Chapter 16
Bram
“Did you really think you’d manage to find and kill me? Surely you’re not that stupid?”
Whimpering grew into muffled screams as I brought the scalpel around, just below the bend of Master Kunken’s elbow. Blood seeped from the incision and Derek was waiting at my side for the next order.
In a slow, straight incision, I worked my way down to his wrist. The man’s large body tried to thrash against the restraints holding him down, but he couldn’t break from the restraints that secured him to the table.
“Alvin. Beautiful child. It’s a shame what you’ve done. His parents will never be the same. You know that, right? They didn’t have to go through this, yet your greed made sure they’d experience one of the worst things a parent could go through. Their toddler son … gone forever. Do you suspect they’re overly distraught? Have they called you, begging for any assistance you can provide, Senator?”
My eyes went down to meet Master Kunken’s and his head thrashed back and forth.
“Is that a no? No, they haven’t contacted you? Well, I’m surprised, although I’m sure they have the best fucking people on it! You greedy fuck! You just had to have something you weren’t supposed to. I bet the temptation was killing you. I bet the moment I was stabbed, the order slipped right off your tongue. It’s okay, though. Your scout will be dead by morning if he’s not already.” My head shook. “You never learn. Whitlock, first. Whitlock, first. We’ve gone over this before. Were you thinking about our safety when you had my cousin taken from his bed? No. That is why you die. The torture leading up to it is for who you chose. You involve my blood, you get to deal with me. A Whitlock never backs down and they never forget. You know this!”
Loud sobs muffled through the gag as I began to dislocate the skin from his muscle. When I started peeling it back his breathing turned into heavy, deep inhales. And his volume … it only rose.
“So you know what you face in your last days, I’ll tell you my plans. I’m going to take one section of your body at a time. Today, it’s a forearm, tomorrow it will be the other. I’m going to do what you enjoy. I’m going to skin it. Once I’m done, I’m going to chop it off. Derek, my High Leader, will be ready to cauterize the wound. Then, when you get hungry, you’re going to eat it. We’ll do one section of your body at a time. Eventually, you’re going to eat yourself to death. We’ll see how far we get before you die.”
“Mmm-mmm. Mmmm!”
I ignored what I knew were pleas. I took my time, focusing on what almost came natural. My father had once made me spend an entire summer with Master Kunken. I lived with him; I ate with him. He even took me out of Whitlock and we went hunting on an extended trip that lasted a few weeks. It was my first time to do anything like that and I’d surprised everyone by the ease I’d taken to the lifestyle. Being the predator came natural. Hiding was my skill. Killing was my thrill. I’d been afraid of who I was at the time, but I didn’t back down until the summer ended. And I wouldn’t have to anymore if this continued. With the block on my emotions, there was no problem denying the beast when he came. Even the concern over how that would affect me or Whitlock wasn’t there. The only one I could feel myself changing for was Everleigh. But how much, was beyond me. I wasn’t even sure it was a good change.
“There,” I breathed out. “I have to admit, you taught me well. Derek?”
I put down the scalpel, reaching to take the saw from my High Leader. Master Kunken’s head went back to shaking and I stepped to the side, looking at the length of his arm that was stretched across the empty space below. His wrist was secured by an extending portion of the table which allowed me to work how I needed. It was the same for the leg area. It was odd how these things worked out. A Master dying—tortured by his own methods and equipment. Persecution was never so sweet.
“This may hurt a bit. I’ll try to be easy and take my time.”
“Mmm! Mmm! Mmmmmm!”
His big belly jiggled while he sobbed and screamed. I cocked my head, watching and letting him grasp the events. I wanted more of his fear, when in truth, I couldn’t have gotten any more. I could smell the piss that was draining over the sides of the table. It had me studying every expression he made as redness increased in his cheeks from the guttural sounds that left him.
“Deep breath … or not.”
I leaned forward, thrusting the blade down over the muscle. I couldn’t help basking in the way his volume deepened and broke repeatedly. It combined with the magnificent drip, drip, drip of the blood that was splattering on the floor at my feet. The jagged blades tore down and through the bone below his elbow and both noises orchestrated a melody so gruesomely beautiful that I stopped to smile at him. Was I not just a composer of words? I now invented music, too?
