Page 4 of Bitter Queen (Advantage Play 4)

“Shh,” he whispers, squeezing me a little harder in his embrace. “You made him hurt. And now, Ace will get her turn. Then King.”

“But why don’t I feel better?” I choke out.

“Because his pain didn’t lessen yours. And it never will.”

The truth is gut-wrenching, and I collapse into Diece’s arms before begging him to take me away. I just…I can’t stand the scent of Burlone’s blood any longer.

Who have I become?

2

Q

Diece carries me to a sleek, black car before slipping me into the passenger seat. When I don’t move a muscle, my new prison guard carefully buckles the seatbelt over my lap as if I’m a toddler. Then he gets behind the wheel and backs out of the driveway.

My breathing is shallow as I chew on my thumbnail and stare out the side window. The trees blur together before they’re replaced with graffitied buildings, then transform into rolling pastures speckled with livestock.

Where are you taking me?

The question rests on the tip of my tongue, but I don’t bother to voice it aloud. It wouldn’t do me any good, anyway.

I don’t know how much time passes before Diece finally breaks the silence. “Where are you from?”

I stay silent.

“Have you ever been to the country before?”

My eyes glaze as I continue to stare out the window.

“Do you like animals?” he tries again. “Matteo has a stable at his estate. He used to have horses and shit, but I’m not sure if he still does.”

Blinking back tears, I dig my teeth into the pad of my thumb until I’m positive the skin will break.

With a sigh, he turns down a long, winding road off the highway. The nearest town is at least thirty minutes away. If he wants to kill me, or rape me, or hurt me, this is the opportunity for it.

“We’re here,” he mutters when the car rounds the corner.

My heart drops to my stomach as my new prison comes into view. The place is huge, with a gray stone exterior and lush green vines weaving up the sides. A set of steps leads to a heavy oak door that looks like it could’ve belonged to a castle from the fifteenth century.

Hell, it could’ve belonged to the beast himself in Beauty and the Beast.

But this isn’t a fairy-tale. It’s a nightmare.

And no matter how hard I’ve tried, I can’t wake up.

With a twist of the key, Diece turns the car off. Then we sit in silence. Again. I can feel his stare, but I don’t bother to look at him as he waits a few seconds before announcing, “Let’s get settled, shall we?”

I don’t move.

“Come on, Q. I’ll show you inside.”

Unfolding himself from inside the tiny car, he closes the door then waits for me to follow him. When I don’t, his jaw tightens.

“You promised me, Q,” he calls before turning around and holding my stare through the windshield. “You promised you’d do whatever I asked if I let you hurt Burlone. I kept my end of the deal. Now, I need you to keep yours. Will you please get out of the car and come inside?”

Please.

It’s funny. That word never worked for me when I was begging Sei to stop. When I was pleading for him not to hurt me. Not to use me. Not to make me do all the despicable things he made me do.