Page 21

DAISY

I know the answer!

I sit straight up, my mind working quickly.

I glance at the time. Four in the afternoon.

The pills I vaguely remember Blake giving me have worked.

The migraine is gone, and somewhere in the deep, fitful sleep and the twisted dreams, my brain finally supplied the piece that’s been missing. I knew it would eventually, but it’s been taking its sweet time.

I jump out of bed excitedly and grab my papers from the back of the drawer in my desk, bringing them back to bed with me. I begin running numbers and draw out the formula as it appeared to me in my head, belatedly noticing a food bag that’s been left beside my bed. It’s still a bit warm and I find I’m painfully hungry after going over twenty-four hours without being able to eat.

I take a big bite of the burger and stuff my face full of chips… fries , thinking how when I first got back in September, eating in bed would have been difficult. I’d have been compelled to sit at my desk with my back straight with a knife and fork in my hands. To eat a burger.

So many of The Heath’s rules made no sense. Now that I’ve been out here for over two months, it’s like the blinders that were over my eyes are lifting. They were meant to be teaching me to fit in, but I’m beginning to see that what they taught me wasn’t for me at all. It was for everyone around me. They taught me to keep my emotions inside, to bury them deep. They taught me to sit up straight, to not question. My stomach twists. They taught me not to believe myself, my feelings, my mind.

I close my eyes. I thought The Heath had helped me, had been helping me for a decade, because that’s what they told me they were doing. But now I’m wondering how much of what they made me learn through punishment and correction would simply have come to me as I got older and had more experiences?

I suppose it’s impossible to know, and, I rationalize, they had to send me away after what I did to Mike Larson. If they hadn’t, I would have been arrested and then I would have been locked up somewhere worse for the rest of my life.

The Heath, though not a perfect solution, was better than that, and I can deal with the aftermath so long as I never have to go back.

However, yesterday was yet another reminder that my life isn’t my own. Not yet. I didn’t realize that John could even stop me from getting medical attention if he chooses. How can he have that kind of power over me?

I care about Blake, Mav, and Shade, but my goal has to stay the same. I need to be able to disappear at a moment’s notice. I need money to do that and that’s why I need Envy.

There’s a knock at my door and I scramble to hide the papers quickly, my heart thudding hard. I’m so close, but I need to run the lab simulations before I tell them what I’ve been up to.

Blake peers around the door. ‘How are you feeling, sweetheart?’

‘Better,’ I nod. ‘Thank you for the pills you gave me. They really helped.’

‘No problem, beautiful.’

He walks toward the bed, and I try not to outwardly panic.

‘Where did you get them?’ I blurt, rising and moving toward the desk.

The last thing I need is him sitting on the papers I’ve hidden under the covers and finding the formula I only just cracked.

‘My dad,’ he says. ‘He had migraines for a while last year. I cleared out his house a few months ago when he went to jail, so I had his old meds from his cabinet. They were in date, don’t worry.’

Blake’s dad is in jail?

‘Oh,’ I murmur. ‘Well, thanks.’

He moves toward my bed again and, to my horror, sits down. My eyes flick to where the papers are. He’s not too close. He won’t notice as long as he doesn’t move.

‘We need to talk, Daisy,’ he says.

‘W-what about?’ I stammer, forcing my emotions down.

He pulls something out of his pocket and hands it to me.

‘It was left on the doorstep sometime today. One of the guys found it. I’ve checked the surveillance already. A guy came out of the woods. His face never turned toward the cameras.’

I unfold it and swallow hard.

‘He watches me,’ I whisper, the color draining from my face when I see the postscript. ‘More now.’

Blake nods. ‘This is getting worse, sweetheart. Whoever this is, you’ve become their focus.’

He nods up toward the corner of the room and I see a small piece of silver on the wall.

‘I thought he was locked out of the system, but he was still somehow able to access your camera. I’m running more diagnostics now. But I’m sorry. It’s my fault. I told you he couldn’t see you anymore. I was wrong.’

‘It’s not your fault,’ I say quietly. ‘It’s his. Did you find out anything from the data you were sifting through?’

‘So far, only that he’s accessing from somewhere local. He’s in Richmond.’

I snort. ‘Doesn’t really narrow it down, does it?’

