Chapter Twenty-One
………………………….
Ily
STEPPING INTO VICTOR’S PERSONAL SUITE on the top floor felt as if I’d stepped into the bedroom of the devil. Not because the walls melted with flames or the floor fell away into a bubbling volcano for wretched souls to burn in eternity but because of his sheer presence.
He slept here.
Showered here.
He was vulnerable here, and if we could somehow smuggle a bomb beneath his huge four-poster bed and blow it into rubble, we’d free a million spirits trapped within the walls. Jewels he’d hurt in here. Women and men he’d abused and tortured.
Twice the size of his gold-carpeted office, his bedroom was vast. A sitting area complete with a stripper pole stabbed out of the glass-topped coffee table to the right, a patio with a Jacuzzi waited beneath the moon, and giraffe skins littered the floor leading to another circular lounge. On the walls hung yet more mythical monstrous artwork. Cupids slaughtered on the spears of demons. Men with forked tongues licking out virgins and a huge canvas where soldiers lay like a carpet of corpses, all while some vanquisher rode over them with his blood-splattered white horse.
Was that how Victor saw himself?
The mayor of his own country? The victor of his own battleground?
“Impressive,” Henri muttered, striding forward with long-legged steps.
To me, his voice sounded raspy and off. I’d caught him scrubbing his tongue with his toothbrush as I’d slipped into the bathroom to take a shower earlier this evening. He’d glanced away, but I knew.
I’d heard him throwing up before.
I’d learned what the black shadows beneath his eyes meant.
Nausea tormented him often.
Just like in that video Victor made us all watch the day he almost killed Henri—his tummy had been delicate then, and it seemed to punish him still.
I didn’t know why he suffered such a debilitating condition, but it’d gotten worse.
Is that why he’s lost weight?
Because he couldn’t keep anything down or because unsaid things kept eating him alive?
Victor didn’t seem to care or notice that Henri vibrated with a million different things. Pouring crystal-clear liquid into three glass tumblers, he strode from the private bar by the doors leading to the patio with a grin. Dressed in black silk pyjamas bottoms, bare lean chest, and a long, slackly sashed red silk dressing gown, he either watched far too many pornos or fancied himself as some Mafia boss.
His hair gleamed from his shower, and his steps were loose and languid. Was Rachel the reason for that? He’d mentioned he wanted a massage from her.
My eyes shot to Rachel where she kneeled in another sitting area to the left. The long beige couch curled into a semi-circle, the white round carpet in the centre so perfect, so pure, it looked like a portal into heaven.
She gave me a flickering smile.
I returned it.
Dropping my eyes, I watched with my peripheral vision as Victor passed one of the glasses to Henri, then patted him encouragingly on the back. “Welcome. Make yourself comfortable.” With a mocking bow, Victor took my hand and wrapped my fingers around the second glass. “You too, Ilyana. Tonight is for all of us, so drink up. We can all indulge together. Apart from Rachel, of course. She can’t drink for obvious reasons.” He blew her a kiss, his flippant joy almost infectious if it wasn’t for the aura of evil. “While I was away, I came around to the idea of having a child. I’m rather excited now.”
Henri didn’t reply, sipping a scant mouthful of whatever clear alcohol had been given.
Chuckling, Victor swallowed his own sip. “Actually, I never thought I’d see the day that I’d have a screaming baby in my home. However, it has opened my eyes to other business ventures.”
Henri went stiff beside me.
My heart stopped.
No…don’t say it…
Henri stayed deathly quiet, making Victor’s happy voice all the more obscene. “You know, mon ami. I’ve dabbled in the skin trade for over three decades. I’ve lost count of how many girls and boys I’ve trafficked, but…I’ve always stayed clear of children because they’re messy and loud and not worth the trouble but…” Kicking off his lambskin slippers, Victor padded barefoot toward Rachel and fell backward onto the couch. “Come, come. Sit. I’ve taken the liberty of ordering some dishes to be brought up, so there’s nothing more to do than to relax while we wait.”
Swallowing another mouthful of his drink, Henri forced a smile and marched toward Victor. His black loafers, black slacks, and black shirt were far too dressy compared to Victor’s slinky bedwear. Sitting opposite Victor, Henri cocked his head in my direction, summoning me to his side.
