I looked in the mirror and contemplated breaking it for a weapon. It would’ve only hurt me, and even if it did work, I didn’t know how to get out of the house or who else was in it. He said he had a sister, but maybe that was a lie to get me into his car.

I scoffed. Of course, it was a lie. The entire morning was a lie. I started to cry, but I took a deep breath and looked at myself in the mirror again. I couldn’t cry. Not yet.

Turning my head, I noticed a few scratches on my puffy cheek. I looked at the door. Why didn’t he hurt me more than that? I looked at the marks again. Did he do that? I looked down to the sink and washed my hands. I needed to figure out what he wanted and figure out how to get it to him.

I walked out and saw him sitting with one leg up, resting his ankle on his other knee. He looked too relaxed. I wondered how many times he’d taken someone before.

He was staring at the door, waiting for me to come out. I pulled my shirt down and attempted to smooth out my skirt the best I could with the handcuffs. I didn’t like how he was looking at me.

I looked to the left where the bed was and noticed the window was covered with a piece of plywood. “Did you break the window?”

“No, but I don’t want to hear you screaming trying to get someone’s attention.” He shrugged. “It won’t work anyway. We’re far from neighbors, but I’d rather not hear your attempts.”

I couldn’t argue with that, but I felt claustrophobic. Whenever I was nervous, I rambled. It was a habit I needed to break around him, but I would try to use it to get information. “Don’t you have a job to go to?”

“You are my job.”

“If this is for money, my dad will pay if you just call him.” I wasn’t so sure of that anymore. Would he still pay for my safety after I yelled at him? I could only hope his heart would rule this business transaction. If not, I was fucked.

“I know who your father is, but I’m not doing this for money. Not for a ransom anyway.”

“That makes no sense.” I tried to put my hands on my hips, but the cuffs stopped me. “This is stupid.” I lifted my hands. “Just call my dad and get your fucking money.”

“Have a seat.”

I stood taller and looked at him.

“If you have a seat and can prove you’ll play nice, I may consider taking the cuffs off. I’m not here to hurt you. I would’ve done that already.” He pointed to my face. “You can thank yourself for the black eye I’m sure you’ll get. At least you didn’t hit the car on your way down.”

“This could just be some sick game you’re playing, where you get my guard down and then pounce. That isn’t going to happen. You’re going to have one hell of a fight on your hands the second you try something. You’ve picked the wrong woman to mess with.”

“I have exactly who I’m supposed to have.”

“What do you want with me?”

He dropped his foot to the floor, but didn’t move other than that. “We’ll get to that.”

I couldn’t speak. I wanted to cry, but I didn’t want to look like a victim and give him more power. He had all the power as it was, but I wasn’t giving him the satisfaction of knowing he got to me. I needed to remind myself whose daughter I was. He would find me and make the asshole sitting in front of me pay.

“You obviously don’t know who you’re messing with.” He couldn’t. My father could track him down and feed him his own balls when he got ahold of him.

“I know a lot about you.”

“Are you obsessed or something?” I tried to cross my arms and blew out a frustrated breath.

I backed up when he stood. He put his hand into his pocket and pulled out a key. “Do you want the cuffs off?”

I looked away. I wasn’t sure what I was going to have to do to earn that privilege, and my eyes stung the closer he got to me. He pulled my face toward him as one tear fell.

“I’m not going to hurt you.” He reached down and unfastened one handcuff, but held out his hand for me to place the other one in his hand. “You need to trust me a little.”

I looked at his hand and back up to his eyes. I didn’t trust him at all, but I wanted that handcuff off. I placed my wrist in his open hand. He smiled and unfastened it, placing the key and the cuffs back into his pocket.

He motioned toward the bed. “Have a seat.”

I did what I was told as I rubbed my wrists on the way over. It was nice to be out of them, but I felt a much bigger restraint was coming. I looked at the bedposts but didn’t see anything.

I wanted nothing to do with the bed as long as he was in the room, but he wasn’t talking until I took a seat. I closed my eyes and breathed a sigh of relief when he went over to the chair.

“I’ve never raped a woman.”

