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Raising his eyebrows, he pulls on his zip ties, and I glance at Michael. He shakes his head, telling me he can’t remove them. I huff, then turn back to my brother.
“Okay. That’s not too bad,” Cris responds when he sees he won’t be freed just yet. That’s all he says. I figured he wouldn’t apologize, but it hurts that he doesn’t care that I have to work for free because of something he did. I decide to drop the last shoe now, since it’s obvious he doesn’t give a fuck. That thought stings, even though I should be used to it.
“I’m going to be staying in the city for the next year. I’m not sure where, but it’ll be closer to get to his office to work.”
“That’s fine.”
It’s obvious he doesn’t understand what I mean. “I’m not going to see you for a year, Cris. That’s part of the deal. I have to stay close by so he knows I’m not going to leave him high and dry.”
His face flushes with anger again. “No, you’re not. You can work in the city and come home every night.”
It’s hard, but I keep my temper in check. “Please, Cris, I have to do this or you’ll get hurt. I’m doing this for you. And I’m a grown-ass man. You can’t forbid me from staying in the city.”
He can’t decide what I can or can’t do. Granted, I wouldn’t be here if not for him, but I’ve given my word. I keep my wordand,and unlike him, I’m not a fucking criminal. That’s not completely fair, since I benefit from his criminal activities, but I’ve never been in a situation like this and I’m scared. “I have to work for him for a year without pay,” I continue saying, trying to ignore the look of irritation aimed at me. “I’ll call you and let you know I’m okay often. Don’t come looking for me. It’s only a year. It’ll be okay.”
“Working for a year without pay? How will you survive? You need me.” Is this the reason he wants to keep me around? So he feels needed, or so I can always feel dependent upon him? Why is it so hard for my brother to care about me?
Michael steps up beside me and says to Cris, “He’ll be compensated for his time with the necessities he needs. But this is a yearlong internship.”
Cris scoffs. “Internship. He’s going to basically belong to the man for a year with no means to leave if he doesn’t like thisinternship.” He spits the word out like it’s filthy. “He needs money.”
He’s not trying to protect me.Hewants the money. He thinks if I’m paid, I’ll give the money to him, because I owe him from since I was eight ‘til now and because that’s what I usually do. The little money I bring in from testing apps and other freelance work goes towards my clothes and makeup, but most I give to Cris.
It takes a lot not to shiver when Cris said I’ll belong to Savage for a year. Fucking right, I will. While the prospect is scary as fuck, Mr. Benavelli is a fucking snack. Cris doesn’t need to know that I’ll be on my knees for Savage a few times a week.
Even though he has cold eyes, Savage doesn’t strike me as the type that would be a rough lover just for the fuck of it. At least that’s what I hope. I know fuck all about him, but I’d like to believe if he likes it rough, it won’t be to hurt me on purpose.
“I don’t need money,” I inform my brother. “My bills will be paid, I’ll have food, and I can pick up some online work like I usually do if it comes down to that. I’ll be fine. Please, Cris. Promise me you won’t come looking for me. They might hurt you … or me.” Swallowing with fear, I glance at Michael who’s pegging Cris with hard eyes.
Cris looks back and forth between the two of us, then sets his face in an impenetrable mask. The mask he has when he can’t get his way but doesn’t want to show how pissed he is. I don’t see it often, but I know what it means. “Fine,” he grits out. “After the year is up, you better be home. And you better finish college while you’re gone. You need a real job.”
Sighing and tamping down my hurt, I say in a thick voice, “I know, Cris. I’ll call you when I’m settled.”
Without waiting for Michael or Cris to say anything else, I throw the door open and leave the office. I’m not sure what Michael will do with him or how he’ll get back home, but I can’t worry about that right now. All I can think about is keeping the tears at bay so I won’t cry in front of Savage.
When I get in the car, I slam the door and cross my arms over my chest. I feel Savage’s eyes on me, but I don’t look in his direction. I stare straight ahead, blinking back tears.
Honestly, it’s a waste of time to let Cris hurt my feelings. He’s never really cared about me. When I was young and our parents were alive, he didn’t bond with me or get to know me like most older siblings would. The ten-year age gap is significant, but that shouldn’t have stopped him from loving me. Before our parents died and he lived at home, he treated me like the annoying little brother. When I had to move in with him, he really didn’t want me around, blaming me for our parents dying. No matter how good I was, how I tried to stay out of his way, and how I took care of most of my own needs when I was old enough to freelance, Cris never wanted me around.
Being upset that he only cares about me getting a job so I can pay him back for raising me is pointless. Being upset that he doesn’t care about my safety is a waste of time. Unfortunately, my heart doesn’t give a fuck how pointless it is.
Savage’s eyes on me feel like a physical thing, so I turn to look at the man who owns me for a year. “Why are you staring?”
His eyebrows shoot to his hairline, and it’s almost comical. I don’t think anyone has surprised him in a long time. “I was going to ask what your problem is, but I find now I don’t give a fuck.”
“That’s great. Now stop staring at me and all will be right in the world,” I say sarcastically. I turn my body and face the window, refusing to acknowledge his continued staring. Even when Michael drives away, I keep this position, shutting him out.
We pull up to the obscenely sized mansion and Michael opens my door. I think he might feel bad after witnessing how Cris talked to me. It’s not the worse conversation we’ve had, but it was obvious what Cris thinks of me—very little. Michael gives me a small smile and I return it, but it drops when Savage says, “I don’t pay you to open doors. I pay you to protect me.”
“God, relax, big guy. He’ll still be able to guard you while being polite.” I saunter past Savage up the steps like I’ve been here before. “You need to learn some fucking manners.” My mouth tends to run away from me when I’m scared, but I’ve always had an attitude, and I always speak my mind. Probably not wise with a man like Savage, but I can’t let it go.
He grabs me by the arm and spins me around, hauling me against his body. My hand lands on his chest and I can’t help but feel how hard he is under his suit. The type of hard that has me thinking many obscene thoughts that I have zero experience with, but have seen plenty of in porn, and it’s all a yes from me. Touching Savage this way has my mind racing in directions it shouldn’t, but I’m here for a year and he’ll probably want me for more than sucking his cock. Maybe Ishouldlet those thoughts run wild.
Heart pounding, I glare up at Savage. He does not look happy. His eyes are smoldering—the warmest I’ve seen them—but I’m sure it’s from how pissed he is with me.
“Let’s get one thing straight, Abel. You’re not here to be my fucking friend or for me to have some fucking manners. You’re here so I would release your brother, a solution you proposed.” I try to snatch my arm away, but he grips harder, sure to leave bruises if I fight against him. While he speaks, I keep glaring at him, forcing my eyes to stay on his. “I don’t have to be nice to you, as long as I don’t hurt you. Those are your terms. So shut the fuck up about manners. I don’t have any. Get used to it.” He lets me go and brushes past me. I look at Michael and roll my eyes, making him stifle a laugh.
His little speech was probably supposed to scare me, but it doesn’t. I mean, it does, but also makes me … weirdly horny. Do I have a fear kink?
