Page 16 of Cut Her Strings (Fractured Puppets #1)

Chapter 15

A Gentle Man

I was startled from my rest by the sound of the TV coming to life. I shot up, letting the blanket fall from my naked body. I had just a moment to note all the bruising Levi left on my body before the Host began again. It was incredibly satisfying to know each bruise was a choice that I made, that every step of the way, I knew Levi would stop, but he trusted me to know my own limits. Unlike Jayce, who always treated me as something easily broken, Levi made me feel powerful.

“Well done to the contestants of your game. You have satisfied our Sponsors and will be given a reward in the future,” the Host sang the words in his typical fashion. The Host was hard for me to get a read on. He seemed like he was radiating fury even through the screen, but I couldn’t understand why. Perhaps he had wanted Levi and me to fight?

“This is my advice to you, my lovelies: make sure you are well rested. These next few days are going to be your last of this reprieve. Have a serendipitous evening.” He saluted the camera, and the TV went dark once more.

I didn’t hear any fighting in our space, so I allowed myself a few moments to collect my thoughts and feelings. I didn’t know Levi very well, but he used me deliciously, and he dominated my body in a way no one had before. The thought of him filling me sent a shiver down my spine. Why couldn’t I enjoy myself while in this fucked up game? I hadn’t been able to enjoy sex in a very long time, and the last time a man had made me come was Jayce.

Jayce. Fuck. I needed to get that sorted. I got up slowly from the bed, letting the blanket fall to the floor, and felt the delicious soreness that Levi had caused, not only between my legs but throughout my body where he had gripped and bit me. I stepped towards the dresser, and liquid slipped down my thigh.

Decision made, I turned to the bathroom to take a quick shower.

After a few minutes, I exited and toweled dry, wiping the bathroom mirror and looking at my reflection.

It was odd seeing my true face. I was accustomed to altering my appearance, but here, I was stripped of the cosmetics and prosthetics I used on my face, hair, and body. My eyes contained more life in them than I had seen in years, and I was almost glowing.

The irony of thriving in this murder show caused an uninhibited laugh to leave me. It continued until I was breathless. The laughter turned to sobs, and I let the towel fall as I put my hands on my knees and my head between them, grounding myself. I would not break. I could do this. Jayce and I would make it out of this, and I would use him to escape this fucked country. Then, we could go our separate ways and start over. I let the thought stabilize me.

I hurriedly cleaned my face and dressed. Leaving no indication of my breakdown, I left my bedroom. As soon as I exited, all eyes turned to me.

“Come join us, darlin’,” Levi drawled, back to his easy-going self. He patted a spot on his leg, causing Jayce to let out a frustrated growl.

I decided on the safest bet and moved across the room, wedging between the brothers. Maverick gave no indication that the choice affected him, and Enzo simply raised his eyebrows.

“Let’s chat,” I said with false bravado.

“Did he hurt you?” Jayce asked furiously.

“Nothing I couldn’t handle and trust me, this was the best outcome of the game,” I replied, then proceeded to explain what had been asked of us.

“Are you kidding me?” Jayce seethed. “These pieces of shit Sponsors are playing with us. That’s all they fucking have ever done. First, in the facility we grew up in and now in these games. All I wanted was for you to be safe. Protected. And now this?”

“I appreciate your protection growing up, and I know it could have been much worse, but I am not that same girl you needed to keep safe. I grew up, and I hardened.” I stared blatantly at the cameras that were always watching us. “Since we are all going to be working together. I think we should all get to know each other more. Our strengths and weaknesses.”

Maverick stiffened next to me.

“I understand you don’t trust me yet. But there are five winners, and there are five of us. We can all make it through this, but we need more knowledge.” I leaned into Maverick and whispered into his ear. “Bathroom?”

He nodded and got up, indicating for us to follow, and we did. His room was identical to mine, except everything was pristine. His bed was immaculately made, not a wrinkle in sight. There wasn’t a mess on the floor or nightstand. It even appeared he rearranged the furniture a bit, meticulously placing every item. It didn’t surprise me.

When we were all in his bathroom with the door shut, he indicated for me to continue. I knew it was most likely suspicious we were all in here, but what choice did we have?

“Trust is earned, so let me start by giving you more information about me that you could use to hurt me. Levi, you remember the question they asked 189?”

“Yes, ma’am, I do,” he stated, narrowing his eyes.

“Well, you know I was in the Retrieval Faction.”

Levi nodded his head laggardly, “I heard you say.”