Crunch, crack. Crunch, crack.
I pushed down harder, testing the way the tones changed with my force. Warmth coated my hands as blood squirted up over where I pressed my palm against Master Kunken’s hand for leverage. His fingers were twitching, going crazy under mine.
“You’re looking a bit pale. I don’t believe you have much longer before you pass out. Do you need to catch your breath?” I laughed at his eyes rolling and it came out nothing like the cheerful, jovial pitch I’d faked throughout my life. It was raucous, loud, and bordering on an emotional state I couldn’t even grasp. It had been too long since I got to do something I enjoyed. And I was thriving in this. My heart raced lovingly—thump, thump—thump, thump.
Yes. There was no mistaking who had been reborn when I died. I was my worst nightmare and I didn’t fear what that meant. Not in the moment.
Crunch, crack. Crunch, crack.
I angled the saw, pursing my lips, while I went back to slow thrusts.
“I’m going to have such a mess to clean up, and not just here. So many Masters have died in the last few weeks. And the thing is, it’s far from over. What upsets me is that I’ll have to wait and time it out. So many mistakes: such bad leadership. Thank God for money and power, right?” I looked over and cursed.
“Smelling salt.”
“Yes, Main Master.”
Derek handed it over and at the back and forth wave of my hand, Master Kunken’s eyes flew open.
“There we go. Where were we? Oh yes. Brace yourself.” I paused. “And be sure to let my men know when you get hungry. They’ll prepare you a nice little gourmet dish.”
I gritted my teeth, pushing down hard to sever the rest of his arm. Wheezy breaths came between muffled yells.
Crunch. Crack. Snap!
“Mmmm-mmm!”
Crimson squirted over his body as I applied my weight to the saw and broke through the last of the skin. I tossed the severed forearm on the tray next to me. I dropped the saw as the screams went from high pitched to throaty. The smell of burning flesh perfumed the air and I grabbed a towel, wiping my hands as I walked over to my laptop. The sight was enough to trigger the harbored rage, again.
Had I thought I’d planned things to best fit my interests? I was getting beat at my own game, left and right. What Everleigh had done should have been a relief, but it wasn’t. Her intentions may have appeared in the right place, but I wasn’t so sure.
My gaze moved over to the next screen where West paced the length of his cell. Hate and something else battled. How did all of this fucking happen in just a few weeks? My brain couldn’t comprehend how everyone had changed so drastically. Then, to take their actions and events into account?
The twist Everleigh threw into the mix was unfathomable to me. It completely ruined everything. My return wasn’t meant to go down this way. Now, I had to figure out how to salvage this. My revenge on West was meant to be done publicly, while he was still in charge. I had planned to expose and torture him right in front of every single Master at Whitlock. I was going to set an example and make a lesson out of him. But without him in rule, it was meaningless. That dampened the gratification I was desperate to feel. That I needed to feel. And it was all her fault. Goddamn Everleigh. True, she was out of harm’s way for the most part, but she had no idea what she’d taken from me by taking my rightful place.
“It’s done. Master?”
Derek’s voice had me glancing over. My hand immediately lifted to give me more time. I knew he wanted instruction, but where the fuck did I begin? There was a positive to my slave’s rule. I could take my time to heal. I could straighten out some of this mess from behind the scenes. But what did that say about me as the Main Master? And could I trust her? No. Allowing her to stay in my position would show weakness more than it ever would have with West leading. I had the excuse to get better when my plans had been to overthrow him. Now I didn’t have a legit reason to stay in hiding with Everleigh running things. The Masters would see just how damaged and weak I was and that could pose more problems than I wanted to think about. And that was just the beginning. Every minute she led, she internally grew stronger. I didn’t know this new her. I couldn’t risk what she’d turn into.
I bent down to my laptop, pulling up the Whitlock Wing. My father’s residence looked so different from how West and Everleigh had it set up. It looked like a rich main’s mansion, compared to the gothic paradise he’d once let surround him.