‘I know there’s more to be found, need more time.’ He shakes his head. ‘I’m sorry, Daisy, but we can’t keep this from the others any longer. It’s not me, Shade, or Mav. You know that, right?’

I stare at him for a moment. Do I know that? They keep secrets.

But then, so do I.

‘All three of you were gone,’ I say. ‘All night. You left me alone.’

With a madman watching my every move.

I don’t say the rest aloud, but I’m gifted with a wince as he pulls out his phone and taps the screen.

I hear the doors opening in the hallway almost immediately and I let out a huff as both Shade and Mav come in.

I give Blake a narrow-eyed look that he ignores. He’s clearly trying to force my hand.

Mav approaches me almost cautiously. ‘Are you okay?’ he asks.

No.

‘The migraine is gone,’ I say instead.

‘What do we need to talk about?’

‘Where were you last night?’ I ask.

‘I told you?—’

‘No. You said you were with Applegate, but that isn’t true. You were clubbing and you were all gone all night . I woke up in the morning alone up here. I had to get dressed and make it down the stairs with double vision and a numb left side.’

Precariously close to tears, I gesture to my phone, charging beside my bed. ‘Why did you bother giving me a phone if you’re not going to even let me know when your… plans change .’ I spit the last two words.

‘Daisy,’ Shade begins, ‘you’re right. We lied about Applegate and I’m sorry. It was my idea.’

‘Why?’ I whisper. ‘Why not just tell me the truth? Is it because you… went with someone else? Some ones else?’

‘Jesus,’ Mav snarls furiously, eyeing Shade.

He takes my hand. ‘No, Tulip. The truth is, we were supposed to go last night because there was a party. But we weren’t there to have fun. The club is ours.’

I frown as I look up at him. ‘What do you mean, yours?’

‘We own a club in Richmond. The three of us. It’s called Wrath.’

I glance at the others, but Shade speaks before I can.

‘I thought it would be best if we kept it from you. It’s dangerous.’

My snort is loud. ‘Dangerous or dangerous for me ?’

His silence is telling, and I roll my eyes, anger flitting through me. In a burst of fury, I throw the note Blake gave me in Shade’s face.

‘I guarantee you that your little club isn’t that bad.’

I side-eye Blake whose lips thin. ‘Show them the other notes. Tell them everything.’

I leave the room as I hear Shade swear loudly, not particularly wanting to be part of the conversation. Instead, I go into the bathroom, locking the door behind me. I strip off my clothes and get into the shower, sighing heavily as I stand under the hot spray.

So, they own the club they talk about sometimes. That makes sense, I suppose. One or two of them is often gone at random hours of the day. I just assumed they were at the lab when they’re not around, but the odd timings, the late nights and early mornings, could be explained by having to be at a club until closing.

I stay under the water for a long time, mostly until I’m sure Blake has had enough time to tell them everything, and I’ve beaten back the persistent, niggling fear that keeps reappearing in my mind that the stalker is one of them.

It’s not. I know it’s not.

Well, I’m eighty-eight percent, anyway.

I turn off the water with a hard breath out. After drying off, I wrap the towel around me and leave the bathroom. I hear them talking in Blake’s room and I let out a tiny, relieved sigh that they won’t be finding the papers that are in my bed now that they’re not hanging out in my room.

As I go to my door, I’m swept up into thick arms. I let out a surprised squeal as I’m hugged tightly.

‘I’m so sorry,' Mav whispers. ‘We didn’t know.’

‘I know,’ I say. ‘I didn’t want you to.’

‘But you showed Blake.’

Is that jealousy I hear?

I glance up at him. ‘Only because he found out that I’d been messing with the cameras.’

‘Are you still, Tulip?’

I shake my head. ‘Not since I showed him the notes. The only reason he knew before you is because I had to show him. I didn’t want to tell you two as well because…’

‘You thought it might be one of us,’ he says.

I nod. ‘I’m pretty sure it’s not one of you now .’

Mav sighs and closes his eyes, pressing his forehead to mine. ‘We will find the asshole who’s doing this.’

He brings me into Blake’s room where Shade and he are still talking.

Shade stands up, but it’s Blake who gets to me first.

He takes me from Mav and sets me down.

‘I told them everything,’ he says. ‘The notes, the emails, the cameras. Everything. And we’re all going to sit down and talk, and decide how to keep you safe.’