I went without a word, keeping my chin tipped low and eyes on the carpet.
No one moved as I sank to my knees beside him. My skimpy black negligee with its gauzy lace and ribbony straps showed my pebbled nipples and matching black G-string.
Rachel still wore her white see-through teddy, marking both of us as something to be studied, mauled, and claimed.
“Ah, this is nice.” Victor toasted us from the other side of the couch, his fingers straying through Rachel’s dark hair. “What was I saying? Oh, yes.” Sipping his drink, he smacked his lips. “Do you remember me mentioning the dark web, Henri? Where you can buy all nationalities, ages, and creeds?”
“I remember.” Henri smiled, his outward appearance unruffled all while I sensed his energy as a jagged, jittery mess. “What about it?”
“Well, I had my eyes opened thanks to a friend in Vietnam. I was there checking on my sapphire mine, you see. I happened to mention the next time I visited, I might bring my heir with me. That got us onto the topic of babies.” His eyes narrowed as he leaned forward. “Apparently, I’m a bit of a dinosaur with the dark web and covertly trading skin in very exclusive circles. There’s a new breed of trafficker. So bold and uncaring, they openly trade on mainstream platforms.”
Snow dusted my shoulders.
Rachel hunched over her knees.
And Henri kept his tone insolently bored, all while his energy crackled with rapidly rising disgust. “Oh?”
“It’s all about emoji and code language.” Victor leaned back, gloating at his wisdom. “Triangles and spirals and a bunch of others. These codes are well-known, apparently. I need to study their meanings, but what really intrigued me was the use of popular selling sites.”
Henri coughed on a mouthful of liquor. My own untouched glass sagged, forgotten in my hand.
“What do you mean?” Henri spluttered. “They’re uploading people and taking online bids now?”
“Exactly!” Victor snickered and shook his head. “Unbelievable, isn’t it? In plain view, no less. Right there, beneath people’s noses!”
“How?” Henri scowled. “I don’t understand how they don’t get caught the moment they upload a fucking person. Surely, those sites are monitored. Police would be notified immediately if a missing person suddenly appeared with a price tag.”
“It’s because they don’t upload a person.” Victor tapped his nose. “They upload—”
“Sir?” A soft knock as the door to Victor’s bedroom opened. “Your dinner is here. Shall I have the staff bring it in?”
“Yes, thank you, Tim.” Victor nodded. With a twinkle in his eye, eager to spill such horrendous information, he waited patiently for a few servers to march in, each carrying large trays full of plates and dishes.
I recognised a few of them from being in the kitchens so much. One of the men had smiled at me last week as he dashed out with a trolley full of food.
Silence fell over our group as the staff unloaded the trays and lifted off the silver lids. The glass coffee table went from empty to groaning beneath delicious-looking morsels. Steam curled from platters of vegetable kebabs, saffron rice, perfectly filleted steak, pan-seared fish, chunky homemade fries, and so much more.
Once napkins, plates, and cutlery had been positioned, the staff swept out, and a butler stepped forward. He poured more liquor into Victor’s and Henri’s glasses. The huge crystal decanter trapped rainbows thanks to the chandelier dripping above.
Only once we were alone again and Victor had piled his plate with something from every dish did he sit back, cross his legs, and grin. “They upload clothing.”
“Clothing?” Henri’s forehead furrowed as he gathered some food and reclined. He didn’t take much, and I had a feeling what he did take he wouldn’t eat, and even if he did, it wouldn’t stay down.
My stomach rumbled a little, and I caught Rachel gazing at the food wistfully, but no one offered us the opportunity to join the feast.
Sighing heavily, I placed my untouched glass on the table and balled my hands on my lap.
This will be a long night.
“Yes.” Victor nodded, his words garbled with food. “I saw it with my own eyes. They list a pretty dress and use a header like ‘Stunning Gracie Birthday Dress,’ then in the drop-down box, they have ages instead of sizes. Age six, age eight.” He waved his fork. “Etcetera.”
“And your friend thinks those are links to purchase children?”
