I held Harlow in my arms with an angelic smile on my face, wondering how she didn’t see right through me. I had never thought of myself as an amazing liar, but I surprised myself every day.

Once she was feeling a bit better, I walked her to the guest bedroom and kissed her cheek before she drifted off into a restless sleep. I watched her for a while, the mean side of me demanding I hurt her in some way while she was so vulnerable.

I was surprised by the nagging little voice telling me to pinch her, pull her hair, do something to hurt her. I could still manage to resist it, but still, the feeling was strange and unfamiliar. I’d never wished Harlow bad before. That is before she stole my fucking man.

Once she was fast asleep, I walked out of the room and shut the door behind me despite Harlow asking me to leave a crack open so some light would fill the room. Oh well, it wasn’t the worst thing I could have done.

I went to my own bedroom and decided to prepare myself for the next thing I was about to do. I put on a silk nightie, paired it with a kimono robe, and fluffed my hair. Then, I walked into Daddy’s study in the apartment which had been strictly off limits since I was a little girl. But that night, I didn’t care about any of those rules.

I sat down in my father’s chair and twirled around, a bright smile on my lips. Then, I picked up the phone and dialed the number I’d memorized.

“Hello?” a terse voice answered, and I smiled to myself, knowing that for once, the ace was up my sleeve.

“Hello,” I said sweetly.

“Are they with you?” the voice barked. “We’re on our way.”

“No, they’re not with me,” I lied smoothly. “But I know where they are. I want to speak to him.”

“You don’t get to ask for that,” Pia snarled at me.

I could sense the animosity in her voice but I didn’t really give a shit. I was finally going to get what I’d wanted all along. I’d been waiting long enough, after all.

“I’m afraid I won’t be able to divulge Harlow and Amber’s location to you,” I told her in my best fake polite voice. “I’ll only speak to Thorn, so please put him on the phone.”

A long pause followed and my heart beat erratically in my chest. Then, I heard the phone being snatched away from Pia as a male voice answered.

“Hello?” he growled. “Carina?”

Just like always, I melted at the mere sound of his voice. He was addictive, delicious, dark and depraved but oh-so-wonderful nonetheless. Exactly what I was missing.

“Do you know where they are?” he asked roughly, and I let out a sigh of annoyance.

He was supposed to be wondering about me, worried about me. Why was he still on about Harlow? Hadn’t she proved how fucking disloyal she was by running away from him? It seemed like Thorn would never learn his lesson when it came to my friend, though I was more than willing to help him get there.

“Maybe,” I purred seductively.

I could practically see his knuckles turning white around the phone. He was angry with me, but I didn’t give a shit. I held the power, and we both knew it.

“I know where you live, Carina,” he growled. “I’m in London already. We’re going to drop by the studio tomorrow.”

“Don’t bother,” I said cheerfully. “By the way, the girls told me all about you. You sure do seem like a monster. I didn’t want to believe them at first, but after everything I’ve heard, I guess they must be right.”

He didn’t respond, probably too busy grinding his teeth together. But all I did was smile sweetly before going on.

“So, will you work with me or not?” I asked.

“Listen, you stupid little girl,” Thorn growled down the line. “I know where you live. I know who your parents are. I could have all three of you dead by the morning. Do you understand?”

I didn’t respond, just smiling to myself as I waited for him to go on with his stupid threats that meant nothing to me.

“I mean it,” he went on. “Don’t think I’ll stop at hurting you, you little-”

“I know you mean it,” I went on sweetly. “I know you do. But you know, I’ve been thinking about the same thing! Isn’t that funny?”

“What the fuck do you mean?” he growled. “What the fuck are you on about?”

“I was thinking,” I went on excitedly. “How easy it would be to hurt Harlow.”

A silence lay between us and I giggled before going on.

“We have lots of sharp objects around here, you know,” I sighed, twirling a letter opener between my fingers. “I could slit her throat just like that, and it would all be over. You don’t want to push me over the edge now, do you, Thorn? You don’t want me to lose my patience? I’ve been so very good to you, haven’t I? I’ve been waiting like a good girl…”

“What do you want?” he ground out, and I smiled triumphantly.

I knew I wouldn’t be able to play him forever. My window was small, but I intended using it to my advantage. And while Harlow was under my roof, I was free to feed him lie after lie until he gave me what I wanted.

“Don’t you know?” I purred, putting the letter opener down with a loud clank. “I want you, Thorn.”

A silence followed and he finally spoke up again after several excruciatingly long seconds.

“I’m not replacing Harlow with you,” he growled. “Ever.”

“I didn’t ask for that,” I said, trying hard to keep the anger out of my voice.

Who did he think he was, anyway? I was better than that little bitch and always had been. It was him who was blind to the truth - but not for long. Not if I had it my way.

“What do you want, then?” he asked.

I could tell I was testing his patience but I didn’t particularly care.

