Chapter 23
HIM
For years I imagined this moment so many different ways that it stopped feeling real somewhere along the line. It became a ritual instead, something I fed whenever the nights got too quiet and Reed’s face came back sharper than sleep could dull.
I pictured her begging, screaming, denying, breaking.
I pictured myself satisfied. Now she hangs in front of me, bruised and shaking, blood drying in thin lines over pale skin, and the truth is far less simple.
Because after all these years of waiting, after every mile of rage that dragged me here, I still don’t know where to begin.
Cain stands off to the side, breathing hard, anger still rolling off him in waves. He needed the outburst. I need something cleaner—something slower.
I step toward her and watch her entire body tense in response. The chain above her trembles with the movement, metal whispering through the room. Her eyes dart between me and Cain, searching for whichever monster feels safer.
How adorable.
“I’m not going to ask why you bullied my brother,” I say softly, the calmness in my voice making her recoil harder than rage ever could.
“That part stopped mattering a long time ago.” I step into her space until I can smell fear on her skin and see tears trembling in her eyes. “I only want one honest answer.”
Her breathing turns ragged.
“Did you enjoy it?”
Something in her expression shifts, like the question wounded her more than everything else put together.
“But I didn’t…”
I press one bare finger lightly to her lips, silencing her before the lie can finish. Her whole body flinches at the touch.
“Oh, but you did.” I say it so gently it almost sounds comforting. “You did, kitten. You wanted it, and you loved it.” I let the word settle into her, then drag my hand away slowly before slipping the glove from my other hand and tucking it into my back pocket.
“I know your type,” I continue, circling her at an easy pace while she turns helplessly to follow me.
“And I’m not the only one. This whole town knows you.
The pretty little princess who feeds on attention like oxygen.
You like humiliating people who have less than you.
You like knowing everyone watches when you speak.
You like the power of making someone smaller.
” I circle behind her and lower my lips near her ear, forcing her to listen for every word.
“You don’t just enjoy cruelty, Sierra. You perform it. ”
A broken sound leaves her throat. Whether it’s denial or fear, I don’t care enough to decide. When I step back in front of her again, I take my time looking her over, letting the silence work harder than words.
“And now,” I tilt my head as a crooked smile pulls at my mouth, “you’re finally getting exactly what you always wanted.” My hand lifts, fingers brushing the chain above her wrists before giving it a sharp tug that makes her gasp as her body jolts upward.
“All eyes on you.” The smile stays hidden beneath the balaclava while amusement slips easily through every word. “Enjoy,” I murmur. “You spent years craving attention, kitten. Tonight you drown in it.”
“But I didn’t kill him!” she screams, voice shredding itself on the way out. “Vince did it. He was driving!”
The sound that leaves me starts low in my chest before it breaks free entirely. Laughter spills through the room in sharp bursts, then in full, ugly waves I don’t bother containing.
God, listen to her. Even now, hanging naked in chains with blood on her skin and fear dripping off every breath, she reaches for the same instinct that built her whole life.
Pass the blame.
Save herself.
It amuses me more than it should.
“I bullied Reed, yes,” she sobs, words tumbling over each other. “But we were young. We were kids. I didn’t want him to die.”
“You fucking bitch!” Cain is on her before the echo dies.
His palm cracks across her face so hard her head is thrown sideways, the chain above her screaming in protest as her body swings with the force of it.
Her lip splits instantly. A thin line of dark red spills over her mouth, slides down her chin, then falls in slow drops to the concrete below.
Beautiful.
“He burned alive, you worthless cunt!” Cain roars in her face, one hand locked around her throat, hauling her higher on the chain.
Her feet scrape uselessly against the floor while her eyes blow wide, her entire body jerking violently against the restraints as she chokes beneath the pressure of his hand.
“You could’ve called the fire brigade! The police!
An ambulance!” Each word comes rougher than the last, years of grief sharpened into rage.
“You could’ve tried to help him!” He squeezes harder, forcing Sierra’s mouth open in a silent choke.
“But no,” he spits. “You ran. Ran like the selfish little whore you’ve always been. ”
I stay where I am, hands loose at my sides, and watch the scene like a favorite film I’ve waited years to rewatch.
