Ruin & Rule

I was a warrior.

I’d been granted ultimate power, intelligence to succeed, and powerful allies to make my wishes come true.

I was a king.

And kings were never distracted by those weaker than them.

—Kill

“You’re coming with me.”

I looked up from where I sat cross-legged on the bed. The only reading materials in Kill’s house were trade journals, company manifests, and a book called So You Think You’re a Genius. It had mind puzzles, equations, and a bunch of very technical tests that proved in actual fact that no, I wasn’t a genius.

Last night, when Kill didn’t come home till three a.m., I found a weakness in the back fence. The stone wall was rougher there, less perfectly built, and gave just enough finger grips to climb the three-yard imprisonment.

I didn’t know what existed behind the wall, and I’d have nothing to take apart from a few pieces of fruit from the kitchen to sustain myself. The catering service Kill ordered only delivered at the start of the week—frozen, calorie-counted healthiness that kept me and him alive with no mess or joy of cooking.

Unfortunately, another order wasn’t due for a few days, and I wanted to leave tonight.

I couldn’t stay in this house another moment.

Resting the book on my knees, I asked coldly, “To where?”

His eyes narrowed at the frost in my voice. “To Pure Corruption. Time for our weekly meet, and I need to take you in. Brothers want to discuss your future.”

My throat closed. I knew this day would come—I just hoped it wouldn’t interfere with my runaway plan.

My hands balled. “You said you wouldn’t get rid of me till you knew—”

“Doesn’t matter what I said. I’m done babysitting you and I have a lot of shit on my plate.”

I’m not babysitting a traitor.

Burn, baby girl. Burn.

I shuddered as the vile voice echoed in my head. Gripping the hardcover of the book, so I wouldn’t show my fear, I snapped, “What do you propose to do with me?”

He stiffened, not moving from his place by the door. “What’s with the fucking attitude?”

My eyes opened wide. “Seriously? You have the balls to ask me what’s with my attitude?”

He stalked forward, growing bigger and bigger as his temper seethed. “Yes. I’ll ask again. What’s with the fucking ice, sweetheart?”

I slammed the book closed and threw it at his head.

He ducked, spinning around to watch the heavy volume slam against the carpet. He turned to me face me with violent, incredulous eyes. “What was that for?”

“What was that for?” I shot up from my butt to my knees, and grabbed two handfuls of my hair. “I’ll tell you what it was for. I sewed you up. You took me shopping. You made love to me three nights ago, and then you just walked out of my life! No explanation, no hint at what you mean to do with me. You’re driving me insane, and I know that there’s something you’re not telling me—a lot of things actually. But you’ve driven me so far away that I’m… I’m—”

Kill lowered his head, looking up through thick lashes. “You’re what? Spit it out.”

I dropped my hands from my hair, feeling drained and no longer wanting to fight. “I’m done. I’m no closer to figuring out who I am or how I know you than I was when I was first stolen.” Rolling my shoulders, I muttered, “I heard you on the phone. You’re still going to sell me, so everything else…” I shrugged, my voice slipping into sadness. “Guess none of it matters, because when I have an owner who’s beating me senseless and fucking me within an inch of my life, I’ll be grateful I don’t remember anything. Grateful to your coldness that I have no link to my past, because I’ll never be that person again.”

The room thickened with tension.

Arthur took a step toward the bed, then another. His boots were silent on the thick carpet and he’d taken off his leather cut, so all he wore was his black T-shirt and jeans.

“Listen closely, Forgetful Girl.” His nostrils flared as he said, “Three days ago I did not make love to you. I fucked you. I told you I wanted nothing more than a release. And that’s what I got. I don’t have to explain myself to you and what I do in my life is of no concern. I had things to take care of—Club business that will never be discussed with you or any other woman in my world.”

My heart fisted and I swallowed hard.

“You always knew your future and I could punish you for eavesdropping on a personal conversation. In fact, you’ve pissed me off so much, I think that’s exactly what I’m going to do.”

I went ice-cold. “What?”

He closed the distance to the bed, pressing his knees against the mattress. In a horribly fast move, he grabbed my hips, flipped me onto my back, and wrapped his strong fingers around my ankles. In an effortless pull, he positioned my body onto the edge of the bed.

He smirked. “Wearing a skirt. That’s rather convenient.”

I struggled, digging my hands into the quilt, trying to get away. “Don’t touch me.”

His right hand disappeared up my skirt, stroking the satin between my legs.

My eyes almost rolled back at the sudden pleasure of his touch.

“You want me to touch you. Admit it.”

“I want you to tell me who you are.”

He shook his head, his fingers working against my clit. “I don’t know you.”