Everleigh leaned against the kitchen counter, sipping something from a coffee mug. She was smiling, giving her attention to her High Leader and Master Yahn. Three more guards were standing around, laughing at something they were all talking about. The way they gazed at her adoringly, you’d think they saw salvation in her smile. And maybe they did. But it wasn’t real. This woman, the new Everleigh, was a woman on a mission. Revenge lurked in the darkest depths of her sparkling eyes. Her intentions were only as good as she wanted them to be. For everyone at Whitlock, that was a dangerous thing if she decided to make me her enemy. And what if she did? She didn’t mind turning her back on me tonight when I asked her to stay. She risked West’s wrath over my uninviting presence.
“Call Dr. Cortez and have her watch over Master Kunken. It’s time we go crash this party before they get to bask anymore in their victory. It’s time to set this shit straight. I won’t have it said that a woman came in and saved my ass. All she did was fuck up my plans and they need to know that.”
I closed the laptop, unplugging it and carrying it at my side as I opened the door. With each step that took me closer to my father’s wing, I let the rage grow. It was all I had for emotions and they all needed to see it if they were going to follow me again. And that was imperative. I knew how the system here worked. They couldn’t be left with a choice. It was acceptance and nothing else.
The white hall opened up and I turned, nearly colliding with a guard. His mouth dropped opened and I raised my eyebrow, continuing on. As I approached the door, the man standing outside had the same reaction. His shock reflected on his features and he shifted uneasily at my nearness.
“M-Main Master,” he said, breathlessly. “I didn’t believe it was true. I …Good to have you back.”
“Thank you. Fredrick, I believe?” I smiled as he nodded, gesturing with my head to the entrance. “I’d have been back sooner, but a certain Main Mistress spoiled my plans of revenge. Do you mind?”
“No, of course. Go right in.”
I didn’t let him ponder on my words of returning. In truth, it was a lie, but he didn’t need to know that. All he needed to know was that his Master wasn’t hiding out for reasons he wouldn’t understand.
The door opened at his push, and he stepped back, allowing me entrance. The hum of laughter was loud. I rounded into the kitchen watching Everleigh’s smile melt at the glare I cast toward her. The men caught her change and turned, growing quiet and rigid as they took me in.
“Don’t stop celebrating on my behalf. You all only ruined the plans I’ve spend weeks orchestrating. Go ahead, laugh. Bask away in your arrest of my attempted murderer. I don’t mind.”
But I did, and it was clear as their eyes dropped.
“Main Mistress.” I half hissed. “You’re looking better than you did only hours ago.”
“You knew he lived?” Master Yahn’s head snapped toward her and her lips tightened under the numerous stares.
“She knew. Not that it matters. This is my fault. I should have made it clear before I allowed her to leave to not do anything stupid. I never expected her to play this card. Again, my mistake. So.” I placed my laptop down on the island, leaning against it as I kept my focus on her. “Now that I’m back, we’ll get everyone together. It appears we’re in need of a new leader of the board. We’ll also need a new member. I’m afraid Master Kunken didn’t quite make it to the White Room like was ordered. Sorry about that,” I said, lowering my lids even more at her. “I bet you didn’t even know he never arrived at his destination. Perhaps it was the laughter drowning out his screams. As temporary Main Mistress, did you not even think to check?” Before she could reply, I growled. “No, you did not. You were too busy celebrating a victory that should have been mine! What the fuck has happened here? This place has gone to shit. I almost can’t fucking believe my trusted leaders allowed this to happen.”
Master Yahn’s head shook and his mouth opened, only to close. “I tried to stop it. No one listens to anything I say. I—”
“Then you make them!” I exploded, even louder.
Everleigh jumped, and at the silence, the guards edged to leave the room and I let them. My finger pointed to Jarrett, who remained at my slave’s side. “You. You, I’m not mad at. You did your job.” I moved my hand back and forth between him and Derek. “This is my High Leader, Derek Berks. But I see we have a problem because I’ve watched you. I trust your judgment. You hold Whitlock first. That’s what I need. You’ll be second High Leader and official protector over Mistress …” I paused, nearly choking on her true title. It made me sick and triggered my hate and lack of love like a rabid wolf. “Harper. A name she will not use, come a few days. Mistress Davenport,” I corrected, “will keep the Whitlock Wing as her own. I will be staying to monitor her safety as well, and ... to borrow her dungeon.”
“I’ll be keeping the title, Mistress Harper, if you don’t mind. And before you go off spouting orders as our returned Main Master, I have to make my feelings clear. You are not ready. You are not well. I think you should go lie down and rest and let me handle this.”