‘Right now?’ I ask.

He smirks darkly. ‘First things first.’

Before I realize what he’s doing, he’s pushed me back on his bed and pulled my towel away.

I cover myself with a gasp, mostly out of surprise, but Blake crawls onto the bed after me. He rises up on his knees between my legs.

‘We weren’t with other girls, Daisy,’ he murmurs. ‘And, to be honest, we all agree that we’re a little disappointed that you have such little faith in us. Maybe we’re going too slow for you, hmm? Maybe we need to show you?’

He pulls me up to sitting, and fists my wet hair gently, making me look him right in the eyes before he tips my head back and bares my neck to him. I see the other two are looming over me, watching Blake. My breathing hitches and then he licks up the side of my neck with a groan.

I cringe and pull away with a high pitched squeal of ticklish laughter, falling onto my back on the bed.

He follows, pinning me to the bed under him and frowning.

‘You know, seducing you is difficult when all you do is giggle. I’m trying really hard over here.’

I can’t help letting out another laugh. ‘What do you need to seduce me for? I’m already yours.’

He pulls back, staring at me with an intensity I don’t know how to match, something I haven’t seen before crossing his features. But I don’t know why.

‘You say things so casually sometimes,’ he says quietly, ‘that I don’t know if you really mean them.’

‘Do you, Daisy? Are you Blake’s? Mav’s? Are you ours?’ Shade asks.

‘Yes,’ I say honestly, looking up at all three of them. ‘For as long as you feel the same.’

I know it won’t be long though and it gives me an actual, physical pain in my chest to think about what I’ll have to do, how they’ll probably react.

They won’t trust me again. They won’t be able to after I’ve shown them I’m capable of such deceit. I should make the most of this moment. I may not get another.

Blake’s lips on mine makes me sigh, my body relaxing under his. I need this. With him. With them. I want them to make me feel something good. I want a final memory of all of us here together because by tomorrow it might all be over.

I’m completely naked, but when I try unbuttoning Blake’s shirt, he holds my hands and shakes his head, tutting at me.

‘But I want to see you too,’ I complain.

‘No, my sweet, beautiful girl. Not yet. Safe words?’

‘Red. Yellow. Taps.’ I say impatiently and he grins.

‘Shade has something he needs to do before we start. Isn’t that right, Shade?’

Shade doesn’t answer, but before I know it, I’m bent over his lap with my bare ass in the air.

His hand comes down hard, making me gasp.

‘Do you know what this is for?’

He slaps me again on the other cheek.

‘No!’ I whimper. ‘Well, yes.’

He smacks me twice more, making me struggle in his arms, but he holds me still.

‘Never keep something like this from us again,’ he growls. ‘Promise me, Marguerite.’

‘I promise,’ I breathe, my body warming and pulsating under his hard, strong hands.

I errantly wonder if The Heath’s penchant for correction has somehow left me with some kind of pain kink .

Yes, I have been doing some reading.

Shade keeps up his spanking until I’m a writhing, whimpering mess on his lap, unable to form words bar ‘yes’ and ‘please’.

It hurts but the pain is intoxicating. After the initial sting, it turns to pleasure, making me want more.

Someone’s fingers delve between my legs, and I hear a low whistle.

‘You’ve given her a rosy, red ass and a very wet pussy, Shade,’ Blake chuckles, inserting one digit deep.

I moan in Shade’s arms and am unceremoniously plucked from them.

‘My turn,’ Blake whispers. ‘Bend your knees.’

I do as he says.

‘Do you think you’ve been good enough for this, slut?’

I close my eyes on a sigh, shivering at the words, the imperious tone. He’s so good at it.

‘I don’t know.’

‘Hold yourself open so we can get a good look at what’s ours,’ he says.

I do it.

‘Wider!’ he snarls, pushing my thighs hard and making me gasp.

‘Blake,’ Mav warns, but I shake my head at him.

‘I– I like it,’ I say, my cheeks heating. ‘I’ll use my safe words if I don’t. I promise.’

Mav crawls across the bed and lays close to me. I see that he’s taken off his shirt and is just in his low-slung jeans. My eyes drift over his pecs and the contours of his body.

‘Okay, but you use the words if you need to,’ he murmurs. ‘Don’t just let him push and push.’