“Oh, he doesn’t think, he knows. He’s the one who uploads them. Or at least, one of them. That particular link was for a blonde, slim girl. He said the word Gracie depicts slim and small, whereas other names are different nationalities and shapes. Like I said…it’s all in code.”
Swallowing hard, Henri asked, “But how is a simple girl’s dress suddenly code to buying the actual girl who would wear it?”
“Simple.” Victor passed a chunky fry to Rachel.
She took it and ate it, her appetite not diminished by the abhorrent dinner conversation.
Henri copied Victor but went one step further. Gifting me his entire plate, he muttered, “Eat what you want. I’m not hungry.”
Victor sniffed. “Food not to your liking, Mercer?”
Henri rubbed his palms on his knees. “Had a late lunch. You feed us too well in here. I have to be careful not to indulge.” He chuckled and patted his flat, carved belly. “If I keep eating the way I have, I’ll end up as round as Roland.”
Victor kept staring for a moment, but Henri didn’t flinch.
If Victor looked at the camera footage, he’d see Henri eating a club sandwich in our chambers this afternoon while I’d enjoyed a sweet potato and mushroom wrap. What he wouldn’t see was Henri vomiting it all back up again, thanks to Victor admitting the only place he didn’t put cameras was on the toilet.
For Henri’s sake, I hoped Victor had no idea how often his stomach punished him because even I knew the more his system broke, the more his thoughts unravelled.
Stabbing a piece of succulent fish, Victor accepted Henri’s answer. “Tomorrow, I’ll show you what I mean. These sites are riddled with sales like this. The only difference that makes them stand out is the price.”
“The price?” Henri asked coldly.
“Well, you can’t very well sell a blonde eight-year-old girl for the same price as an ugly dress, now can you? The auction usually starts around thirty thousand, but one of my friend’s listings ended the night I was there, and the final price was fifty-four thousand.”
“Fifty-four thousand?” Henri shook his head, his energy once again coiling and clotting. “Surely these sites would flag those transactions. No one in their right mind would spend that much on a dress.”
“I’m not sure how he gets away with it. But he does.” He winked. “Makes bank too. All he needs is a warehouse to keep merchandise and a way to ship them to their new homes.” He winked. “And here I was thinking I earned a good living mining my jewels once they’d passed their use-by date.”
Rachel stiffened.
My heart stopped.
What?
Henri leaned forward, repeating my horrified silent question. “What? You don’t mean…”
“Organ trade?” Victor stuffed another forkful into his mouth. “Of course! Lucrative. Very lucrative.”
Pinching the bridge of his nose, Henri sucked in a breath before dropping his hand and asking, “You’re saying you carve out the organs of your jewels and sell them?”
“Oops. Cover your ears, Rachel. Ily.” Snickering, Victor tore through a piece of steak with perfect white teeth. “Waste not, want not.” He chuckled at Henri’s slack face. “Oh, I’m sorry. I thought you were ready to hear all aspects of my operation, my friend. My overseer told me that you’ve been diligent in learning how my estate works while I’ve been away.”
“Your overseer?” Henri forced himself to relax again but his energy tangled and snarled. “I mean, I inspected a few of your processes.” He flicked me a look. “And I spoke to a few staff. I also visited your orchards and maintenance areas of your castle. I’m impressed with how well it’s all run.”
“Merci.” Victor grinned. “I appreciate your acknowledgement of the time and effort that goes into running a place such as this. But my apologies.” Chewing another strip of steak, he chuckled. “I thought you might be ready to hear the rest of my business endeavours, but perhaps it’s a tad too soon. Don’t worry, Henri, I won’t expect you to cut out the organs of those I request you to exterminate. I have a man who carefully does that for me. For now…let’s just enjoy our meal and return to other subjects, yes?”
Henri tossed back his entire glass of alcohol before raking a hand through his hair and nodding. “Sure.”
Finishing his meal in contented silence, Victor passed a few morsels to Rachel before reaching for his glass and sighing. Watching her closely as she ate the food he’d given her, Victor leaned forward and kissed her forehead. “It pleases me to see you eating so well, my pet. I’ll ensure you receive three meals a day while carrying my child so my son is born as healthy as can be.”