I gestured to myself, “Hello, gents, I would like to formally introduce you to the Shadow,” I gave a bow and lifted an imaginary top hat.

I watched as the color drained entirely from Jayce’s face.

“How?” Jayce asked.

I stepped back from the men who were towering over me and walked to the sink counter, hopping up and making myself comfortable. “After I woke up from my coma, I didn’t have much of an option. I needed to pay back my debt to Doctor Geoff for keeping me alive. After about a year, I trained my body to be in the shape it needed to be and taught myself how to survive.”

“Who saved you? Was it the doctor?” Jayce walked closer to me. Since I was sitting on the counter, I didn’t have to look up as I usually did to see the emotions going through his eyes.

“No, he just kept me alive. I don’t know who it was. The doctor said the man who’d saved me disappeared months prior.” I raised an inquisitive brow.

I could tell Jayce wanted to say something further, but he refrained .

I let it go, and the other men approached; they had remained silent throughout the interaction thus far.

“I used what you and Anadil ingrained into me from a child. You could never find me when we played hide-and-seek. No one could.” I smiled at the memory, even though it wasn’t the fun game I thought it to be. It wasn’t actually them that I was truly hiding from when we played.

“So, you have known each other since you were children?” Enzo finally broke his silence, looking between us.

“Yes,” I replied. “Friends, and then we were together up until I died ,” I stated sardonically.

“That tracks,” Enzo replied with a lazy smile. “Go on, Miss Shadow.”

“There’s not much more to say. My main strength is that due to my size, I will be overlooked, but even more so, I will be best for any games that require stealth.” I shrugged. "Weaknesses? I imagine I wouldn’t do well in a brawl with someone much larger than myself, but I could manage.”

“No wonder no one knows you’re alive; your Faction is notorious for their masks,” Enzo whistled low.

“Brutality Faction,” Jayce bit out. “I am a fighter, I may not be the best strategist, but I will bring brute force.” He paused. “For what it’s worth, I left Nightingale’s fold before she destroyed everything we had been working for. The goal was to hurt the members of the facility who were personally guilty and show the injustices to the world. Not to kill innocents. But I should have known. I was her confidante, and the promise of a future where we weren’t in that hell made the wool take home over my eyes.” Jayce stepped between my legs and placed his forehead on mine. “I hope you know how sorry I am for everything. I will spend the rest of our lives making it up to you.” His hands moved to my hips.

Behind him, someone cleared their throat. “Brutality for myself as well,” Levi stated, and past Jayce’s shoulder, I could see his frown firmly in place. “Physical combat, marksman, and mixed martial arts are my strengths. Unfortunately, my size makes me a target.”

With surprisingly minimal hesitation, Maverick went next, “Stealth Faction. Puzzles, strategy, and statistics are where I excel.” That made sense, he seemed to be continuously gathering information and storing it for future use. He and I had that in common.

“Brutality,” Enzo declared, which I had not expected. Like all of them, he was large, but while Levi’s bulk was unmistakable, Enzo and Maverick were lean with hardened, sinewy muscles. “I specialized in Sambo and poisons.”

That was even more of a shock; Sambo was a practice I was very familiar with.

I pushed away from Jayce and hopped off the counter. Before I could land, Levi had me in his arms. “Not so fast. You and me? We need to talk. I wasn’t joking with you darlin’.”

Jayce went to intervene, but I raised my hand in protest. “We do need to talk.”

Maverick grumbled something about not messing up his bathroom and left. Enzo followed shortly, and after another moment’s hesitation, Jayce did as well, shutting the door behind him.

Levi let me go languidly, my body sliding along his, until my feet hit the ground. An unexpected moan left my lips as everywhere we touched left a path of heat. His eyes hooded, and he once more became a man possessed.

“You’re my good girl, aren’t you?” His hand came up and he grabbed my face, thumb moving to cover my mouth.

My lips parted as he stroked them, and he forced the digit inside. I sucked it in greedily, heat furling deep in my belly.

I had gotten a taste of what Levi had to offer and found myself craving him .

Levi growled, pulling his thumb from my mouth and fervently crashing his lips to mine. This time, I did not relinquish control, and our mouths battled as they fought. Our tongues tangled, and our teeth clicked, until finally he took the reins, and I whimpered into him. Desire coursed through me, allowing him control, and feeling safe in doing so was an intoxicating feeling.

“I was going to be a gentleman, but you make me a weak man, my good little Raven.”