Page 155 of Triple Pucked
My eyes gleam.
I’m finally in the same room as the Number One Most Wanted on my Burn List. And she’s the one who brought me straight to herself.
Blythe cocks her head. “Don’t you believe me? Christ, how rude. Look what I have achieved with that bitch who is cowering under the table. D’Angelo thought that he could blacklist me, embarrassing me by spreading rumors amongst my social circles. Well, I’ll show him the consequences.”
“Jude doesn’t care about Charles,” I say, bluntly. I avoid looking at Heine. I’m not killing him and that’s the most mercy he deserves. “Your revenge is bullshit.”
I expect her to strike me.
Instead, Blythe’s smile is icy. “I just wanted to show that I could destroy someone who loved him. Then I will destroy someone whoheloves.”
I bare my teeth, struggling to my feet.
My legs feel like jelly. I have to rest my back against the wall.
Blythe watches me struggle. “Calm down. You wouldn’t want me to have to punish you already, would you?”
I shrug.
“Of course, pain won’t work with you,” she says, casually. “Your brother was different. Hmm, I wonder how much pain he is in knowing that I have you? My revenge doesn’t seem like bullshit now, huh? Still, you should try and get some sleep. Busy day getting to know each other properly tomorrow. The first day of training is always intense. Just ask Charlie here. The poor dear was not prepared. Although, he’s another one for whom pain isn’t the most effective discipline. To truly break him, do you know what I did?”
“Mistress, please.” Heine rocks on the bed, hiding his face on his knees.
“Dear God, one more word, and I’ll lock you in the closet again.” Blythe wanders to the table, flicking through the newspapers. “To finally break him, I ignored him like he was a ghost for an entire week. No matter how much he begged or what he did, I acted like he was invisible. He fucking shattered.”
My stomach lurches.
I’ve been that shadow for most of my life but I still always had my twin who saw me.
I would have broken too.
“Oh,” Blythe clutches her chest in mock concern, “my word, have I scared you? Sweetie, you have no idea how much you’re being held back by that selfish bastard D’Angelo and your brother, do you? There is a wide world out there. You could see it with Charlie and me. Be a good boy, and you’ll experience and see things that you can’t even imagine.”
How does this work on other people? I would rather cut off my own balls.
I shake my head.
Blythe’s expression hardens. She taps one of the newspapers on the table.
“You like reading, don’t you?” She says, coaxingly. “My family’s newspaper and media company has been around since the seventeenth century. I could take you to any library in the world. I could give you a job in my company. It would be much better than your current simple PA role. You would meet the most amazing literary people. Just think how you could help your parents.”
“Don’t talk about them.” I lean over the table, as if I’m looking at the newspaper, when in fact I’m assessing the best weapons in the kitchen. “And I’m not a simple PA. I’m PA to Jude fucking D’Angelo. The best PA.”
“Sweet.” The insincerity drips from the word. “But I’m not talking about a job, rather a career with a hefty six figure salary attached. Christ, don’t you have any ambition outside of being your brother’s shadow? Don’t tell me that you’re still his parasite.”
I take a quick step backward, paling.
Is that how people see me?
Blythe looks pleased with herself. “Think about it. Now, I need my beauty sleep. Training starts tomorrow. Then we’ll be catching a private jet.”
My heart speeds up. “Where are we going?”
“A secret location, sweetie. Let’s just say that it’s an island owned by a dear friend where difficult pets can be broken. Why are you looking so frightened? Don’t worry, you won’t be alone for long. As soon as you’re trained, I’ll allow you back to meet up with your brother in Pittsburgh. I am certain that D’Angelo and his two pets will be extremelyaccommodatingof my demands, once I have you broken and loyal to me.”
She’s dead.
Not soon.
