Page 123 of Darling Wildfire
“Stop—let him go!” Nyx had to be restrained. “Fuck you!”
They finally pulled Atlas’ head up, allowing him to grab a stuttering breath before pushing him back down. I tried to get to my feet but Vetticus turned towards me and whipped his gun across my face, sending me back to my knees.
“Stop,” I demanded.
Vetticus nodded to the guards holding Atlas but it wasn’t for them to stop. They let him come up for a breath and as he coughed and gulped in air, they shoved him back down. He started struggling almost immediately. I was grinding my teeth to dust at this point. Nyx was being restrained while Preacher, Kane and Vance looked on helplessly.
“Who do you belong to?” Vetticus asked, sauntering in front of me.
I didn’t answer right away and he smirked wickedly. “I won’t let him up until you say it.”
I looked over at Atlas.
“You,” I snapped.
Vetticus held up his hand to his ear.
“North!” Nyx shouted frantically.
“I belong to you,” I growled.
Vetticus motioned and the men released Atlas. He yanked his head up and gasped in air as he fell to his knees, He coughed up water and leaned against the barrel as he fought to catch his breath.
“Phantom,” Vetticus said. “Who do you belong to?”
Atlas glared up at him, his chest rising and falling rapidly as his hair hung in dripping strands on his cheeks.
“You,” he panted hoarsely.
“Good boy,” Vetticus grinned.
He pointed to me. “Take him back upstairs, I’m not done with him yet.”
Vetticus followed after us and turned at the door. “Beat them all then take them back. But keep in mind we have a game in a few weeks.”
The following few weeks leading up to the next game were dark and miserable.
It became routine for Vetticus to bring me in to spend time with him every few days.
Nyx, Atlas and Preacher were pulled in occasionally to ensure I complied. Vetticus would force them to watch some of it—a reminder of his control. Sometimes it was Kane and Vance but he knew who I was more closely possessive of and used it whenever he felt I needed an extra reminder of who I belonged to.
A few weeks into it, Nyx pulled me aside, a worried look in his eyes along with a little guilt.
“North, don’t worry about us,” he insisted. “We can take some of this from you—”
“Fuck off, Nyx,” I growled. “I said I’d handle it.”
“I know but this—this is…” He couldn’t finish the thought, just looked at me as though he was worried. They all did. I’d catch Atlas looking at me when he thought I wasn’t paying attention and even Preacher approached me.
“Hey boss, fight back,” he said.
I continued beating the shit out of the bag I was punching, caring little for the throbbing in my hand that still hadn’t healed all the way from when Vetticus impaled me on the table.
“Fight back,” he pressed. “Please.”
The plea caught me off guard and I stopped and looked at him.
“Not going to happen, Preach,” I said firmly. “Besides, it wouldn’t matter in the end. He has…feelings for me.” I ground out the last part and went back to taking my aggression out on the bag. “You’re just collateral damage at this point. There’s no point in you guys getting hurt too when he’s just going to turn around and still do what he wants to me. Fighting back doesn’t help, it only makes things worse for everyone.”
