“Yes. Now.”
She sighs, looks away again. “Malachi, this isn’t what it was anymore. I’m not ready, and you shouldn’t want this body now anyway.”
I don’t know what the hell that last bit meant, but if she’s inferring that I shouldn’t want her now she’s been raped, she’s wrong. I want her more than I did before. “Would you rather I did it for you?”
Her face spins back to me. “You wouldn’t. We’re in a room full of people.”
“Why would you think I give a damn about that?” She frowns and keeps looking at me. “I could buy every single one of them off, or slap a nondisclosure notice on each of them before they leave the room. They all know that. My lawyer's over there.” I lift a hand and point to old Reggie, smiling at him as he nods back at me. “I can introduce you if you like. Or you could meet him at the funeral tomorrow.” Her mouth opens. I’m not finished. “Believe me, Alice, if I wanted to spread your legs on this piano and fuck you in front of everyone, not one word would be uttered after the event. That’s who I am here.” I’m not sure if it’s shock on her face or more of the irritation I like so much, building again. Either way, I don’t like her challenging a request. Especially not when it’s for her own good. “If being raped doesn’t challenge your worth other than you thinking I don’t want you anymore, then show me who you were before it happened. Lose the damn underwear.”
Still nothing but shock.
I don’t fucking care anymore.
Chapter 10
Ally
His hands stop playing and the slow turn of his eyes tells me exactly what’s about to happen if I don’t do as he’s asked. They’re coal black now, like Devil's night. They remind me of him back when he hunted and roamed his dancefloor – pupils dilated, veins risen in his hands. He’s all action and desire, primal thoughts and no concern for my well being. I should care about that, perhaps be frightened because of what I’ve been through. I’m not. Not really. It’s only the surprise that will get me – the speed of him coming at me when he’s decided it’s the right time.
I glance back into the room, looking at the other guests dining here. They’re watching us. A few are trying not to, but most of them are waiting to see what happens with Malachi Jones and this new unknown in the room. Maybe he does this sort of thing often. Drags women to venues like this so he can put on a show for his friends. I’m not one of those women. Raped or not. Murderer or not. Running or not. I am not someone who will just bend to the whims of, as he says, the corrupt and elite. I’m not entertainment. I’m also not a fucking whore.
Not for anyone.
Heart? No. I don’t believe it.
We are not two out here in the real world.
We just helped each other out.
Our bargain is done.
I lift my dress slightly and turn, elaborate heels heading me straight back towards the entrance so I can leave. I’ll walk if I have to. I’ll walk straight back to his place and get Brett and Brandon and we’ll run again. Brandon was right – it’s time to go.
A man in a suit stands directly in front of the doors the moment I get there. He stares. No movement out of my way. I look back at Malachi, watching as the rest of the guests start getting up in my line of vision. They file out of another door one by one, none of them looking at me. I guess here, even in this city filled with wealth, he can do whatever he wants with people.
It’s eventually just us looking at each other.
No sound. No music.
Nothing.
“Is that better Ally cat?” My frown drops. He hasn’t used that in a long time. “Leaving won’t work. You’re not going anywhere. There is no running from me. I told you that.”
“So now I’m a prisoner?” He smiles, as if that’s a thought he’s happy with. “You can’t force me to stay, Malachi.”
“I can. I could blackmail you forever, but I’d rather you chose to. Although, the fighting, as you know, is as welcome.”
He chuckles to himself about something and stands, stripping the bow tie from his neck. The top button gets flicked open, and then the next, and the next until he’s pulling both the jacket and shirt off. The view does nothing to calm my mood. I feel caged in again, made to do something I don’t want. I’ve had enough of that, and this is not his castle where pills change reality.
I watch as he gets closer, trying to ignore the lights from outside as they bounce off his torso and sparkle in his eyes. My hands go up, flared in an attempt to stop him. “No.”
“Lose the underwear, Alice. Now. I’ve been patient with you long enough.”
“Patient? I thought you were being compassionate.”
“Never really have understood what that word meant.” He reaches, grabs the shoulder of my dress and yanks it so sharply the material rips away from me. “It’s time you remembered who I am and said thankyou some more.”
I frown again, turn to look at the man by the door for help. Fuck knows why because he’s not there and even if he was he wouldn’t do a thing to get me out of this.
