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“Enough.” I cut off her little rant, striding around toward her. I’m already sick of the sound of her voice, and she needs to be under no illusions as to how this is going to play out.
She holds her ground, even as I loom large, forcing her chin to jut out and her head to crane back to face me.
“So, if he’s gone, what is this about? If you’re not working for my father, then you can fuck right off.” Her eyes spark with azure fire.
“We are owed vengeance.” My voice is low and calm as I stare down my nose at her. “And since your father isn’t here, the stench of his blood flowing through your veins will have to serve in his place.”
Her mouth opens, but I don’t let her toss out whatever poison she intends to spew.
“We’re going to parade you around like a bitch on a leash for the rest of your pathetic life.” My sneer grows wider as I eat up every hateful look crossing her features. “Your life belongs to us now. You’re going to do exactly as we say, if you want your friend to keep breathing and if you want your mother’s memory to be preserved.”
For the first time, I see the flicker of something resembling panic cross her features.
“Leave them out of this.” Her teeth clench around her words.
“Do everything we say, and we won’t have to take any further measures. I assure you our methods of ensuring your cooperation are very effective.” I take the opportunity to tap the video clip already loaded on my phone screen, pressing play and spinning it in the girl’s direction so she can see herself on screen.
It shows a view from the dash-cam footage, with Ky holding her hand like a goddamn imitation Prince Charming, and her sooty eyelashes fluttering at him.
“No force, no coercion. I’m here of my own free will.” The evidence of her own compliance echoes off the glass wall beside the kitchen.
Her big eyes bounce between the phone screen and up to look at me, before staring down at the recording once more. There’s every chance the girl has drawn blood with how hard she’s bitten her tongue.
“What do you want?”
“You’ll cede us control of Noire House.”
“Have it. Take it. I don’t want anything to do with that shithole—the filthy money and perversions are all yours. Put any papers you want in front of me, and I’ll sign them in my own damn blood if that’s what you need.”
Shaking my head, I allow a curl to form at the corner of my lips. This is the best part of all.
“No, you aren’t going anywhere, Foxglove. Like an obedient little toy, you’re going to step in to take your father’s place and run Noire House while under our control. You’re going to tell everyone how enthusiastic you are to take his seat.” Her breathing grows more rapid, and her nostrils flare as I lean closer and hiss in her ear. “And you’re never going to fucking escape us. We own every inch of your life, and exacting revenge for what your father did…well, let’s just say he left behind an extremely long list of debts owed.”
She balls her fists and swallows heavily. But doesn’t flinch as I deliver the news of her fate.
“Understood?”
Her head nods ever so slightly, but her body vibrates with fury.
I step back a little and incline my head to the direction she came from. “Good. Now get the fuck out of my sight.”
Ky steers us down the access road of the peninsula, heading away from where our compound is situated.
We’re due at a gathering of council members, so while the two of us make our way into the city, I text instructions to Ven.
Make sure she eats.
She needs to look healthy when they see her.
I don’t care what you need to do; force her if you have to, but no visible cuts or bruises.
The fucker reads the texts but doesn’t reply, as usual. Leaving me on read is that man’s default setting.
My thumb hovers over the keyboard on-screen for a moment.
I want to tell him I know how hard this must be, that I understand exactly how much pain he’s in. How I wish exacting vengeance on this girl would absolve some part of the responsibility he shoulders like a chain around his neck. But instead of typing out another message, I shove my phone back inside the pocket of my suit jacket.
The world outside flits past in shades of deep, woody green, and the shrouds of gray mist cling to everything.
