Page 157 of Sawyer

I stiffen further.

Patting my hand, he guides me down an opulent staircase to a foyer. We have to be in a mansion. The ceiling is high, and there are tapestries of Terra on the walls. The geography is old, and the threads are nearly splitting.

“You won’t have free access, unfortunately. Not until I can trust you, you understand.” He leads me to a door under the staircase, and a delta unlocks it. “Of course you understand. You’re so smart.”

What is his angle?

Opening the door, he leads me inside, waiting until it closes. Darkness swallows me, and then Sal slams me against the wall. His grip tightens on my throat, cutting off my air. I can’t see in here, and I bet he planned it that way.

I’m also quickly losing oxygen.

Sal doesn’t say a damn thing until I’m gasping for breath and black spots dance in my vision.

“It’d be so easy to kill you now and watch as life slips from your eyes as I hold you here. You’re like a little doll I get to play with.” He leans in, brushing his lips against my ear as he talks. “I could mark you now, since you’re so close to death.”

My body begins to jerk and twitch, and genuine fear claws at my neck. I grip his arms, which are like steel, unmoving and stiff.

Sal shudders. “There it is, the edge of consciousness.” He lets up a little, allowing me to gasp for breath as my fingernails dig into his flesh. “Now, next time I ask you a question, you’ll answer it. Don’t make me look bad in front of my men, Sawyer.”

He drops me, and I fall to the cold floor, gripping my throat as I gulp down air. My chest burns, and my lungs sting as the cold air hits them.

“Come on now.” He grabs my bicep and pulls me up, only to drag me forward. My feet struggle to find purchase, and my hand reaches out to grip the railing I accidentally find. Beside me, Sal whistles a tune that unsettles me further.

The air grows colder the farther we go, and the darkness slowly turns into outlines of shadows as we move deeper.

“Watch your step.” He lifts me up and sets me down on the cool, damp floor. Ahead of us, a sconce burns with flickering flames, and a delta stands guard.

He doesn’t move, not even when we step on the long path. We must be in a dungeon. There are multiple doors, all closed, with just a small window.

I can’t even see in.

“Is the room ready?” Sal reaches a door at the end of the hall.

“Yes, sir.” The delta nods to him and opens the door with a flourish.

“Good, good. Bring me her courting gift just as soon as we get settled.” He presses his palm to my lower back, making my skin crawl.

I’m concerned about what type of courting gift belongs in a dungeon.

A dim bulb hangs overhead, while a drain sits in the center of the room.

“Now, Sawyer.” Gripping my biceps, he pulls me to the side, where chains hang from the wall. Ah, there are the cuffs. “I hope you understand that I will have to cuff you for this next bit.”

“For a courting gift?” Fear drips from my words. No respectable courting gift involves a dungeon. My eyes remain glued to the door that remains partially open.

Sal grabs a hand and cuffs one to the chains and then the other. “Yes, yes, it is, but I need to protect you.”

What kind of protection involves chains?

Standing before me, Sal smiles and cups my face. “You’re so beautiful. I knew from the moment I first saw you dance that you’d be mine.”

My heart falls.

“I was at every show, watching you,” he whispers as though I’m his lover, and I suppose to him, I am. “When I saw you take Bryn’s knot in the woods all those years ago, I knew I had to have you.”

“What?” My vision swims.

“Oh yes. I sent a package to your work. I know you received it.” He’s so proud of himself. “I watched you, Sawyer. I watched you grow into a beautiful woman who’s sexy and full of curves. I wasn’t even jealous when Bryn sank into you. Want to know why?”

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