Licking her lips and lowering her eyelashes, Rachel played a far better slave than I ever could. “Thank you so much, Sir V. Your kindness is much appreciated.”
“Good girl.” Scratching his bare belly, Victor yawned. “Tell me, Henri. Have you ever had the urge to propagate?”
Henri flicked me a horrified look before his face shut down. He shrugged. “Never really crossed my mind.”
“You could knock up your precious jewel. Between the two of you, you’d create a stunning child. It could sell for far more than a measly fifty grand, I’m sure.”
I swayed.
Dark spots danced in my vision.
He couldn’t be serious.
He was a monster, but this? No one could be this extreme. My mind literally couldn’t accept it. Couldn’t fathom that men like him existed. Men who clapped their hands at the thought of selling children.
Our children.
Men who saw nothing wrong with cutting out organs or making a profit from things that ought to be untouchable.
Henri couldn’t hide his temper this time. “You’re saying you’ve gone from a strict no-children policy to suddenly wanting to—”
“Breed my gems like livestock to pad my retirement?” Victor laughed loudly. “Yes, I’m contemplating it. Of course, my guests wouldn’t be open to fucking anything but perfection. However, I’m sure they could be encouraged to impregnate a few. When those chosen jewels get too weathered to be pleasurable, and their bodies have popped out one or two bank deposits, then they’ll be dispatched, and I’ll earn more income with their remains on the black market.” He scratched his jaw. “It really is a smart business decision if you think about it. After all, I’m not getting any younger, and I would really like to buy another island or possibly one of those doomsday fancy bunkers. All the billionaires are building them. Of course, you’d be welcome. We’re family now, you and I.”
A flash of Henri’s loathing appeared. “Family wouldn’t ask each other to sell their own flesh and blood, Vic.”
“Meh. Each family has their own dynamics. Humans are nasty creatures, especially to their loved ones.” He smiled slyly. “You should know. Look at what your brother did to you.”
Shifting to the edge of the couch, Henri bared his teeth. “I’m telling you now, if you think I’d happily hand over a son or daughter, then we’re going to have a big fucking problem. To even suggest such a thing hints you don’t know me as well as you think you do.”
He just smiled. “So you’re not open to knocking Ily up?”
Henri didn’t look in my direction. “She said she’d jump off the roof if I ever got her close to being pregnant, so no, I’m not. I like her alive. I like her in my bed. And if it’s all the same to you, I just want to live a simple life of fucking, writing, reading, and eating—probably in that order. I have no intention of passing on what I am to another or having a fucking kid running underfoot.”
Victor laughed again. “You really are a hoot. You might change your mind one day.”
Balling his hands, Henri didn’t shut himself down as he snarled, “Do whatever you want, Vic. I can’t and won’t stop you. But I remind you that I bought Il—I mean, I bought my little nightmare, fair and fucking square. She’s mine. She isn’t some breeding mare for whatever sideline venture you start. Got it?”
Holding up his hands, Victor snickered. “Heard loud and clear.” Dropping his arms, he curled his fingers into Rachel’s hair. “But you know…if you don’t have a child, your bloodline will end with you. The Mercer line will die out, which would be such a pity.”
Rachel pursed her lips as we shared a look.
Tension crackled in the room.
Henri sat straight, his motions deliberately slow. “That’s wrong. You know my brother has a son. You heard on the phone, same as me.”
“Oh yes, I heard. Lino. It’s true, but…it won’t be for long.”
My heart skipped a beat.
No…
I didn’t even know these people, but the thought of Victor going after them. Going after Henri’s nephew.
God, I’m going to be sick.
When Henri didn’t reply, Victor grinned. “Your brother managed to keep that piece of information quiet. He knew it would paint the biggest target on his back.” His eyes glinted. “At least Q won’t be an issue for you soon.”
Henri stopped breathing. His voice came out like dry ice. “What do you mean?”
“I mean I used his ultimate weakness against him. I heard his wife was stolen early on in their relationship, and it almost destroyed him.” His smile was utterly inhuman. “So...I went after his child.”
The plate of untouched food slid off my lap and tumbled all over the white carpet.
