Page 84 of Cruel Master
Should I mention it to her now? I glance at the spot I know her burns are underneath her skirt. She already suffered because of one asshole. I don’t need to scare her with how close she might have come to it happening again. Not yet, anyway. It wouldn’t do any good, and she’s happier and more alive than I’ve seen her. I don’t want to ruin it.
I have to speak to Kendrick and Jacob. The conversation isn’t going to be pretty, but the longer I hold off, the more danger we could be in. Only they will have access to the recording of the phone call. And only Kendrick can authorize me to turn Candice back on.
I need to know what is left of her. The thought makes my stomach clench.
I glance at the clock, then back at Juliet. I don’t want to leave this cozy bubble we’ve created, but I have to. There’s too muchat stake to let it wait any longer. I get to my feet. “I need to get that recording. I’ll take you back to your cell.”
Her face drops, and it’s a stone in my guts. “My cell? But…”
“I can’t bring you with me, and it’s too soon for you to be alone.”
“What about Eve? I could—”
“Doll.” I force a snap into my words, and she jumps. “This isn’t a debate.”
Juliet clenches her fist but gets to her feet and mutters, “Yes, Master.”
Even now, the words give me a little thrill. I have a sudden thought, and it’s almost enough to wipe away my fears. This is what life could be like. There will be moments where we’re Hadrian and Juliet again, but we’ll never be just that. She’ll always know I’m in control. Always understand that I own her.
It’s what she needs, and the longer we’re together outside of the cell, the more it’s starting to feel natural.
I take her hand and lead her out of the lab. The lights turn off behind us, plunging it into darkness.
I’m preoccupied throughout the walk back, wondering just how the hell I’m going to tell two stern, military-style men that my gym bag moved, and the lights flickered again. This time, they’ll really think I’ve cracked.
Juliet is quiet, too. I can’t blame her; she’s got a lot to process. As we reach the airlock corridor back into her cell, she pauses and turns to me. Her voice is serious as she asks, “Is it true? All of it. The Brotherhood…”
She watches my face closely, eyes narrowed, as I answer. “Yes. All of it. I promise.”
After a long silence, she gives a tiny nod. Does she really believe it? I know how crazy it must seem to her. It took monthsfor me to accept it all myself. I want to stay and talk more, but each second that passes is drilling into me.
NOT ME. BAD MAN
Surely even Kendrick will see the danger? He’ll have to. But will it be enough to convince him Candice might not be to blame?
The silence starts to feel awkward as I lead Juliet back into her cell. Just a few hours outside, and already, this feels strange. Over the top. Unhinged. Maybe Kendrick was right. Juliet heads straight for Charlie’s tank and checks on her, then begins the process of feeding her. Mealworms. Almost as unpleasant as spiders, but I’ve gotten used to them, too.
I should probably make her remove the dress, but I’m itching to get moving and she’s in the middle of feeding Charlie. As Saldar, I wouldn’t have given any of this a second thought, but now, leaving without a goodbye feels kind of rude.
I need to be careful. I can’t let things slip too much.
I settle for, “I’ll be back later, doll.”
She looks up at me, face unreadable. “Yes. Master.” A long pause, and then, “Good luck.”
“Thanks.”
I exit the room before I can say anything stupid.
The door clicks behind me, and I hurry down the corridor and out into the office. The first thing that strikes me is the light. Instead of the bright fluorescents, the room is dim, bathed in eerie blood red. I freeze, take in the dead lights, then focus on the bank of monitors.
The screens, which are supposed to show Juliet’s prison, are all lurid red, each showing a timer. Two hours, and as I watch, it starts to count down. A single monitor changes, showing Juliet still engaged with Charlie, staring into the tank.
The monitor next to Juliet goes black. Words scroll, and my throat constricts.
THIS IS HOW LONG SHE HAS LEFT TO LIVE UNLESS YOU DO EXACTLY AS I SAY.
Chapter Thirty-Four
