Page 60 of Wilt

“I had a list, but now that I’ve had her, now that she begs for me, calls herself mine, I’m really thinking of keeping her. She’s a sweet little piece of ass. I’m assuming she takes after Steph?”

“Fuck—”

“Back in the day, Steph used to give me these looks, and I could have had her.” She didn’t. “Bet she was good in the sack, like your daughter. I gotta say, it’s a sweet, tight little cunt she has.”

Finnegan is practically wheezing at this point. “I’m going to—”

“Tell you what, while I like the theatrics of the burner, I’m tossing it. I have your number. Since you’re being so nice and accommodating, I just might give her back to you.”

I can tell I’ve peaked Finnegan’s interest, his hope. “I want her outside, now.”

Laughter erupts from me. “You have no idea how this works, do you? You don’t get her for free. Still, I’m willing to work in with you, Derek. When I get every single thing I decide I want from you, and I mean every fucking thing, Imightgive her back. You know, once I’ve gotten my fill. Talk soon.” I pull the phone apart, tossing the pieces to Rush.

He’s staring at me like he doesn’t know who I am.

“Fuck, Rush,” I say. “You have to play the game if you want to win. If you believe me, so does he.”

“So, you’re not giving her to him, or doing all that—”

I give him an exasperated look, like I can’t believe he doesn’t know me better by now. “I’m not that sick. I’m not keeping her, but no one’s raping her, running a train, or gangbanging her, okay? Not unless she asks for it, really nicely.”

Rush half laughs and finishes his second drink. “I fucking hate him. I still say we just finish him now and let the girl go.” He pauses, then adds a little uncertainly, “I think she’s been punished enough.”

“Know what I think? Rose loves it.” She might hate me, but she loves what I do to her.

“Or you’re deluded.”

I shrug. “That, too.”

He shakes his head, takes me in. “Niko, I’m worried.”

“Don’t call me Niko.”

“C’mon.” His mind is ticking. It’s so loud, it takes up space. “Man, he was beyond pissed, and yeah, I’m worried he won’t wait. I’m worried that he’s going to retaliate big.”

I smile slow. “I’m counting on it.”

Chapter21

Rosalind

My door’s unlocked again.

The entire mansion is silent, and a restlessness moves through me. It’s a remnant of one of my nightmares, something I don’t want to think about. There are days, weeks even, where I don’t have them, but they always find their way back to me.

Like tonight.

I hate them, hate how they appeared without warning, chasing sleep away. If I was anyone else, I’d put it down to me freaking out about being here, but I know it’s the opposite. Yeah, I guess I’m a weirdo.

The first few days, I was just so exhausted from fear and worry, I passed out. Now? I’m back to the insomnia that’s always haunted me, making sleep an elusive memory. I don’t stay awake all night, but it takes forever to sleep. The more used to a place I am, the worse it is, like there’s a part of me waiting for something to find me.

The big bad.

Except the big bad kidnapped me, keeps me naked, taunts me, gets me so turned on I don’t know what to do.

I thought maybe he was what kept sleep at bay a little the last few nights. The need he sets off in me is all consuming. A need I can’t fix without him.

I open the door because sleep is now gone and will be for hours. What Ishoulddo is try to run since everyone’s sleeping, or, at least, I think everyone’s sleeping. Nikolai’s door is mostly shut, and there aren’t any lights on or sounds I can make out.

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