Victor sniffed with annoyance. “God’s sake, clean that up. If that carpet stains, I’ll skin you to replace it.”
My pulse roared in my ears.
I couldn’t move.
“Now, Ilyana!” Victor roared, bypassing my shock and electrifying my limbs.
Darting to my feet, I charged into the marble-tiled bathroom, grabbed an armful of towels, dumped one into the sink to soak with water, then raced back to the mess on the floor.
Henri scooped up the food and placed the plate on the coffee table. Without a word, he wiped his hands on the wet towel and then sat back on the couch.
His entire system had shut down.
No energy bled through.
No hint of what he felt.
Scrubbing at the carpet, I kept my eyes on him. He shrugged as if he didn’t care. “You’ve killed his son?”
“Not yet.” Victor sighed. “My team has finally tracked down where he goes to school. They’re on their way to grab him now, actually. Once Q goes after them, well…let’s just say his wife will be a childless widow, and in all fairness, you should inherit the Mercer estate. I can see if my lawyers could arrange that if you’d like? Last I heard, he was worth over a billion euros.”
My hands stilled.
Victor cocked his eyebrow in warning.
I kept scrubbing.
Finally, Henri reclined and exhaled as if he’d given up every last piece of himself. He looked exhausted—as if he couldn’t keep doing this dance. The vacantness in his grey eyes terrified me. The coldness wafting from his body dusted the air with frost. “It’s fine. Let his wife have the estate.”
“You’re far too good a brother, even now.” Victor pouted. “You know, mon ami. It hurts me to see you ostracised even amongst your own kind. You’re desperately lonely, and I understand now that I shouldn’t have left you alone for so long. You’re unhappy, and seeing as you’re quickly becoming my only true friend in this world, I did this for you, don’t you see? I figured out a way to prevent your brother from killing you the moment you’re off my island. Next time I travel, you can come with me. Won’t that be nice? In fact, Rachel and Ilyana can join us. Just the four of us…or five, depending on due dates.”
He gave Rachel a doting look before glancing at Henri. “I know you’ll feel guilty that your brother and nephew will soon be dead, but you shouldn’t. He failed you, and you deserve better. You have my word that I’ll always look out for you. As long as you are loyal and honest with me, we can have differing opinions and agree to disagree. I want you to be yourself, Henri. How many of your past acquaintances can say that? How many people have you had to hide from? Do you even know how to be yourself?” He shook his head kindly. “Even now. Even after the opportunity to become who you truly are, you continue to fight it. You’re not well, my friend, and it’s an honour to be the one to help you because you need looking after.”
Victor’s voice tinged with passion, not giving room for anyone else to speak. “Before you came along, I had no such nurturing instincts. To be honest, I despise most people—my guests included—but you…you remind me so much of me at your age that I catch myself remembering those days when I too had no one. The days when I could barely get out of bed because the heavy weight of depression refused to let me breathe. I’ve skimmed enough of the camera footage to see those same sufferings in you. It doesn’t seem as if you’ve indulged in pleasure since I left. You’ve barely eaten. You write feverishly, yet there’s nothing to show for it on your computer. You’re breaking beneath what you think you should be and what you truly are, and I need you to listen to me because I’ve been there. I was you. I hated myself for the longest time. I even feared myself and yes, I made myself sick with the urges in my blood. It wasn’t until I became accepting of my truth that I found happiness.”
“Wait.” Henri held up his hand, stilling Victor’s speech. “You read my manuscript? How?”
Victor ducked his chin, guilt tinging his cheekbones. “Ah, yes, I know I shouldn’t have, but…I have a big nose too.” He tapped it with a laugh. “I told you I was eager to read your book, so I was disappointed to find only blank pages.”
“Ever heard of asking first?” Henri sniffed.
“Does it look like I ask for consent?” He chuckled. “Besides, if I’d asked you, you might’ve said no—”
“I would’ve definitely said no. It was personal.”
“Is that why you deleted it?”
Henri’s eyes tightened. “Amongst other reasons.”
“What reasons?”
Rachel and I looked between the two men as if we were watching a tennis match. The rising testosterone, the tension.