I opened my eyes and locked them onto his.

“You said I brought you here to rape and murder you. I don’t need to force myself on women for sex.”

“Rape isn’t about sex. It’s about control.”

He tilted his head. “Interesting. I’ve never needed to rape them for control, either. It isn’t my thing, so you can stop worrying about it.”

I looked down. “There has to be something you want.”

“You’re right. And, I’ll get it. I may even get you into bed, but only because you’ll be begging me for it.” He stood. “Consider this an extended vacation. This is your luxurious home for the foreseeable future.” He motioned around the room.

It was a nice room. I had to give him that. The queen-sized bed I was sitting on was comfortable. The dresser matched the grand style of the four-poster bed with dark wood and elaborate details. They didn’t make furniture like that anymore. The set had to be old, but he’d taken great care of it.

There was a round table that took up most of the room by the door. It was too big for this room, but would be considered a small dining room table. There were only two chairs. That was comforting. Unless those chairs weren’t meant for me and he had a partner.

“That doesn’t sound like a luxury to me. I’ll go crazy in this room with you.”

He stuck his hands into his pockets and walked over to me. He looked at my chest and tilted his head as he looked further down my body. “There are several ways I can drive you crazy in this room. If you’re lucky, you might experience a few of them.”

I swallowed when he turned and walked away. I needed to choose my battles wisely. Arguing with a man who could easily overpower me on whether or not he’d have his way with me was not a good battle to pick.

He surprised me with his opinion. “You can do better than Bryce.”

I looked to my lap. I wasn’t going to discuss my personal life with him. He was playing a game I was going to lose if I didn’t get caught up to speed on the rules soon. I needed to listen more than react.

“I’ll leave you to think about things.” He pointed to a button on the wall. “If you want to talk or need anything, press the button.” He pointed at me. “Don’t abuse that shit. I’m not your fucking servant.”

* * *

I waited all evening for her to ring the bell, but she never did. I contemplated going to sleep, but she needed to eat. I knocked on the door and listened for a response. There wasn’t one.

Propping the tray on my hip, I eased the door open, ready to drop it and her if she tried anything else. I heard soft cries coming from across the room. I opened the door all the way and walked over to the table.

“It’s time for dinner.”

“I don’t want anything.”

“I didn’t ask if you wanted anything. I’m telling you to eat. You need to eat.”

I watched her from the corner of my eye as I set out her dinner and took the lid off the container I heated it up in. I dropped it onto the table and took off for the door at the same time she did. I closed it just before she was able to reach it.

“Motherfucker!” She pounded on my back.

I’d had enough of her abuse and turned quick, knocking her back a few steps. I grabbed her wrists and rushed her to the wall across the room, pinning her there when she collided with it. I put my hand under her skirt and cupped her pussy.

She tried to back more into the wall. “What do you think you’re doing?”

“Checking to see if you have a set. You act as if your balls are bigger than mine.” I leaned down to her face with my hand still cupping her. “Just so we’re clear, they’re not.”

I wanted to run my fingers over her clit, but I kept it cupped while I laid down the law. “Do not lay your hands on me again. I’ve been nothing but kind to you, and believe me, princess, it isn’t easy to do with a spoiled cunt like you.”

She spit in my face. I narrowed my eyes, let go of her, and wiped my face. I allowed her two steps toward the bed, but I lifted her by the waist and pinned her eye level against the wall.

I couldn’t unclench my jaw no matter how hard I tried. Maybe she’d get the hint. “I will hit back. I’m not one of those men who believe you should never hit a girl. If that girl is hitting me, I will hit back. You will respect me or suffer the consequences.”

“Let me talk to my father.”

“No.” I dropped her the few feet she was in the air and walked away. “Your dinner is on the table getting cold.”

She ran up, jumped on my back, and pulled my head back with her hand on my forehead. “Let me talk to my father. He’ll get you whatever you want.”

I grabbed her arm and pulled her over my shoulder, slamming her body onto the floor. It knocked the wind out of her and scared her senseless. Her body shook as she gasped for air.

“Eat your fucking dinner and go to bed.” I slammed the door behind me.