He stops in his tracks, dark eyes narrowing into slits. “It doesn’t belong to you anymore,” he snarls. “You’re property of the Kings, remember?”
I swallow past the lump in my throat, fingers twisting in the fabric of his borrowed sweatshirt. “I’ll do… other stuff, if I have to,” I mumble, the words tasting like poison on my tongue. “But notthat. I’mnotmy mother.”
I hold my breath as the three of them turn to look at one another, another silent conversation passing between them. It’s actually a little spooky that they can have an entire discussion with glances alone, and also frustrating as hell since I’m left out of it.
“Fine,” Raf eventually grumbles, stuffing his hands into his pockets.
“Consider it a signing bonus,” Ford adds with a chuckle.
I exhale a ragged sigh of relief, though I know I haven’t really won anything. I’m as good as trapped in this arrangement. But I’m still here, still fighting, and that’s what’ll get me through. And if I have to debase myself along the way… well, the sexual favors I’ve already performed for them weren’tallbad. There were definitely some moments I’ve replayed in my mind since, right here in this bed.
Raf throws me one last glare before he turns to leave, a silent promise in his dark eyes. I stare right back at him, refusing to blink, refusing to let him see how rattled I am.
“Pack your shit and meet us upstairs,” he deadpans. “You have one hour.”
My heart hammers in my chest as the other two join him in walking to the door, all three disappearing through it like departing ghouls.
They think it’s over. They think I’m theirs.
They’re wrong.
As the door clicks shut behind the Kings, the full weight of what just happened crashes over me. My whole world has just shifted, and I need to find my footing fast if I’m going to survive.
I draw a shaky breath, wiping at the tears that finally spill down my cheeks. The conversation we just had still hangs in the air, heavy and suffocating, but so does something else.
Hope.
I have no illusions about what I’ve agreed to, but I’m not as alone as they think. I’m a resourceful girl. Not only will I find a way out of this, but I’ll also find some way to bring them down, to beat them at their own game.
I curl up on the bed, letting the anger and determination wash over me. Their offer, their threat, their trap– it’s all there, pressing down, but I’ll figure out how to turn this situation in my favor. I have no other choice.
I’m theirDoll.I don’t know what kind of archaic secret society bullshit I’ve just gotten myself into, but if I’m living with the Kings, I’m sure I’ll learn soon enough. This is an opportunity to unearth the skeletons in their closets, and I’ll definitely be paying attention this time.
The room feels like it’s shrinking around me as I lie back, letting the tangle of emotions and plans consume me. It’s not the end, not yet. Maybe not ever. Not while I can still breathe, still fight, still hope.
I close my eyes and draw a few deep, calming breaths, knowing this is just the beginning.
CHAPTER 32
RAF
I wakeup in a foul mood, sleep tearing off like a bad bandage. Ava’shere, in our apartment, wedged under my skin like a splinter. We moved her into the spare bedroom last night, and it just so happens to be right next to mine. I barely slept knowing she was right on the other side of the damn wall, invading my space and my mind.
My fingers curl inward, fisting the comforter at the memory of her trailing behind Ford like a puppy as he showed her around our apartment, taking everything in with wide-eyed wonder.
Or was that fear?
It’s hard to tell with her, considering she gets off on submission. She tries to hide it, but I’ve seen the way her pupils dilate in response to our rough treatment, I’ve heard the way her breath hitches in response to praise. She only fights back because she hates how much she loves it. She’s a virgin, but she’s also a whore deep down, just like her mother.
Wes and Ford are thrilled with this arrangement, and that only pisses me off more. They should have my back, not be pandering to Ava like she’s fucking special. She’snothing, and the thought of having her here under our roof feels like poison running through my veins.
I swing my legs over the side of the bed and quickly pull on a hoodie and a pair of jeans, needing to get the fuck out of here before I suffocate. Maybe I’ll skip my morning class and hit the gym, burn off some of this aggression on the weight bench. Just as I open my door to leave my bedroom, though, I hear it. Clattering from the kitchen and a soft, feminine giggle.
Someone thinks they fucking belong here.
By the time I’m halfway down the hall, I’m seething, the commotion from the kitchen getting louder as I draw closer. My jaw clenches at the sound of another laugh, the smell of something burning hitting my nose as I turn the corner. When I absorb the scene unfolding in the kitchen, it takes everything I have to hold back the volcano of rage that threatens to erupt.
Ford and Wes are sitting at the table, watching Ava clumsily attempt to cook something on the stove. The sleeves of her Corvus College hoodie are bunched up at the elbows, her chestnut hair wavy and wild. Wes has a dopey grin plastered across his face, like this is the most amusing thing he’s ever seen, while Ford taps his fork against his plate in demand, loudly complaining that she’s taking too long to bring him food.