I didn’t think Henri would answer him, but he strangled, “I’ve been remembering my childhood. It turns out I repressed everything. Writing unfortunately unlocked that repression.”
“Interesting.” Victor topped up both their glasses. Glancing at my untouched one, he commanded. “Drink that, Ilyana. I won’t ask again.”
Henri glanced at me; he gave me the slightest nod.
With gritted teeth, I grabbed the glass, shot it back, and grimaced.
Vodka.
Victor refilled it, then turned his attention back to Henri on the couch. “So…what have you been remembering? Tell me. I wonder if our childhoods were the same, and that’s why we’re so similar.”
My nose wrinkled.
Henri might want dark things, but he was nothing like Victor. I couldn’t picture him hacking up a body to sell the heart or a kidney of someone he used to know—
Then again, he’d filleted Kyle pretty good.
He stabbed him so many times I’d lost count.
Different…
That was different.
Is it?
Murder was murder.
A life was a life.
“I seem to have been one of my father’s favourites,” Henri finally muttered. “He made me…help.”
“Ah! That explains your needs, then. I can imagine—from what I heard about him and his harem—that my island must feel familiar. A coming home of sorts.”
“You could say that.” Henri flicked me an unreadable glance.
Victor clapped his hands, making me jump. “I want to hear all about your memories, mon ami. Not because I wish to upset you by dragging up a childhood you refused to recall but because it has become my own personal task to make you happy. I will teach you how to shed the parts of yourself holding you back. I will give you the same joy you touched the night you finished Ruby Tears. That freedom can be yours again. You only need to reach out and claim it.”
Henri didn’t say anything as Victor stood and stretched, his satin pyjama pants revealing every part of him.
He was hard.
And not wearing any underwear, judging by the grotesque outline.
“But right now, I’m hungry for a different sort of delicacy.” Bending over Rachel, he cupped her cheek. “I’m going to be rather possessive of you now I’ve accepted the gift you’re giving me. For the next year, you will serve no one but me. However…” His navy eyes flickered to Henri. “There is a matter of a small debt, and I don’t like IOU’s hanging over me. So…for tonight only, I will share.”
Every bone in my body locked.
Rachel sucked in a breath. “Sir V?”
Pressing a soft, chaste kiss to her mouth, Victor stood and crossed his arms. “Master H won you in Emerald Bruises. You wear his fading marks even now. Please allow him to claim his prize and make him as happy as you make me.”
Rachel shot me a horrified look but bowed her chin and nodded. “Yes, Sir V. Forgive me, Sir V, but…are you asking me to present to Master H?”
Victor nodded with a chill. “I am. Allow my friend to fuck you. Accept a part of his darkness so he can breathe a little easier. And if you please him, I’ll order your favourite caramel crème cheesecake and draw you a bath so you can soak away his cum before those swimmers get anywhere near my baby.”
My heart literally splashed onto the dirty stain on the carpet.
Raw, stinging tears cut my eyes.
I loved Rachel as much as I loved Peter.
She was my friend.
She was a prisoner.
But the thought of her sleeping with Henri?
She…she can’t.
He’s mine.
He’s…
My lungs stuck together.
A panic attack hotter and darker than the one that’d smothered me in the library that first day threatened to make me hyperventilate.
Henri.
Henri with Rachel.
Rachel with Henri.
Henri inside Rachel.
Henri…
It took forever and a million broken hearts before Henri slowly raised his chin and swallowed hard.
His eyes sought mine.
Torment carved deep crags in his face.
With a quiet shift, he planted a hand on my quaking shoulder. “It’s fine, Vic. I relinquish my right of winning. She’s the mother of your heir and—”
“You will, and I’ll tell you why.” Victor clasped his fingers in front of his red silk robe. “You’re boxing yourself into yet another black hole. This one might be different to the black hole you existed in out there in society, but in here, you’ve found a way to imprison yourself all over again. It seems as if you haven’t touched Ilyana in weeks. You have urges. You have needs. By ignoring those needs, you compound your suffering, and I’m sick of it. Do you hear me? You’re doing exactly what you did to your childhood and repressing yourself all over again. I won’t let you mope around my home. I won’t let you fade away all because you’re too afraid to be free. So…”
Victor marched toward me, snatched me around the elbow, and yanked me to my feet. “Take the gift I’m so generously giving you. Fuck my favourite jewel all while I fuck yours. A trade. An exchange. We’ll agree that all other types of play are off the table. I won’t hurt Ilyana, and you won’t hurt Rachel. Tonight is just a simple fuck and—”
“So that’s what this is about?” Henri soared to his feet. “You think you could distract me so you could take what’s mine?”
