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I backed away from the cart. “No. I won’t.”
“Stella.” Sin leaned forward. “Do it.”
“No.”
Cal stood. “Why on earth not?”
“I can’t.” I lowered my head.
“Stella!” Sin barked. “Do it now!”
I stared at the bloody floor.
“Oh, dear me. This is a problem. Stella, doll, look at me.” Cal put his finger under my chin and brought my face up to his. “If you don’t do this, you’ll take his place. Is that what you want?”
I shook, my teeth chattering as my body trembled.
“Stella. Stop this prideful refusal or I swear that I will beat you again as soon as we leave here!”
“Sin, she just doesn’t have the stomach for it. Totally understandable.” He turned back to me. “Now, it’s up to you. Either you take your revenge on Sin—the one who stole you, who whipped you, who let his brother rape you—or you let me take my aggressions out on you.”
Sin growled and his shackles rattled. “Stella. Do as I say.” It was a harsh command, but I felt the fear in it.
I wouldn’t hurt him. Showing him that love didn’t always end that way—with pain and torment—was more important to me than an hour of suffering. I took a deep breath, and exhaled only one word.
“No.”
“You heard the lady. Unlock Sin and put her in his place.” Cal began to roll up the sleeves of his dress shirt.
“Goddammit, Stella. Do it!”
“Too late now. I appreciate your efforts to make a good showing, Sin. I sure do. But I suspect Stella and I will make the best showing of all.” He plucked at my jacket. “Go ahead and take your top off. I want more canvas to work with.”
“No!” Sin pushed the attendant away and dropped down to the floor. “Stella, don’t.”
“I have to.” I couldn’t meet his eyes.
“No, I can take it.”
“I know you can.” I looked up at him, his brow furrowed. “But you shouldn’t have to,” I whispered.
“Enough chit chat. Let’s get going.” Cal ripped me away and pushed me up onto the stand.
Sin grabbed Cal’s arm and whipped him around. He pulled his fist back.
“Sin!” I cried.
He turned to me, his fist still cocked, and I shook my head. Teddy, I mouthed.
“What do you think you’re doing?” Cal recovered from his defensive posture and shoved Sin away.
“Sorry Sovereign. I guess I just hoped I’d get to do it myself is all.” Sin opened his fist and dropped his arms to his side.
Cal considered him for a moment, the room tense. Then he rolled his shoulders and smiled. “All worked up, eh? Good man.” He motioned to the redheads on the couch. “Sit with the girls and enjoy yourself, but not too much. He’s taken, ladies. Stella, why’s your shirt still on?”
He climbed to the platform and yanked my jacket off my shoulders. Gripping my tank top at my chest, he ripped it apart in one harsh movement and threw the tatters to the ground. I couldn’t stop the squeak of fear that caught in my throat. He didn’t stop, only slid my bra straps off my shoulders. “Unhook it.” His voice was thick with lust.
I reached behind my back, but my fingers were too numb to do anything.
“Allow me.” He hugged me to him and undid the clasp. My bra dropped to the floor and I crossed my arms over my breasts. “Have a seat.”
I backed up and sank down into the chair, the sticky blood of its last occupant coating the bottom of my arms. Cal knelt down and locked me in. I trembled and closed my eyes.
“Girls, I said go easy. He’s engaged.”
“Sorry.” One of them giggled as a sharp sting erupted across my cheek.
Cal’s hand turned into a blur as he slapped me again and again until I tried to loll my head forward to stop his attacks.
“Hold her head.”
An attendant climbed up behind me and grabbed a fistful of my hair, pulling my head back so I had no choice but to see Cal.
“That was just foreplay.” He balled his hand into a fist, his eyes sharp and focused. “Let’s go all the way.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
SINCLAIR
THIRTY MINUTES IN, SHE’D stopped reacting. Each time Cal punched her, slapped her, or cut her, a piece of me died. Every wheeze of breath from her lungs stole a year from my life. I wanted to suffer at her hands. I wanted to be the one who was finally made to pay for my sins. But instead of retribution, she’d granted me love.
And through that love, I was damned. To sit here and allow her to be put through hell again, I belonged in eternal torment, bathed in flames.
Her strength failed, her will dissipated, and no more screams passed her lips. Even when Cal took a scalpel and sliced across her left breast, she remained silent, her eyes open, though no spark lit them.