My eyes widened and words evaded me.
“You can have mine and West’s old room. First door to the left, just past the stairs. Or, if you prefer, you can stay in the guest room down the hall. Your choice. It doesn’t matter to me. I have a lot of work to do so I won’t really be sleeping anyway.”
“I think you forget who you’re talking to.” I took a step closer and she didn’t so much as cower at my presence, but everyone else did.
“Oh, no. I’m very well aware of who you are—Main Master Bram Whitlock. The man who’d rather let a Mistress of his making be tortured than send aid. If you ask me, I believe the events of your attack have clouded your judgment over right and wrong, therefor making you a risk to the safety of each and every one of us. Think about that. Really think on it. You’re a liability. Don’t let pride blind you of what we all know. You need time. I can give you that. I can run Whitlock until you’re ready.”
My hand rose in defensiveness and the need to strike her left my fingers balling into a fist so I wouldn’t. “I bet you’d love that. Not going to fucking happen. I’m back and Whitlock belongs to me. I can rule it just fine without your help.”
I turned my attention to Master Yahn. “You are to inform the rest of the board of my return and let them know we will convene the day after tomorrow. As for now, I do believe Everleigh and I need to have a heart to heart. Out. All of you.”
“Wait.” She reached for Jarrett as he began to leave. “Where is Eleven? I asked that he be brought to me. He’s not here yet.”
His eyes glanced to me, nervously, returning to her. “I’ll go check for you.”
“Thank you.” She threw him a grin and I looked between them, following him and Derek toward the front door. When we got to the entrance, both turned, awaiting their orders.
“I want West to undergo what Mistress … Harper instructed on the red lights. She deserves her revenge and I will let her have it. When I give the word, he will be brought to me. As for Eleven …” The order to kill him was on the tip of my tongue. I wanted to say it. Fuck, I was dying to after being faced with my past all over again. The footsteps behind me had me hesitating. “Take your time. The Mistress and I need to talk. It’s going to be a while.”
Derek’s jaw tightened, but he and Jarrett nodded. I pushed the door shut behind them, turning to take in the woman who my world use to revolve around. Why did I feel like she was my enemy now? This new emotional block I was suffering buffered my love for her. And her actions didn’t help. Truth was, we were two completely different people. Strangers in almost every sense. My mind knew that. My body did not.
Everleigh’s head went down and she peeked up at me through her thick lashes. Her anger was still there, yet something else was too. I couldn’t quite put my finger on it. I couldn’t see anything but the way her action was almost submissive. With her being so severely beaten, I could almost make myself believe my slave was before me. Hadn’t I always thought her the prettiest when she was battered and bruised? The blood visible in the whites of her eyes was a clear indication of the hell she’d endured without me. It was also the biggest fucking turn-on I had ever seen.
“Main Mistress? Making it appear as if I’m incapable of leadership? Sending me to bed like a child! Tell me why I shouldn’t put you over my knee and tear into your ass for that?”
Her head shot up and she quickly back-stepped toward the sofa. For moments, she stayed quiet, composing herself while she blew at the steam that billowed from her refilled mug.
“I’m trying to do what’s right for everyone here. You can’t hold that against me.”
“You knew I was alive. Why would you try to take my title as your own? And before you go back into this, ‘what’s best for Whitlock’ bullshit, save it. What’s your real motive?”
I headed her way and she watched my every move like a spider tracking its prey. It left my skin crawling and my cock hardening even more. The distrust was something I wanted to crush in the most violent ways. It was a problem for the man who was still lurking behind the emotional wall he was entombed inside. I’d seen most of what she’d gone through. Not all, but enough. She loved me and had proven that with her actions. And she’d been so distraught at my death. Yet, here we were, and now she was different. Things weren’t the same.
“You see it as taking your title. You believe my intentions toward you are not honorable. I don’t blame you for that. You obviously don’t trust me and that’s fine. I don’t trust you either. But all I was trying to do was straighten West’s mess out and give you time. He went too far. I tried to tell him that on numerous occasions, but I’m sure you’ve seen his reaction to my opinions. I may have been his wife, but I had little say. It was the main reason I had to set the children free. I couldn’t let him sell them off to endure the perversions that they’d surely be bought into.”