“No, I’m being courteous by offering to break the rut you’re obviously in. You need to fuck other jewels, mon ami. Monogamy does not work for men like us. Feelings do not work for men like us. They only trap us and make us suffer.”
Grabbing my other elbow, Henri tugged me. “Let her go. I’m open to a night of pleasure, Vic, but if it’s all the same to you, I’ll stick my dick in what belongs to me.”
Victor yanked me back, treating me like a toy two boys wanted. “I’m aware you haven’t had an authority figure for most of your life, Henri, so you’re not used to receiving instructions, but I must warn you, rather carefully, that this is not a negotiation.”
Ripping me out of Henri’s hold, Victor shoved me behind him.
I crashed to my knees beside Rachel.
Grabbing my hand, Rachel hissed into my ear, “I’m sorry. So sorry. I don’t want to. I would do anything to—”
“Enough!” Henri roared. “This isn’t happening. I’ve changed my mind, Victor. I’ll give you whatever you want, but the option of fucking Il—her—is no longer—”
“My dear friend.” Stepping into Henri, Victor grabbed his cheeks.
The shock of Victor holding him so intimately made Henri speechless.
“I know you don’t see it yet, but I’m doing this for your own good.” Kissing Henri on the cheek, Victor whispered, “This is happening. There is absolutely nothing you can do to stop it. You need a gentle little push, and I’m more than happy to push you. In fact, if the next words out of your mouth are something along the lines of not being able to get it up for anyone other than Ilyana, then I will force a little blue pill down your throat and prove to you that you can and will fuck other people, despite your broken little conscience telling you that you can’t.”
Henri grabbed Victor’s wrists, ready to yank his hold away, but Victor dug his fingernails into his cheekbones. “Don’t make me summon my guards, Mercer. You’re going to do this. You’re going to fuck another all so you can break out of this self-imposed prison, or…I’ll get my guards to beat you to a pulp. A good thrashing would do you the world of good. It might even help you snap.”
Trembling with rage, Henri snarled, “I’m telling you as the winner of that stupid game, I’ll claim the girl I shot the most. Il…fuck…” He swallowed hard and spat, “Ily. I shot Ily. You saw how many bruises she wore. She’s the one I want. The one I’m owed.”
Letting Henri go, Victor splayed his hands. “And I’m not taking away what is rightfully yours. I’m merely sharing. We’re big boys. We can share, can we not? I assure you Rachel is a good fuck. Probably even better than Ilyana. She actually tries to please instead of shutting down and enduring it.”
Inhaling deeply as if Henri still tested his patience, Victor shrugged. “Your choice. Your choice to take the gift I’m so generously giving you and then grant me the same courtesy by offering up what’s yours, or…you can spend the next few weeks nursing a few more bruises. What’s it going to be?”
Henri shot me a look.
I had no idea what went through his head, but he looked as if he was seconds away from either slaughtering Victor or going into cardiac arrest. Balling his hands, he hissed, “Ily’s education is mine. You said it so yourself. As her teacher, I’m not comfortable trading her yet. She’s not obedient enough for you. I fear…” His face twisted with loathing. “I fear she won’t live up to your expectations, and I’ll let you down.”
Victor snickered. “Your concern for my pleasure is touching but never fear.” Stalking toward me, he scooped me from the carpet and dragged me into his arms. “Like I said, tonight we won’t do anything else apart from a quick fuck. I’m tired. I’m jet-lagged. Tomorrow, we’ll play in the snuffbox where I can help guide you with her education. For now, I just want to come so I can sleep soundly.” He pouted as he nuzzled me close. “You won’t deny me a quick release, will you?”
