Page 80 of Dollhouse

She’s too pretty to die, and as much as I want to see her bleed, I don’t want that to be the end before we even had a chance to begin.

* * *

The next day,I avoid Tate like the plague. Eli gave her the cell phone back during breakfast then excused himself to do some work in his office. Rowen is off in the gym working out his frustrations, and I’m in our workshop making sure everything is clean for whatever poor bastard I get to chain up here tonight.

I have fond memories of Tate’s bloody body hanging from the chains while I fucked her into countless orgasms.

She looked so beautiful impaled on my cock and bleeding from the butterfly I carved into her skin.

My cock twitches at the memory.

The workshop had already been cleaned, and the body was removed by our clean-up crew, but I always like to arrange my tools in the certain ways that I like them and ensure the room is spotless.

Eli and Rowen always laugh at me for being such a clean freak about it because it’s going to get dirty again anyways. But I like it spotless so I can make it dirty.

I like to paint the white walls with fresh blood.

At this point, I’m immune to the constant smell of disinfectant.

I’m ready for whatever will happen tonight.

Something is wrong, but I don’t know what.

All day the guys have been avoiding me. I’ve pushed for them to have a conversation or any type of interaction with me, and they’ve rejected me every chance they could. Their excuses are frivolous, and I know there’s something they’re not telling me.

They were up late last night talking. I wasn’t eavesdropping, well, actually, I was trying to, but I couldn’t hear anything from where I was on the stairs and then eventually, they went into Eli’s office and stayed there for who knows how long.

I ended up going back to my room and waiting up for as long as I could, hoping one of them would end up in my bed, but that didn’t happen. I fell asleep and woke up to a cold empty bed.

This morning at breakfast, Eli gave me my cell phone. I wasn’t sure why, and when I asked, he said it was for emergencies.

I’d placed the phone on my nightstand, and that’s where it’s been all day long.

I should call Cassie and let her know I’m okay. I’m sure she’s worried that I haven’t been home in a couple of weeks.

I’m sitting up on my bed reaching for my phone when the door opens and in walks Rowen carrying a black dress bag and a shoe box.

Setting my phone back down, I stand and cross my arms over my chest, raising my eyebrow at him in suspicion.

“What’s this?” I ask.

He sets the items on the bed and gives me a smile that doesn’t reach his eyes. “Get dressed. We’re going out tonight.”

“Out? Where? Is it safe?” I reach for the bag, pulling open the zipper to reveal a white dress that’s absolutely stunning.

“We wouldn’t take you anywhere that wasn’t safe. I think we could all use a night out. Be downstairs in an hour.” He turns and walks toward the door.

“Wait!” I hurry across the room toward him. “What’s going on, Rowen? You guys have been acting weird all day.”

He takes my face in his hands, holding me as gently as you would a fragile porcelain doll that would break if he were too rough. His eyebrows pull together in a deep frown that matches his lips. “Nothing, everything is fine.”

“Say that again, but make it convincing this time.”

He sighs, his forehead resting against mine and his arms wrapping around my waist. “There was an attack at one of our businesses yesterday, and some people that we know were killed.” My heart drops down into my stomach.

“Oh, Rowen, I’m so sorry.” I put enough space between us that I could look up at him. “Is this because of me?” He doesn’t respond with words, instead, he places a chaste kiss to my lips that I know answers my question. Once again, this is my fault.

“Get dressed.” Without another word he exits my room, leaving me standing there with a knot in my stomach at the havoc I’ve caused. He was shot because of me, and now his associates are dead because of me.

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