Valentino snapped his fingers, getting Joey’s attention frombehind the bar. “Watch her,” he demanded, pointing at me before storming off.

Oh, fuck. I would not want to be Dominique right now.

Slowly, I put the phone to my ear. “Hello?”

“Little Owl.” A shiver ran down my spine at his deep baritone. “Fuck, sweetheart, I am so sorry. I called around eight to tell Dominique that I was running late. I asked her to tell you when you came in. Something came up at work and it was unavoidable.”

“It’s okay,” I assured him.

“It’s not,” he growled. The low rumble made my nipples pucker in my corset. Geez, I wanted to hear that growl again, but this time with his scruff leaving burn marks on my neck as he did it. “I gave Dominique an order, and she blatantly disobeyed it. Master Valentino has assured me she will be punished.”

Not wanting him to think Valentino wasn’t going to follow through on that promise, I said, “He left to go get her.”

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