I couldn’t look at Henri.
Couldn’t look at Rachel.
My head filled with static. My heart transformed into a rabbit.
Images of Mollie with Roland down below. Peter with that brown-bearded guy, and all the other jewels currently serving out monsters’ fantasies.
All of us existed in different nightmares.
The new jewels would be petrified.
Their arms sore from injections and blood tests. Their entire souls screaming that there had to have been some mistake.
I locked onto their misery instead of mine.
The empathy for them threatened to cripple me, but I would be strong for them.
I had to be strong for them.
Whatever they went through downstairs was far worse than this.
This was just sex.
Victor wouldn’t hit me, strike me, or hurt me.
A simple transaction of bodily fluids, and it would all be over.
It’s fine.
I can do this.
You knew this would happen one day…
My teeth chattered as I pictured him inside me. My insides revolted at the thought of him ejaculating—
Oh God.
Swallowing hard, I met Henri’s gaze, and something happened.
Something unexplainable and mystifying.
The world fell away as I sank into his hurting silver stare.
I didn’t feel Victor’s touch. Didn’t sense Rachel’s warmth against my leg.
Just him.
And in some puzzling, incomprehensible heartbeat, I felt him.
I’m sorry. His eyes screamed.
I can’t stop this. His entire soul howled.
For the first time since we met, I saw him. Felt him. Heard him.
God, did I hear him.
His anguish.
His heartbreak.
His horror.
How had I not heard him up till now? How had I not seen behind his mask and mirrors and found the missing piece of…me?
Every illusion fell away.
He was no longer the handsome demigod who defied all facets of male beauty. No longer the man I hated or the man I lusted for.
I saw him.
My twin soul.
Twin flame.
Everything the Vedic astrologer told me that fateful day collided with a heart-shattering implosion.
We would one day destroy each other.
But that day was not today.
Today, we were one, and I could survive this as long as he was near.
He could survive this as long as I was near.
Him with Rachel.
Me with Victor.
Both unwanted but…they didn’t matter.
The only thing that mattered was this. Our connection. Our bond that’d grown like weeds through concrete, tenacious and insidious.
And that? God, that was blisteringly profound.
It’s okay. I half smiled.
I won’t watch. I arched my chin.
It’ll be over soon…
I didn’t know if he could catch my silent words, but he staggered to the side and groaned.
The silence of our stare screeched to a stop, and the world rushed back in.
Victor’s aftershave of musk and tart citrus.
Rachel’s soft presence on the floor.
And the sickening fear in my veins.
“Y-You know what, Vic…” Henri stuttered. “I’m not in the mood to fuck, so Rachel can have a night off.” Squeezing his eyes shut, he opened them again and raked a shaking hand through his hair. “I accept I can’t stop you from claiming Ily. We made a bargain and…fuck. I’m not gonna lie and say I’m okay with it, but…” Wiping his mouth, he sat heavily on the couch. “Just fucking get it over with.”
His eyes met mine.
They glimmered sterling as if he was moments away from tears.
The memory of my vow came back to haunt me.
The day I’d given him a blowjob by the pond, I’d promised to make him weep. To sob.
Was this the catalyst that would break him?
He can’t.
If Victor knew I’d somehow become Henri’s ultimate weakness…
He’ll make him use that Diamond Kiss chit—
Huffing with disappointment, Victor let me go. “Well, that isn’t part of the plan, Mercer. Forgive me if I don’t fancy you looming over me, watching my every thrust.”
Without Victor holding me, I dropped to my knees beside Rachel. Our fingers instantly entwined. I wanted to tell her it was okay. None of us had a choice. I wouldn’t allow jealousy to coat the very real notion that as much as I enjoyed sleeping with Henri…to her, it would still be rape.
And perhaps, just perhaps—because this place screwed up even the most sane of people—a small part of her would be jealous of me with Victor.
“All things pass,” I whispered under my breath. “Whatever happens…in an hour, this will all be over.”
She sniffed and squeezed my fingers so hard they hurt. “Together. We’re in this together.”
I squeezed back.
I grabbed the second glass of vodka and tossed it back.
And together, we waited for what came next.