I nod and push my head up toward him to kiss his lips. His eyes open briefly in surprise I think, but then close and he pushes closer to me, letting out a small sigh as my tongue begins to worry the crease of his lips.

Just as I gain entrance to his mouth, I feel Blake’s thumbs opening me and his tongue begins lapping at my core.

Mav’s arms encircle me, encouraging me to relax. He plays with my tits, kneading them gently before tweaking each nipple and then sucking on them. He does the same on each one which makes me smile. Shade leans down to kiss me, just as Blake slides two fingers into me and I moan into Shade’s mouth.

‘How does she feel?’ Mav asks.

‘Hot. Wet. Tight.’ He begins to fuck me with his fingers. ‘You can take two, right, little whore?’

I nod. ‘Yes,’ I whisper, tightness beginning to coil in my belly. ‘Please don’t stop.’

I feel a third, smaller finger easing into my ass and I tense, letting out a strangled breath.

‘Relax,’ Shade murmurs and I realize he’s the one playing there. ‘Only my little finger, sweetheart.’

Blake and Shade’s hands move in tandem, following a rhythm that makes my hips want to roll. I’m panting and pushing against them.

‘Please,’ I whisper. ‘Please.’

‘Fuck it,’ I hear Blake say. ‘I can’t wait anymore.’

‘Do it then,’ Shade replies, and his finger disappears.

I mewl, feeling the loss of them and pushing toward them to get their fingers back.

A hand slaps my inner thigh, and I squeal.

‘Patience,’ Mav murmurs. ‘Where’s the box?’

What box?

‘Under my bed,’ Blake answers. ‘Where else?’

There’s rustling and I crane my neck to see what’s going on, but I’m pushed back down by Mav who shakes his head.

Something’s opened. There’s the sound of plastic being ripped, something wet being squirted.

A bigger finger circles my ass and pushes in gently, making me whimper despite Shade hushing me.

‘Put it in already. This cheap little whore is going to love it, I know it.’

‘Relax your body,’ Mav murmurs, caressing down my body before reaching down and playing with my clit.

The finger in my ass disappears and something cold and harder takes its place. It prods much more insistently, and I instinctively try to get away from it only to be dragged back by my thighs and my cheeks held wide.

It’s thicker and I cry out as it stretches me, the burning pain not the same as the slaps were earlier.

But I don’t use the safe words. I trust them. They won’t hurt me, not really.

After a moment, the thing stops moving and my body seems to suck it in just a little, seating it inside me in a much more comfortable position. I breathe a sigh of relief.

‘There. How does that feel, Tulip?’

‘O-okay,’ I whisper.

‘It looks so fucking hot,’ Blake murmurs, pushing it in a little and making me gasp. ‘I knew a red jewel would be perfect for this pretty hole.’

He’s suddenly between my legs again, spreading my thighs wide and staring down at me with a dangerous glint in his eye.

‘You were made for this,’ he snarls darkly, eyes finding mine. ‘This pussy is going to get such a pounding, you won’t be able to walk for a week and you’re going to love every minute of it, aren’t you, my innocent little slut?’

I find myself nodding, my eyes wide, my breathing quick.

‘B-but, p-protection?’ I stutter.

‘I got it covered. Literally.’

I hear his zipper and then the sound of a wrapper. I feel him notching at my entrance a moment later.

‘Take off your shirt,’ I say.

He smirks. ‘You like seeing me with my shirt off?’

I nod vigorously.

‘The tattoos,’ I say breathlessly. ‘I like them.’

Despite his words and the dominant way he likes to be in bed, the smile he gives me is soft and genuine, and he looks happily surprised that I’ve asked him.

He practically rips his black, button-up shirt over his head. I hear some of the buttons ping around the room, and he grips my thighs, pulling me closer to him.

He doesn’t do it slowly, he plunges into me hard and deep, making me cry out in surprise, half in pleasure, half in pain.

I see Mav and Shade glance at each other, alarm in their eyes.

‘It’s alright,’ I whimper. ‘I’m alright. It was just unexpected.’

‘Be careful with her!’

Shade punches Blake on the shoulder and he looks almost contrite, but he doesn’t change the way he’s fucking me. He pulls me forward onto his cock every time he thrusts, taking me deep and making me squeal with each one.