Page 49 of His Toy

The floor went silent. Everyone looked at each other, and finally, a petite woman came forward, walking slowly from around the bar. She stopped once she was outside of it.

“Come here, Lina,” Eric said in a sing-song voice.

I pulled Heather to my side. This wasn’t good. Lina inched forward slowly, Eric taunting her the entire way.

“How long have you been with me?” Eric asked.

“S-s-six years,” Lina stammered.

“Then you know my rules. Laphroaig for guests. Lagavulin is for me, only me. Just me. It’s simple, Lina. You know that. Is it hard to remember? Does your little brain mix up the L-brands, you stupid fucking whore?”

They stared at each other for a few moments. Then he slapped her across the face. Her mouth dropped open.

“Speak,” he said.

“I was confused, Eric.”

“Then you know what I must do.”

Tears welled up in her eyes. “Please, no,” she cried.

I held Heather tight. It was different to see his followers here, in front of me. Immobilized. Like I had once been. This wasn’t about my childhood anymore. So many more lives depended on it.

“Get the fucking whip, Lina,” Eric hissed.

Lina cried, unable to move. Denying Eric her punishment would only make it worse. Another woman ran to him, bringing a singletail. Perhaps the other woman wanted to save Lina the torture of getting it herself. Or perhaps she knew what would happen if no one obeyed him.

Though I had grown up around it, it was hard to watch. As a child, Eric had groomed me to love it. To be a beast who relished in seeing women shake this way.

But it was different when the person didn’t want it.

After ten strikes, Lina collapsed on the floor in a sobbing heap. “Clean it up,” Eric said. He gestured to one of the security guards. I let go of Heather, not wanting Eric to see my protective embrace at his punishment. Two guards carried Lina out of the room, faint smears of blood marking the tile where she had lain. Eric turned back to the table to sit with us, his eyes bloodshot and twitching.

But before he sat down, Heather leapt towards the tray of drinks and quickly turned to take it back to the bar. But she slipped.

All of the glasses were now shattered on the floor. Eric’s scotch, that he held in higher regard than his followers’ lives, in puddles on the tile.

Eric’s face spread into an evil grin.

How could Heather be so careless?

“I see your slave wants some punishment too.” He cracked his neck. “Why don’t you lick the glass and scotch off of the floor? We can’t waste it.” He reached his claws towards her. “I’d love an excuse to get this cunt naked.”

I lunged forward, holding out a firm fist. Eric’s harsh gaze seized me.

“I will punish her far more than you possibly could,” I said. Eric wouldn’t hesitate to kill her, but he didn’t know what I was capable of yet. As far as he knew, I was as brutal as he was. I had to rely on the rumors Dr. Evans had planted. “I will make sure she pays.” I stood straight. “Our business deal depends on it.”

Eric turned towards Heather, his yellow teeth gleaming.

“You’re safe, then,” he said. “Safe for now, little slave.”

I clenched my grip on Heather’s arm tightly, knowing my nails were digging into her flesh, marking her. She made no sound and stared at the floor. I extended the offer to visit my house again, and Eric said he would consider it. I excused us, then made sure that my men would guard the Great Pleasures Palace and Eric for the rest of the evening, courtesy of Veil Security Services. So that I would know if Eric left the penthouse. In order to protect Heather.

I dragged Heather out of the Great Pleasures Palace. I didn’t say a fucking word.

***

It would be a forty-five-minute drive to the house; I couldn’t wait that long. We went to my penthouse at the Opulence, Heather biting her lips the entire time, chewing them to a pulp. Pulling the sleeves of her dress longer so she could bite them too. I wanted to shake the damn nerves out of her. As soon as I slammed the penthouse door shut, I groaned in anger.