“I want you to take me with you,” I whispered. “Back to the place you came from.”

“What?” he asked incredulously. “You want me to take you home?”

“Home,” I repeated softly. How nice it sounded on the tip of my tongue… “Yes, I’d like to come home with you.”

“And if I don’t?” he argued. “If I don’t agree to your fucking.. terms?”

I paused for dramatic effect, but he didn’t seem to understand, mistaking my silence for indecision and laughing out loud.

“You would never hurt Harlow,” he said plainly. “She’s the closest thing you have to a friend.”

I bit my tongue before I cursed out loud, and went on to say, “Maybe not, but who knows? I’m feeling pretty unstable. Maybe just unstable enough to tell the police about your little side project, Mr. Thorn.”

Now, it was his turn to go quiet.

“Or maybe,” I went on sweetly. “I could tell Daddy you roughed me up when you were here last. Did you know Daddy has connections here in London? I know you do too, but nothing like this. I assume you don’t know the chief of the police department on a first name basis. He could have you arrested. He could uncover all the shit you’re doing back home.”

“I can protect myself,” he said roughly, but I could sense the edge to his voice.

“I’m sure,” I said. “But let’s avoid the problem altogether. Take me with you. I’ll let you have Amber, Harlow, and me. What’s not to like in that equation? Three for the price of one.”

“I could kill you,” he went on. “The second I get my hands on you. What’s stopping me from snapping your neck?”

I shivered at the thought, my pussy leaking through my sheer panties so desperately I bit my bottom lip in embarrassment.

“That’s up to you,” I told him.

I would take anything he would give me. Hurt me, fuck me, kill me. Anything he wanted. I’d do anything to feel his touch again. My obsession with Thorn was consuming me whole and it was getting hard to stop myself from fantasizing about our future once we got rid of goody-two-shoes Harlow and her faithful sidekick Amber.

“Be here in the morning,” I said simply. “I’ll get everything ready for you.”

He paused, but I could tell he would agree to my terms. There was nothing for him to lose. He’d gain three girls when he’d only lost two, and I was signing myself over to him freely, my only hope that he would eventually see how much better than Harlow Granger I was. I was prettier, sexier. I was smarter and a better dancer. She was a fucking wallflower but I was the star. And sooner or later, Thorn would open his eyes and see that.

“Alright,” he finally said. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

He ended the call and I stared at the phone triumphantly before setting it down. I got up from my father’s chair, smoothed down my dress and took a deep breath before leaving the office, but not before making sure everything was in the same place as I’d found it.

I walked down the hallway to Harlow’s room and prepared myself mentally for the role I would have to play next. Then, I slipped into her room wearing a sorrowful expression as I shook her awake. She got up with a cry, panic settling in her eyes but fading away when she realized it was only me. What a stupid fucking girl she was.

“Harlow,” I said, fighting back the imaginary tears. “Someone called the house.”

“W-who?” she stuttered pathetically, and I sniffled to add more effect to my performance.

“The man who took you,” I whispered. “I think… I think he knows where you are.”

“Oh my god.” She sat up straight, her eyes fearful as they connected with mine. “Do they know about Amber too?”

“He doesn’t care about Amber,” I said, probably the only truthful thing I’d told her. “Just you… I’m scared, Harlow. He threatened me.”

“I’m so sorry,” she said. “I’ll go… I’ll leave.”

“Yes, you have to,” I nodded quickly. “I’ve got some money for you, some clothes… A place to go.”

“You’re amazing,” she whispered, swallowing the tears and pulling me into a hug.

For the next half hour, I helped her gather her things and gave her instructions to a make-believe place in Soho that she would never find because it didn’t exist. Instead, in its place, there was a brothel I knew my father frequented. A dodgy place run by the mob that I knew would get Harlow in a lot of fucking trouble, especially if she showed up announced in the middle of the night.

I didn’t give a shit about what happened to her, but I was sure sending her out in the middle of the night would garner some interesting results. And the next day, when my man arrived, his pretty little girl would be all gone, and he’d have no choice but to choose me instead.

Amber didn’t matter.

Harlow didn’t matter.

All I cared about was Thorn taking me back home, where I truly belonged.

“You’re going to be okay,” I lied to Harlow with a brave smile. “Just don’t come back here, under any circumstances.”

“Will you be okay?” she asked worriedly. Her face was pale and blotchy and she looked awful. It pleased me. “I’m so worried about you and Amber.”

“We’ll take care of ourselves,” I said. “We need to hide you, first. Call me when you get there, okay?”

She nodded, and I smiled, knowing the call would never come.

“Thank you so much,” she told me on the doorstep. “For all you’ve done… I’m so grateful.”

“You’re so welcome,” I said sweetly. “See you soon, darling.”

I shut the door, leaving her looking lost on the doorstep.

And then I giggled as loudly as I dared. Finally, my plan was set into motion.

Soon, I would be all his.