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Gagging, tears prickle at the corners of her eyes. Pain is good. She can’t get too comfortable around me. Even when I use my dick as a pacifier. A tool to calm her down after what I just put her through.

“Shh. That’s it. Good girl. Relax for me.” Releasing her hair, I stroke the soft strands. “I—Fuck.” I grit my teeth, digging my heels into the mattress so I don’t fuck her face. “Everything will fall into place. Only if you do as I say. Stay in bed tomorrow morning until I tell you it’s safe. When Topher is gone. I’ll chain you before I’m off to work?—”

Her gasp has my cock twitching. My chest heaves.

I’m dying over here, pretending we’re sitting at the dinner table instead of having her lips wrapped around my cock.

“Yes, you’ll be chained. It gets me through the day. Gets me off to know you’re here. That you’re mine. And you’ll give it to me.”

She grazes her teeth over my length. I yank on her hair for a second, then shove her face lower the next.

“I’m doing this for you. Don’t fucking bite.” Showing her how serious I am, I dip my chin. “You’ll sleep better this way. Relax. Breathe. Take it.”

She hums for me.

“That’s my girl. Such a good fucking girl. Tomorrow, we’ll start our lessons. Go over past cases. You’ll be at the top of your class. You’re the smartest, most infuriating creature. Mine. Mine. Mine.”

I say those words to her. Whisper them. Mouth them.

She falls asleep with my assurances. With my dick in her mouth.

So do I.

30

JAMES

“Dad! Dad!” I hear Topher’s wailings echoing through the underground floor. “Motherfucker.” A whisper, then, “Dad! I can hear you down here. What the hell. What the fuck. Get me the fuck out of here.”

His angry cries only serve to increase my disdain. I take my time walking over to the cell. On my way there, I tune out his miserable screams with memories of Ophelia from this morning. When I helped her off my dick.

When I placed her head on the pillow, then waited for her eyes to flutter open so I could remind her to stay there.

“Dad!” His scream is vulgar, and his fingers are curled on the bars. Knuckles white. Red-rimmed eyes staring at me. “Took you long enough.”

“Step back.”

He obeys, and I slip the key into the lock, leaving it there for a moment.

Topher’s suit is wrinkled. His hair is a mess. He has a swelling, blue bruise on his jaw.

At least he had the sense to wash his face.

I, on the other hand, am ready for the day. My gray suit is pressed, hiding my newly bandaged arm. My jaw is shaved. Hair styled neatly.

“Well?” He raises an eyebrow. “You’re here, so it’s obviously time. Let me go.”

It isn’t fucking time.

I have to know if he remembers the loudthunkfrom last night. If he suspects I have someone here. “Why did I throw you in here?”

Topher is in such a volatile state.

The violent side of him rises to the surface, and pissed-off people don’t make for good liars.

I should know. I’m one of the best human lie detectors out there.

Witness after witness thought they could omit facts or trick me while they took the stand. I saw through each and every one of them.