Page 9 of Betrayal (Corrupt Empire 1)

She shifted, giving me access to her ankle. I knelt down and unlocked it. The manacle dropped. I grabbed her arm and pulled her to her feet.

“Let go of me.”

I ignored her. She could get pissy with me all she wanted. The moment I gave her an inch, she’d bolt. I dragged her out of the room and down the hall. She struggled to keep up with me.

“Slow down, I’ve got short legs compared to you.”

It made me smile, but she couldn’t see my face thankfully. I opened the door to the bathroom and shoved her inside. Standing in the doorway, I watched her teeter on her tiptoes for a moment.

“Get on with it.”

“How can I go when you’re watching me?”

“I’m not watching you. I don’t trust you not to do something stupid. So go.”

She walked towards the loo, looking at me from over her shoulder. I knew it made her uncomfortable, but until she’d learnt her place, this would be her reality.

“Can’t you at least avert your eyes?” she asked.

“Avery, stop making this harder on yourself.”

I hadn’t meant to use her name again, but her expression made me feel weird. I didn’t want to watch her pee any more than she wanted me there.

She unbuttoned her jeans and shoved them down just as I turned my head away from her. I couldn’t look. Seeing any part of her would fuck with my head. She’d already started fucking with it the moment our eyes met.

When she was done, she washed her hands and walked over to me.

“We can go back now.”

I took her arm and this time she didn’t object. I didn’t have to drag her. She followed along and walked back into the concrete room. She sat down and put her leg out for me. I replaced the manacle, chaining her to the wall again.

“Was that so hard?” I asked.

“No. Can I have some water now, please?”

“Wait here.”

I’d give her more than just water. She needed to eat. I’d interrupted her dinner with her parents. Who knew how long it had been since she’d had her last meal?

Stalking back down the hall, I went into my kitchen. Unsure of what she might eat, I played it safe and made pancakes. Who didn’t like them? I poured her a glass of water before snagging the plate and a fork. She’d have to make do. A knife could be used as a weapon. I didn’t want her getting any ideas.

When I returned, she was still sitting where I left her. I squatted down in front of her. She looked at the plate in my hand.

“Is that for me?”

“Who else would it be for?”

I handed it to her and placed the glass of water by her feet. The first thing she did was grab the glass and drain half of it.

“Why are you feeding me?” she asked when she placed it down and looked at the plate.

“I need you compliant, not starving.”

I rocked back on my feet, watching her cut the pancakes with the fork. She ate slowly, taking her time over each mouthful. Did she think I wouldn’t feed her again? Fuck. I needed her to obey me, not be scared I wouldn’t look after her. I wasn’t an animal.

She handed me the plate when she was done. When she’d drained the glass, I took that too. Standing, I eyed her for a moment.

“Since you’ve decided to be good, light on or off?” I asked.

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