“So it’s true, then. You conspired against Whitlock’s Main Master and killed the High Leader?”
Everleigh’s lips parted and she saw her mistake the moment I led her into my trap. “West was not the real Main Master.”
“You didn’t know that at the time. You had no idea I was alive, then. What you did is punishable by death, plain and simple. Take morality out of it. Distance yourself from what you felt was right, or even who led this place. You freed slaves of Whitlock and you killed a High Leader. It doesn’t matter that he was in on this plan. You murdered a man in cold blood, Everleigh.”
Tears shone in her eyes as her lids narrowed at me. Although she tried to stay strong, her bottom lip trembled. It brought back my innocent slave. My scared little mouse. For a split second, my heart jumped, but the stirred sensations was gone just as fast.
“Yes, I murdered Eli. I killed him for Lyle and for you. He told me he helped in your attack. He deserved to die. If that means I have to face execution or the White Room for avenging you, so be it. I knew the consequences way before I stabbed him those three times and slit his fucking throat. I’d do it, again. He helped take you away from me.” Her stare moved over my face and her lip pouted even more at my silence. She placed the hot tea down on the coffee table, giving her head a shake while she looked down. “I guess it really doesn’t change anything. Eli may be dead, but we all died that day. Some of us, maybe more than others.”
Aching cramped in my chest as she turned, leaving the living room. Before I could stop myself, I was lunging forward to pull her into me. My arms tightened around her shoulders and where I expected her to break down at the affection of my hold, she didn’t. Her head dropped back and blue eyes met mine head-on. Love? Lust? Hatred? For the first time, I had absolutely no idea where my slave stood. If I had to choose, I would have said none. She was frightened. Yet, she spun it on me.
“Are you sure you want to be so close to such a cold killer, Master Whitlock? I see your apprehension. Aren’t you afraid?”
“Do I have reason to be?”
Everleigh’s eyes flickered. “As long as your intentions are good and you don’t plan to hurt me, then no. But if you do, in any way, I promise you nothing.”
The cold look and tone—she was being honest. That should have had me breaking away from her after what I’d been through, but I couldn’t. Despite that I emotionally felt little for the woman in my arms, my mind said I didn’t want to let her go.
“We should probably clarify where we stand, Main Master. You meant to keep me once. Even when I didn’t consent. Do you still?”
Her question was one I had been asking myself since I’d seen her change. Even at the beginning when I suspected she had to be pretending with West, I meant to keep her. But then she got sick with the flu. That’s when it took a turn. Something happened between them—with her. Fuck, I couldn’t think about the way they were together. They had passion. Even if it was that of the violent kind. And maybe that was worse to me. She’d beaten the hell out of him, but then she’d wanted him…Really wanted him, like she had wanted me.
“Why would I want to keep someone I don’t know or trust?” I tightened my grip at the fury that came with my memories. When she added pressure, testing my strength, I could see her confliction. She was defensive and she couldn’t hide her need to lash out in any way she could. “Don’t get mad or offended at me for speaking the truth. You know I’m right. You’re different now and so am I. Aside from that, tell me why I’d want to keep a slave who’s in love with my enemy?”
The slap was so swift that by the time I felt the sting, I was barely registering that she had broken the connection on my hold. Her speed and strength surprised me. The hit had me growling through the spark of lust that consumed me. I dove forward, locking my fist in her hair so she couldn’t escape. The small cry had my lips crushing into hers and my arm wrapping around the small of her back. She fought as I pulled her body into mine. For the first time, familiarity soared. Everleigh had always felt so perfect in my arms. Like she’d been made to fit me. And this moment was no different. Although she hit into my sides, she was softening. Molding to me as I thrust my tongue into her mouth.
The swings stopped and her fingers gripped into my suit’s jacket at my hips while I took control. The tip of my tongue teased against hers and I pressed my hard cock into the top of her stomach, knowing I should stop. But I couldn’t. “There you are,” I whispered against her lips. “There’s the slave that’s missing from me.”
Everleigh’s lids fluttered and the small moan that left her had me diving in and kissing her even more. It wasn’t hard to get lost in her passion. I held to it, savoring the nearly dead sensations. The emptiness I lived with now was too much. But suddenly, with us like this, I could almost remember why I loved her. Almost …