Page 81 of Ruthless Prince

Children were running all over the place, laughing and shouting as they chased a ball. Jared was acting as a goalkeeper for his side. The camera slowly zoomed in on his face, getting close enough for me to make out the little yellow flecks dotted around his blue irises. A tiny red laser sight was aimed at the center of hisforehead.

My knees almost buckled as fresh terror washed over me, wrapping its dark tendrils around my throat until I could barelybreathe.

“That dot is too small for anyone standing around the field to see,” Logan said calmly. “But Frank can see it perfectly with his scope. Right,buddy?”

“Yes, sir. I’ve got a good shot here. Want me to takeit?”

Logan snatched the tablet from my hand and returned to the spot he’d pointed out earlier. “Hm. I don’t know,” he said slowly, staring down at the screen. “What do you think, Willow? Should he take theshot?”

I shook my head, legs trembling so hard I could barely support myself. “You wouldn’t,” Iwhispered.

“Care to test that theory?” he asked, eyes glittering withmalice.

“He’s just a littleboy.”

“A little boy you love very much,” he replied. “He’s yourweakness.”

“Please… youcan’t.”

Logan smirked. “I think she wants you to take the shot, Frank, but I’m still notsure.”

His associate’s voice was tinny on the other end of the line. “Just say theword.”

“It’s up to you, Willow. Can you obey me or not?” Logan cocked his head to one side and showed me the tablet screenagain.

The little red dot kept hovering over Jared’s head as he watched the action on the field. No one at the game had noticed a thing. All I could hear in the background was the faint sound of playful shrieks andwhistles.

Gritting my teeth, I dropped to my knees and bowed my head, bitter tears slipping down mycheeks.

“Good girl,” Logan said, voice dripping with amusement. “You know what to donow.”

With trembling arms, I began to crawl over to him, face burning with shame andrage.

No wonder he always seemed so smug. So sure of himself. He’d already won before he stepped into my cell today, and he knew it. I had to do whatever he said, and I didn’t have any choice in the matter. Not unless I wanted my brother todie.

My earlier claims of strength and vows to refuse him meant nothing. I felt naïve and stupid for saying or thinking any ofit.

So, sostupid.

Of course I couldn’t win here. Logan held all the cards. As long as I was trapped in this place, he could do whatever he wanted to me. Control me. Command me. Forceme.

When I reached his feet, I got back on my knees and clasped my hands behind myback.

“You can pack up and go home, Frank,” Logan said. “Don’t worry. You’ll still get paid fortoday.”

He slipped the phone into his pocket and dropped the tablet on top of the bag. Then he reached out and stroked the top of my head. “Look at that,” he said, eyes gleaming. “What a good girl you turned out tobe.”

I lowered my eyes to the floor, remainingsilent.

“Are you ready to begin training now?” Logan asked, roughly jerking my chin up with twofingers.

I drew in a deep breath. “Yes.”

“Let’s take a leaf out of Frank’s book. From now on, you need to address me as ‘sir’.”

“Yes, sir,” I murmured. On the outside, I was doing my best to stay as cool and collected as possible. On the inside, I was ablaze with rage, fear, andindignation.

Logan flashed a taunting smile at me. “This cell will be your home until I feel you’ve earned the right to more. Do you know how to earnthat?”