Chapter Seventeen #2
My skin prickled with goosebumps at the callous way Henri spoke of killing someone. He didn’t exactly rejoice, but he didn’t show any remorse for stealing a life, either.
Did that make him crazy or sane?
Safe or dangerous?
His eyes flickered to mine as if he sensed me questioning so many things.
My heart stopped.
He jerked.
All those guarded feelings in him crowded behind the walls he’d tried to erect.
He looked as if I truly undid him, only this time...he’d begun to despise it.
“You know, mon ami, if you enjoy dispatching my guests so much, perhaps I will put you to work, hmm?” Victor sipped his coffee, watching Henri over the rim.
Henri tore his gaze from mine. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
Victor shrugged. “I should be reprimanding you. All my guests are aware I don’t tolerate brawls or in-house violence. To fight one another equals immediate chastisement or a revocation of their invitation. I even sent Larry home yesterday as I’m not in the mood to listen to his whining. But...”
“But?” Henri stiffened.
“Lucky for you, you actually did me a tiny favour.”
“How so?” His forehead furrowed.
Victor carelessly tossed me a blueberry and custard tart and lowered his voice.
“A little birdie told me that Daxton wasn’t keeping secrets as well as he should.
He informed someone about the location of my Elysium.
I obviously don’t need to tell you what a big fucking no-no that is.
Especially with your brother hunting. He was one of the scant few who I let boat here.
The rest I fly in—windows blindfolded and no address given.
I thought he was trustworthy after a decade of his company. I was wrong.”
“Do you think Q was behind it?” Henri asked. “Bribed him to talk?”
“Who can say?” Victor leaned back. “All I know is...Daxton Hall was a walking dead man. And it pleased me to think of him enjoying himself, one last time, all while knowing he wouldn’t be leaving here on Sunday when he was due to go back home to his wife and three little girls.”
I froze with the sticky, sweet tart at my lips.
My stomach growled.
My appetite roared.
But the thought that the man who’d almost raped me had three daughters? That he had no empathy to be able to put his own flesh and blood into my shoes. Or imagine how he’d feel if another man did to them what he did to me...
My mouth gushed with sick saliva.
I threw the tart onto the grass. A cloud of cheeky sparrows descended in glee.
Henri’s gaze cut to me.
I looked up.
Our eyes caught all over again, and he did yet another of his heart-scrambling tricks. Bending a little, he tucked a few straight strands behind my ear and continued talking to Victor as if he hadn’t just blown my aching chest apart.
“How many of your guests know your exact location?”
Victor smirked. “Why? Do you want it?”
“I won’t deny that I’m curious.” Henri glanced around the glittering castle, gardens, and wealth. “It’s my new home, after all. Even if I have made a reputation to be avoided in here. I’d like to know my address.”
Victor kept a careful eye on Henri before he smiled. “If you’re still curious in a decade, I will tell you.” He waggled a finger. “As long as you behave and stop giving me reasons to murder you, of course. And don’t worry, they’ll come around. They’re only waiting on my verdict.”
“Your verdict?”
“To kill you, banish you, or forgive you.”
“Gotcha.” Henri tossed back the dregs of his coffee. “Well, I hate to tell you, Vic, but if you haven’t killed me by now, I think I’m safe.”
“Yes, you definitely act like it.”
Henri laughed.
Victor didn’t.
“Right, if that’s everything you wanted to discuss?” Henri stood and tapped me on the shoulder. “Come, little nightmare. I fancy a fuck by the pool. If you’ll excuse us, Vic—”
“Not so fast, Mercer.” Victor stood too, his gaze snagging on his preferred jewel, Rachel, as she appeared from the citadel’s wide-open doors.
I didn’t know if Henri meant what he said about taking me by the pool—considering he hadn’t touched me in days—but all my wondering paused as my eyes locked on Rachel.
On the stiff way she walked.
How she cradled her middle as if her innards would come tumbling out.
How her body shimmered with black and blue bruises beneath her see-through teal dressing gown.
What the hell happened to her?
Or a better question...who the hell happened to her?
Victor ran his tongue over his bottom lip, keeping a careful eye on her as she hobbled toward our small group.
“Thanks to you, there’s far too much pent-up testosterone in here, Henri.
I will take partial blame by making the mistake of introducing Ily to my esteemed guests and then forbidding them from touching her.
But you made it worse by breaking my laws and flouting your possessiveness.
” He smiled tightly. “Things are not balanced, and if monsters are to play nice, there must always be balance.”
Henri stiffened. “What are you saying?”
“I’m saying I need a few new jewels...to soothe over the current upsy-daisy.”
