Total pages in book: 138
Estimated words: 133034 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 665(@200wpm)___ 532(@250wpm)___ 443(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 133034 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 665(@200wpm)___ 532(@250wpm)___ 443(@300wpm)
“Yeah, it was. Very challenging. But it’s ok. I’m ok.”
“And how do you feel about Connor? Do you still have any feelings for him?”
The question takes me aback. I jolt in my seat, because I’d rather chew my own arm off than be anywhere near the sonofabitch.
“No. None at all. I can’t stand him.”
“That’s your honest answer? Please tell us the truth, Holly. Things are entirely confidential in this room.”
I wish they could see my jaw drop.
“I swear on my life that I have no feelings for Connor whatsoever. I wasted so many years of my life on him, just for him to ditch me like I meant nothing, and then tried to crawl back like a sad puppy! I would never, ever, ever want to be associated with him again. He’d have trashed my life without giving a damn about any of it, and he tried. My relationship with my parents, my relationship with my career, my relationship with Josh.” I’m rambling and I know it. “No. I don’t have any feelings for Connor. None at all.”
“And you’re certain that won’t change, regardless of his circumstances? Regardless of what happens to him?”
I get another zip up my spine at the question.
Regardless of his circumstances…
They sure know more than I do. Just the thought of how much brings me out in shivers.
“I’m certain that won’t change,” I tell them. “Not ever.”
The silence is heavy now. Really heavy.
The thought of Connor being anywhere near me makes me sick to the stomach, but as I sit there, shackled in front of strangers, I get another round of shivers. Because these people, whoever they are, with all their connections, could do whatever the fuck they wanted to…
And what if they wanted to… what if they plan to…
“Connor is going to be alright, isn’t he?” I ask, leaning forward. “I mean, you aren’t going to, um…”
“Um what, exactly?”
My cheeks are burning up under the fabric. The air feels stifled.
“You aren’t going to, um… kill him, are you?”
It’s a massive relief when the group sitting opposite me start to chuckle.
“No, Holly. We aren’t going to be having Connor Preston assassinated. We have resources at our fingertips for a huge amount of services, but we certainly don’t employ hitmen.”
Oh my God, the burn of my cheeks. I feel like a total fucking idiot.
“Sorry. That was dumbass.”
“No need to apologise.”
The other guys are still chuckling.
“It’s this place,” I say, laughing along. “It just gives the vibe of…”
“Mafia controlling assassins?”
“Yeah. Something like that.”
“That’s understandable. Powerful, yes. Ruthless, yes, at times. Violent assassins, definitely not.”
“That’s good to know,” I laugh.
The laughter opposite stops dead when someone leans forward and grabs hold of the chain between my cuffs. Oh, how it snaps me back to my current situation. I’m naked, being questioned by anonymous, powerful men who I’ll never see. Who want to use me. Hurt me.
“We may not endorse assassination, Holly, but please don’t forget that we are very controlling,” the voice says. “And we are extreme sadists. Which leads us on to the final question. Please consider your reply very carefully before you answer. The outcome will be severe.”
My palms feel sweaty. The atmosphere tensing up in the room.
“What is it?” I ask. “What is the final question?”
“Would you like to complete your proposal?”
I don’t need to consider my answer. It’s already right on my tongue.
I want a different type of tears rolling down my cheeks before the night is up. I want to surrender. To lose control. To free my soul in the most delirious of ways. Such a relief after so much tension, trying to keep my head together as the world spun off its axis around me.
“Yes,” I say, “It would be an absolute honour.”
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
“Prepare yourself, Holly,” the man says. “Soon you will meet your master.”
I give a nod in my hood, my shackled hands clasped on my lap as I hear the men stand up and leave the room.
I feel so alone in the armchair once the silence reigns. My mind begins to dance, and I breathe deeply, embracing the stillness as my bare skin sparks with ideas of what’s to come.
Canes… crops… clamps…
Nettles?
Whatever it is, I know it’s going to be so very painful. But the beauty of submission is worth far more than my flesh will have to pay for it. I’ll pay gladly.
I will serve my master with every piece of my soul.
I may think I’m deep into the realms of serenity when I hear the door open again, but that quickly proves itself to be bullshit. My chains rattle as I push myself back in the chair, and I let out a whimper as a firm hand lands on my shoulder.
“It’s time, Holly. Get to your feet.”
The voice belongs to the man who stripped me when I got here.
The chains are heavy as he helps me up. They jangle loudly as he leads me along, blinded by my hood. The warmth of carpet under my feet soon turns to the cold hardness of tiles as he leads me into another room, and I get goosebumps at the memory of being here before.