Page 51 of Paper Doll

“I didn’t do anything,” I force out past the lump in my throat. “I was just talking.”

He spreads his arms across the sofa cushions behind him, leaning back and looking up at me with those dark, hollow eyes. “Did we give you permission to talk to him?”

“You can’t control every aspect of my life,” I grumble, folding my arms over my chest. “I’m entitled to have friends.”

Ford hisses a breath in through his teeth, dropping down on the sectional near Raf. “Wrong answer, Ava baby.”

Raf’s gaze flickers in Ford’s direction. “I think she needs a reminder of who owns her, don’t you?” he asks, slowly turning his glare back on me. “I thinkeveryoneneeds a reminder.”

“Fine, I won’t talk to anyone else,” I say quickly, backpedaling as alarm bells sound in my head.

Why is it that I can see the red flags so clearly now, when I was blind to them the last time I was up here?

The corner of Raf’s lips lift ever so slightly and he tilts his head in Ford’s direction, eyes still trained on me. “It’s too late for that. I think to make it really sink in, you’ll need to suck Ford off.”

“What?!” I screech, jolting back. My eyes ping between Raf’s cold stare and Ford’s eager one as I take a step backwards, followed by another, then another. My butt bumps into the metal railing at the balcony’s edge and I flinch, sucking in a gasp.

“Now, Ava,” Raf commands, the deep bass of his voice rattling down to my bones.

Ford shuffles back against the couch cushions to get comfortable, his hands dropping to the waist of his jeans and popping the button.

I can’t breathe.

Can’t think.

“Here?!” I squeak, eyes darting around in panic.

Raf nods.

My heart slams against my ribs, throat tightening as I glance toward the door to the loft. “Can’t we go inside…?”

“Hereis the whole point,” Raf states firmly. “You’re not the only one who needs reminding of who you belong to.”

I turn around to glance out over the crowd below, suddenly feeling incredibly exposed up here on the balcony. Sure, there’s a railing, but that doesn’t mean the people down there can’t see what’s going on right above them.

I think I’m gonna be sick.

I take a shaky step forward, then hesitate, glancing toward the stairs and mentally calculating how much of a head start I could get if I make a break for it now.

As if he knows what I’m thinking, Raf lifts his phone, turning the screen toward me so I can see the thumbnail of the video queued up on it. “Or should I send this off?”

“What makes you think someone down there won’t just take another video?” I scoff. “Then your blackmail will be worthless, won’t it?”

A low chuckle rumbles in Raf’s chest. “They wouldn’tdare.”

“He’s right,” Ford chimes in. “Every person down there knows better than to cross a King.”

My mouth runs dry. These guys really are as dangerous as they seem, and with everyone in their pockets, I’ve got nowhere to turn for help.

Raf beckons me with a flick of his head, my stomach sinking and my feet feeling like lead weights as they carry me back over to him, a feeling of numb resignation settling over me. “I hate you,” I mutter.

He leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “Good. I hate you, too. You’re nothing but a filthy whore, just like your mother. So why don’t you put that whore mouth to good use and suck his cock, huh? Give us a fuckin’ show.”

The sharp sting of tears pricks behind my eyes as I realize just how screwed I am. There’s nothing I can do; nothing I cansay. With that video, he’s got me over a barrel, and he damn well knows it.

“I’m nothing like my mother,” I grit out, glaring back at him defiantly.

Raf snorts a laugh. “And I’m nothing like my father. Which one of us is telling the truth, hm?” He cocks his head mockingly, a smug grin stretching his lips.