“Ah.” Henri didn’t dare look at me. “You’re going hunting. Where?”
Victor gave a thin, smarmy grin. “Normally, I would go myself. I’d actually planned such a trip a few days ago. I was going to leave the morning after the treasure hunt, but...your latest fuckup ensured I had to stay, and then I received some news that I’m still...processing.”
“News?”
“We’ll get to that.” Victor shrugged. “So you see, mon ami, not only did you prevent me from going on a little foraging expedition—where I happen to like sampling new bijoux before bringing them back to my friends—but you’ve also ensured I need to rebalance the energy in my home.”
Flicking me a look, he added, “In an ideal world, I’d toss your jewel to another Master and take you with me for some ‘bonding’.
Your handsome face could help me fish all kinds of beauties.
But alas...” He sighed dramatically. “I can’t fly you off my island because of the risk of fratricide by your sibling, and I need to oversee a few things here.
Therefore, I’ve arranged a few business associates to gather at least three new gems. They have my requirements and will be delivered momentarily. ”
I almost vomited on the deck.
More girls and boys.
More like me.
Targeted, taken...never to be seen again.
I wanted to kill him.
To stop him from stealing the lives of poor, unsuspecting—
“Fascinating,” Henri drawled. “I’m glad you know how to remedy the situation.” He glanced at me with guilty eyes. “You’re very proficient, Vic. But now...if you don’t mind, I really am itching for a fuck, so—”
“So impatient.” Victor smirked and beckoned Rachel to walk faster. “As it so happens, I have the exact same affliction, but we both must wait. What have I told you before about patience being a virtue?”
Rachel’s lips thinned in pain as she came to a stop. With trembling hands, she lowered her arms from her bruised middle and gave Victor a tight smile. Lowering her head, she presented herself docile and serene, but her curvaceous figure trembled, sending her gown shivering around her legs.
My heart convulsed.
I wanted to hug her.
To tell her that her agony would stop...one day.
Somehow.
For all my complicated desire for Henri, I hadn’t forgotten my promise.
Or my determination to get the fuck out of here.
“I have a proposition for you.” Victor smiled as he tucked raven locks behind Rachel’s ear.
She gasped and went to kneel, but he clucked his tongue.
“No, no, stay standing, sweetling.” With a doting caress on her cheek, he reached into his pocket and withdrew a leather leash.
Clipping it onto her collar, he looked at Henri.
“I would so hate to have to punish you, Henri...after everything we’ve gone through together. ”
Henri stiffened. “Punish me?”
“You did me a favour by ending Daxton and his snitching. And I forgive you for Roger. I never really liked him. With your violent skills, I feel comfortable that Joyero will be safe if and when I do leave on business—as long as you’re fighting on the right side.”
“Of course,” Henri muttered. “I apologise for my behaviour, and you know I’m on your side. I’ve proven that—”
“You have, and I appreciate it. I also appreciate this new skillset of yours. You see...I catalogue all my guest’s strengths and weaknesses, and you’ve turned out to be a gift that keeps on giving. If a time comes when I need your ruthless abilities, you better be prepared to aid me.”
“Aid you how?” His face filled with shadowy wariness.
“Kill.” Victor laughed. “What else? Did you think your money would ensure you didn’t have to work to stay here?” He clucked his tongue. “Silly boy.”
Henri didn’t say anything for a moment. “Who...who do you expect me to kill?”
“Well...” His eyes flickered to Rachel. “It’s not who but how many, but to start with...you could aid me in dispatching this one. I don’t really care how you do it. Just that it’s done.”
“Wait, what?” Henri staggered back. “You want me to kill your jewel? Have you lost your fucking mind? I thought she was your favourite.”
“She was. And I wish it didn’t have to come down to this, but she disappointed me and needs to be punished.”
Henri choked. “Punishment isn’t usually fucking murder, Vic.”
“The retaliation must match the level of rebellion.”
“What rebellion?”
Victor ran a hand through his hair. “She’s pregnant.”
My heart stopped.
A gush of sickness twisted my stomach.
Oh God.
No...
“What do you mean...she’s pregnant?” Henri went fatally still. His grey eyes landed on bruised, shaking Rachel. “H-How?”
“The usual way, I suspect.” Victor sniffed as if she was dirt on his shoe. “She did it deliberately, the little witch.” His face turned black. “Probably thought she could use me to elevate her position. Dr Belford assures me her contraception was up to date, so—”
“It’s not one hundred percent foolproof, you prick,” I hissed, unable to stop myself. “Are you that fucking diabolical that you’d kill your own child?”
Victor glowered at me. “It’s not mine.”