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With my hands clenched into fists, I turned toward the door as it opened. Vadik was my new babysitter. He took in my hands.
“You’re already angry with me?”
“Not at you.” I opened my hands, hating how easy it was for me to get angry. I hadn’t felt this way in a long time.
“Ashley?”
I nodded.
“We’re going to get her back.”
This made me laugh.
“Don’t, Emily.”
“I can’t help it. You don’t know where he’s taken her, and you’re telling me we’re going to get her back. Do you have any idea how stupid it sounds?” I asked.
Vadik sighed. “He wants something from her.”
“He could rape her to get it.” I shook my head. “I don’t want to talk about this now.” My stomach chose that moment to start moaning in protest. I wasn’t going to stop eating.
“I know you’re angry with us, but we will fix this.”
“You shouldn’t have bargained with her life.”
This time, Vadik laughed. “Look, you can be angry with us. We can all take it. You think we haven’t taken worse in the time you’ve been away?”
I stared at him, my gaze wandering down his body, wondering if he had more scars than River or the same kind.
“But don’t for a second believe we’re the good guys. We had to give you up, but none of us wanted to. After seven years, someone offered us a chance and we took it.”
I couldn’t help but laugh again. “Yeah, you took it without truly understanding the consequences of what you’ve done.”
He stepped up toward me. He gripped my neck and now he was kissing me. I couldn’t deny I relished their dominance. It sent a thrill down my spine. I liked them taking charge, taking me.
I thought about River and Gael, now Vadik. None of them had wanted to know about the seven years between us. They just wanted me, craved me, and that was a heady experience. It almost made me not hate them. I did. I hated and loved them, and that was a bad combination to have.
Like now, I wanted to do a lot of bad things with Vadik, but at the last second, just as I was giving in to my needs, he pulled away, creating a distance.
“It’s time for you to have dinner.”
Without waiting for me to respond, he took my hand and led me down the hallway, toward the dining room.
I caught sight of the soldiers. There were a lot more of them than there had been this morning.
As we got to the dining room, I paused. It was only me and my men. No one else. Dinner was spread on the table and at the click of Caleb’s fingers, he forced everyone else to leave so it was just us.
The door closed and the sound echoed in the quiet room.
Caleb stood, arms resting behind him. He had an air of authority. Even though we were all the same age, he seemed older, scarier, more dangerous. I didn’t know what had changed from yesterday to now, but seeing him standing in his castle, he looked totally different. The suit as well, it took me by surprise.
His gaze ran up and down my body. I may as well have been naked.
“You look beautiful.”
With hands clenched into fists, I wasn’t going to succumb to his compliments.
“Where’s Ashley?” I asked.
He smiled. “Eat.”
“No.”
“Don’t make this any harder than it has to be.”
“No one is watching us. I don’t have to show you respect. River gave me the drill of how it’s supposed to be.” I folded my arms. “Now tell me where my friend is.”
He put his hands together. I noticed the large fingers and couldn’t help but wonder how many people he’d killed with those very hands. I shouldn’t have even cared and yet, here I was, wondering. They had all struck a deal with the devil to get me here. Ashley’s life was at stake.
“You know, we’re the ones who saved her. You could have been on your own all this time.”
“Cut the crap, Caleb. Where is she?”
His smile forced me to take a step back, but then I straightened my spine. I wasn’t afraid of any of these men. I wouldn’t back down.
The instant he took a step toward me, all I wanted to do was run and cover. I stayed perfectly still, even as he invaded my space. Neither of us was the same people. We were different.
I waited.
He reached out and took a stray curl, brushing it behind my ear. “We’ll find Ashley.”
“That actually means you don’t have a fucking clue where she is.”
He licked his lips and I hated myself for watching, for wanting him.
I didn’t fight him as he gripped my waist, the first touch startling me.
“Leave us,” he said.
I glanced around the room to watch Vadik, Gael, and River each respond to his request.
