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“It won’t be you I’m trying to hurt,” he threw back. “If that slut spreads her legs for you, I will make sure marrying me will be the nightmare of her life.”
Damon Torrance, son of a media mogul. Kai Mori, son of an influential socialite and banker. William Grayson III, grandson of Senator Grayson. And Michael Crist, son of a real estate developer.
“I don’t like drugs or drug houses,” he admitted. “Drugs are a crutch for people too ignorant to self-destruct on their own.”
“Get up again, and I’ll kill your mother.”
“You . . .” I took a deep breath and met the teacher’s eyes. “You talked about an ungrateful generation whose lives revolve around the technology yours gave us. I just don’t . . .” I paused. “I just don’t think that’s a useful perspective.” “Clarify.” I straightened in my seat, sitting forward, away from Damon’s touch. “Well, it’s like taking your child to an auto lot to buy a car and being angry when they choose a car,” I explained. “I don’t think it’s right to get aggravated with the public for utilizing conveniences that are made available to them.”
“Do you like women?” she asked matter-of-factly. My eyes rounded, and a laugh lodged in my throat. “Uh,” I choked out. “Well, it’s never really occurred to me.” Damn. Got to hand it to her. She knew how to get my mind off the guys. She turned her head, looking at the elevator door and smirking. “Let me know if it ever does.”
And unfortunately, Michael was very much like Damon. Never any girlfriends, never any commitment, and never any expectations. The only difference was Michael didn’t talk about his dirty deeds. Damon made sure everyone knew.
You’re not a victim, and I’m not your savior.
“Men who hire escorts aren’t paying for the sex,” she corrected. “They’re paying us to leave when it’s done.”
“Does she taste as good as she looks?” I heard Kai ask, and I snapped my head up, remembering he’d been watching.
I clenched my teeth, suddenly wanting them to hurt more. I wanted to kill them. No one should hold the power to change your life forever.
“When you want to make an impression and you think you’ve gone far enough, go a little further. Always leave them wondering if you’re just a little bit crazy, and people will never fuck with you again.”
“Thanks,” a low voice said behind me. I turned my head to see Damon, his arms resting on the top of the back seat as he stared at me.
“You have money and girls, cars and clothes, but I still have more than you in this little box.”
And the things that were irreplaceable in life were the only things of value.
No. No, I wasn’t happy at his house. Not without him there.
Being in his house when he wasn’t there was the loneliest I’d ever been.
“Why are you always messing with me?” I demanded. “Because it’s fun,” he admitted, “and you’re getting so good at it.”
“You like to be scared, don’t you?” I heard his voice behind me. “That’s your kink.”
“When we used to wear the masks,” Michael said, dropping his voice to a near whisper, “you liked it, didn’t you? It scared you, but it turned you on.”
Our scrapes and bruises, tattoos, scars, smiles, and wrinkles told our stories,
I’m going to make you scream.
Such a little monster.
Redefine normal. None of us know the full measure of our power until we start pushing our boundaries and pressing our luck, and the more we do, the less we care what others think. The freedom feels too good.
“Such a good girl,” I growled in a whisper, flicking her lips with my tongue. “Say it, Rika.” “I’m a good girl,” she panted, her voice shaky.
“Oh, yes, you will!” she snarled back, challenging him. “You’re the pack’s dog. Come fetch, little dog!”
“You stupid fucking bitch!”
for first-aid
“She either gets beat in.” He shut off the car, killed the lights, and locked his dark eyes on mine in the rearview mirror. “Or fucked in.” I shook my head quickly, clenching my fists. “I want to go home.” He sucked in a breath through his teeth. “That’s not one of the choices, Little Monster.”
“Damon,” I said, twisting my head away, “take me home. I know you’re not going to hurt me.” “Oh, yeah?” He got in my face, his lips on my cheek. “Then why have you always been afraid of me?”
“Stop crying,” he ordered. “We weren’t going to hurt you, but now you know that we can.”
“Michael doesn’t want you, and neither do we. You get that? I want you to stop watching us and stop following us like a pathetic dog begging for someone to notice her.”
“Get a fucking life of your own, Rika, and stay the hell away from us. No one wants you.”
“It was only a matter of time before you tore us apart,” Damon bit out. “You’re fucking pussy and nothing more.”
“So she says,” Damon snapped. “We can’t trust her.” “I trust her a hell of a lot more than I do you!” Michael bellowed. “Yeah, fuck you,” Damon growled. “She’s a worthless fucking cunt, and I’ll show you exactly what she’s good for!”
Yeah, it must be a bitch to realize you wasted three years hating the wrong person.
“This isn’t seriously happening right now, is it?” I snapped, stopping in front of the table and looking over at Michael. He raised his eyes but kept quiet. “You kidnap my mother,” I started, “burn down my house, steal my money, lure me here, and then attack me.” “We’re really sorry,”
“Does this mean you’re tapping out?” I inquired with fake concern. “No,” he bit out, storming down the hallway, the muscles in his back flexing. “Game change. New players. There are plenty of other girls here, Rika.” “And there are lots of guys here, too,” I threw back, following him down the stairs.
“Is that so?” And then he smiled and twisted his head around, speaking to the crowd. “Listen up!” he shouted to all the guests hanging out. “Rika Fane is Horsemen property. Any guy lays a hand on her has to deal with us!” And then he turned back to me, lowering his voice with a smirk. “Good luck.”
Plenty of other women here. Yeah, that was a fucking bluff if I’d ever heard one. I couldn’t keep my eyes off her, and I’d either have to swallow my pride and actually be nice to get into her bed tonight, or . . . Or I’d have to pick another fight.
What if I’d completely corrupted her? What if she’d begun to like playing games too much, and the lust to play—and to win—overpowered her need for me? What if her heart had hardened so much that she closed herself off in order to survive? What if I was the one who had to bend?
“I like to hurt myself,” I told her. “I need this. Now, take off your clothes and get in his bed.”
“Because you’ve corrupted her nice and good. She’s a force now, and it won’t be long before she’s brave enough to demand what she wants. If you don’t give it to her, she’ll find someone else who will.” I turned my head, peering over at him. “I don’t need your warnings. I don’t lose.” “That wasn’t a warning,” he shot back, not taking his eyes off her. “That was a threat.” And then he looked at me as he turned to leave. “Watch your back, brother.”
His rudeness and coarse attitude made the rare times he was soft so captivating that I wanted to slap myself. He was a sadist, and my little heart just had to go pitter-patter the second his yanks, grabs, and pulls turned into gentle caresses and his frowns, scowls, and snarls turned into whispers. I fell, and I never even tried to stop myself.
Lust and logic sat on my shoulders like the modern-day angel and devil, one telling me to trust my heart and the other telling me that I would never be able to trust his.
“Your dick’s working now,” Michael warned behind him. “Go find someone else.”
Life is one-way, and there is no return trip. What are you waiting for?”