“Did you enjoy hurting my little brother?” Cain snarls. “Your turn now.”
Then he does something that nearly makes me grin. He grabs the back of her head, crashes his mouth to hers, and instead of kissing, sinks his teeth into her lower lip—hard.
Her scream tears through the room so violently it bounces off brick and steel. Tears pour down her cheeks as he holds for one brutal second longer before ripping away.
Blood smears across his mouth and chin, bright against his skin.
When he finally releases her throat, she drops against the restraints in a broken collapse, coughing and shaking as sobs tear through split lips and ruined breaths.
He wipes at his jaw with the back of his hand, glances at the blood streaked there for a lingering second as if it means something, then lifts his eyes to me—that dangerous smile cutting across his face.
“Go ahead, Dom.” He steps back without taking his eyes off me. “She’s all yours now.”
“Oh, come on, bro… did you really have to do that?” I rip the balaclava off my face before tossing it aside, frustration bleeding through every word. “I was actually enjoying myself undercover.”
Sierra looks at me, and whatever fear she felt before turns into something far worse. Recognition slams into her, and her face goes completely pale. Her eyes widen, fixed on mine, while her split lips part around a breath that never becomes sound.
I smile slowly, enjoying the way her body starts shaking harder against the chain.
“Yeah. That’s the look I was waiting for.” I let the silence sit between us, enjoying the way her body trembles under the weight of recognition. “Take a seat brother, and enjoy the show,” I tell Cain, flicking a hand toward the sofa without taking my eyes off her.
He gives me a short smile and drops back into the leather, whiskey once again in his hand, looking far too comfortable for a man covered in someone else’s blood.
He lifts the glass toward Sierra in a lazy little gesture.
“Remember this,” he says, voice smooth and almost friendly. “I was the kinder one.”
Her breathing catches at that, which pleases me more than it should. Fear is always sweetest when it arrives in layers.
While she struggles helplessly above the floor, I reach into my pocket and pull out the small device I bought days ago, turning it between my fingers with the quiet pride of a man unveiling something chosen with care. Then I step in front of her and hold it up where she can see it clearly.
“This,” I breathe out, a slow smirk pulling at my lips, “is for your cunt.”
Her eyes drop to it for half a second before snapping back to my face, as if refusing to understand might somehow save her from it.
I rotate it again, pointing with casual enthusiasm.
“This part goes inside your pussy, nice and deep, and this part sits right over your clit.” My smile deepens the second I notice the shift in her expression.
“So… in conclusion,” I continue, my tone almost cheerful, “you’ll be getting double the fun and absolutely no time to recover after each orgasm. ”
With my free hand, I reach into my pocket and pull out a small remote, lifting it so she can see it clearly.
“Because all of it will be controlled by…” I pause, glancing toward Cain. “Drum roll, please.” I flick the remote through the air, and Cain catches it one-handed without spilling a single drop of his drink.
“My brother.”
He smiles over the rim of his glass, dark satisfaction settling into his features as Sierra looks between us and finally understands that mercy was never invited into this room.
“Now, be a good little kitten, and stay still,” I tell her as I force her legs apart, keeping her pinned in place while horror flickers across her face in an instant.
I bring the device closer to her cunt, watching every muscle in her body tighten until she looks ready to shatter from anticipation alone. Then I pause, stare at it, and let out a low, disbelieving laugh.
“Unbelievable.” My tone drips with sarcastic shock. “Look at that.” I lift my gaze to hers, letting the humiliation land before the words do. “My little kitten is already wet.”
I raise the toy between two fingers and turn toward Cain, presenting it like evidence in a trial.
“Would you look at that, brother,” I say, dragging the words out slowly. “It’s almost like she knows what’s waiting for her.”
“Just get on with it already,” Cain orders, patience finally fraying at the edges, which only makes laughter rise in my throat.
“Let the game begin,” I drawl, still smiling as I move toward her.
One hand catches her leg and lifts it, forcing her balance to shift while the chain above her wrists rattles sharply in protest, and with the other, I push the toy inside her without warning.
The device settles perfectly into place, its outer edge fitting over her clit with precise, deliberate pressure.