Page 27

Oh okay. You wanna play that game, Moss?

Okay, I can play that game.

It’s about another hour before we’re pulling down the long road in the middle of the forest, the large mansion slowly coming into view. I wonder what she’s thinking, seeing this. I would build her any house she wants, anything she wants in it. Any color, style, shape, size. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for her, but right now is not the time to show that. This little girl needs a punishment.

Pulling into the circular rocky driveway, Viktor parks right in front of the door. I’m fuming as I snap my mask on and get out of the car, not bothering to turn it off as I slam the door. Pacing to Penelope, I pull the helmet off her head and hand it to Viktor. “Go,” I bark, and he does. Disappearing into the large house.

“What the fuck is wrong with you? You could’ve died,” I growl in her face, my hand circling her throat, squeezing slightly.

I love the fear that grows in her big green eyes. Fuck her eyes. They are bigger than normal, selling that she is so innocent, it could put a virgin to rest.

Her small hands wrap around my wrist, trying to pry them off, but they don’t budge. I just squeeze tighter. Knowing her oxygen is being depleted, her eyes going dull.

I know she’s starting to see stars, just on the brink of consciousness. Her eyes brim with tears. My cock hardens at the sight. Fuck, she’s such a pretty crier. I want to make her cry as I fuck her.

Letting go, I stalk over to my car, shutting it off and storming into the house. I don’t look behind me as I hear Penelope open the door, her sniffles follow. Fuck. I made her cry.

Guilt starts to creep in, making an unsettling feeling in my stomach. No, she needs to know that she will not disobey me and then flip me off. Her life was put in danger due to the idiot brother of mine, and she willingly subjected herself to that.

Looking over to Penelope, I keep my voice as strict and clipped as possible, “Someone will show you to a guest room. Your bags will be in there in a few hours.” Her eyes are glassy, the tip of her nose and cheeks swollen and red. Her eyes are red and puffy, her beautiful green orbs staring into mine. I don’t let her see anything. I hate this already.

“I won’t sleep with you?” She questions, innocence lacing her velvety voice. Her voice wobbles, and the guilt clawing at my throat continues to choke me.

“No,” I gruff.

I don’t say anything else before turning on my heel and walking out of the room. I hear her small cries, a small piece of my frozen heart shattering, wanting to run in there and make everything better.

It’s been a few hours. I’ve retreated to my office, it being the same at every building I work in. I hear doors open and shut around me, the staff that lives here going through their morning routines.

I was made aware that Penelope was shown to her room and hasn’t come out since. She hasn’t eaten in a couple of days, so I know I need to go give her food soon. I’ll force the food down her fucking throat if I need to.

I don’t know what caused my one-eighty with Penelope. I think it was the thought of losing her forever. I’ve been so hot and cold with her, but just hot now. She deserves good in her life, and I’m going to do everything in my power to be the one to give her that good.

My door opens without a knock, and I panic, reaching for my mask before I look up to see Viktor in the doorway. All my anger that I just got rid of returns.

I stand up, my chair now tipped over from the force of me standing. I see his eyes widen to the size of saucers as I stomp towards him. Grabbing his collar, I push him back into the door. “Why the FUCK would you let her do that? She could have fucking died!” I shout, spit flying on the inside of my mask. “I told you to make sure nothing happened to her!” His face drops, now replaced with anger.

“Nothing did happen to her, Dmitri,” he deadpans. I’m speechless. Nothing did happen to her, but something could’ve. “It doesn’t matter, Viktor. She could’ve died.” My voice quivers, inner mask slipping. I grip tighter, my anger is the only thing holding me from breaking.

“I’m not stupid boy, Dmitri. I know you are falling in love with that girl. I know you want to protect her, but you need to let her live. She has never done any of this stuff. She doesn’t know about our world. If you scare her enough, she could run away for good, or worse. Mama said she’s been under lock and key since her mother died when she was six. Let her figure out who she wants to be. Be there for her.” His words leave me stunned. He is right, though.

She doesn’t know our world, she doesn’t know the monster that brews under my skin. She doesn’t care about her life, if she feels threatened anymore, she won’t care to die.

My grip on him loosens, and he wiggles out completely, opening the door before he said, “Also, Harold is in the basement.” Perfection. And with that, I’m left in silence as he slams the door behind him.

Making my way to the basement, I think of all the ways to kill this man. I think of every possible thing he’s probably done to Penelope, only fueling the fire I’m about to light this dude with.

I make my way down the long dark hallway, Harold’s screams fill the space, sounding like music to my fucking ears. Small lights line the long wall, being far and few between them, giving the basement a creepy, ominous vibe.

I see the cell Harold is in, his screams now piercing the air and honestly annoying. “My fucking God, will you shut up!” I bark, standing in front of his cell, about to unlock it. He’s bound by his feet and hands to the chair, bucking in it like a horse. His screams come to a halt, eyes squinting to see me in the dark.

I know he can’t see me, drenched in my black clothing, mask lights off. Deciding to frighten him, I click the button in my pocket that turns on my mask lights. There’s one on the mask itself too, but I prefer the ones sewn into all my pants. I tilt my head to the side when it turns on, selling the whole maniac shit.

The green glow fills up the space, and I see his eyes snap to me. He looks terrified, knowing exactly who I am. We gave him the impression that he was being kidnapped by the Mexicans, but no. He is all mine to kill for touching my Moss.

A line down his pants soaks in what I assume is his piss. I stifle my laugh, unlocking the door and stepping into the cell. There is one lone light bulb in the middle of the room, right where Harold sits. A table to the right of me holds all kinds of weapons and toys for me to play with. His cries fill the room, sounding pathetic.

Grabbing a pair of pliers, I walk over to him smoothly. “It hasn’t even been six months. I will get the money, I swear!” He screams, tears streaming down his drugged-up face. I chuckle, sounding dark and humorless. His eyes fill impossibly more with fear.