Page 5 of His Dark Purpose

How did Stevens know that was where she was? Had he seen Kyle dragging her from the study to the bedroom?

“What about her?” Kyle’s clipped tone no doubt revealed more of his hand than he’d have liked.

Even if Stevens hadn’t witnessed anything that played out earlier, he would notice Kyle’s short tone compared to the usual loving one he employed where Amy was concerned.

“Will she require my services?” The driver shifted from one foot to the other as though he sensed the ice he was skating on was thinning.

“No.” Of that much, Kyle was certain. Amy wasn’t going anywhere. “Why don’t you take the rest of the day off, Stevens?”

“Off, sir?” Steven’s brows knitted as if he couldn’t believe Kyle’s suggestion.

He supposed the response was fair. In all the years Stevens had driven for Kyle, he’d never expressed a desire that his employees take spontaneous time off. It was the definition of ‘out of character’.

“Yes.” Kyle feigned a nonchalance he wasn’t feeling. “Take some time for yourself. I’ll see you tomorrow morning.”

“Oh.” Stevens clearly didn’t know what to say to that. “Well, th-thank you, sir. I hate to ask, but will I be paid for this time off?”

“What?”

Kyle’s thoughts had already returned to the beguiling woman cuffed in his bedroom. She’d been silent so far, but who was to say her obedience would continue? If she screamed, would Stevens be able to hear her, and what would his normally reliable driver make of the plea?

He and Amy had screwed their way around the house, so Stevens had surely grown used to their flirtatious banter, but her crying out for help would be something completely different.

But if Stevens saw me carrying her up the stairs, he’d have heard her cries for help, then.Kyle’s heart sped up.And he’d have ignored them.

What did that mean?

Was Stevens sincerely as loyal as he seemed, or could he have snuck off to call the authorities after seeing Amy hauled into submission?

Shit.Kyle had no way of knowing either way.

The sense of impotency was suffocating.

“The time off today.” Stevens frowned, as though he regretted mentioning it. “Will I be paid for it, sir?”

“Yes, of course.” Kyle scowled, hardly believing Stevens would even query the idea.When, in all those long years, had henotpaid him over the odds for his service? “Anything else, Stevens?”

“No, sir.” The driver looked desperate to get away. “Thank you again.”

Kyle watched as he slipped out toward the kitchen, no doubt en route back to the garages before he locked up for the day. With Leonard on his well-overdue annual leave and no new housekeeper to replace Amy, the house would finally be empty. That would buy him some time to placate his wayward wildcat and decide what came next.

Allowing Stevens time to clear the area, he glanced around the vast entrance of Brock Hall, remembering the numerous places he’d claimed her right there in the lobby. Those memories usually filled him with a deep sense of fulfillment, but standing there, an unwelcome void seemed to have opened up in its place. The intimacy he’d shared with Amy was the greatest of his life, but to know they’d hit the rocks over something as futile as the fact he was once her landlord was infuriating.

I should have told her.A crease appeared in his brow as he trudged toward the kitchen.If I’d just told her, then none of this would have happened.

But he hadn’t told her, and if truth be known, he hadn’t even been tempted to.

The past was, he believed, a fine source of impetus, driving him forward, but it belonged exclusively to him. He hadn’t told Amy, not out of some altruistic plan to save her the upset, but because he believed his history was none of her business. The fact he happened to know so much about her past, her marriage, and her debts had turned out to be fortuitous, but it didn’t mean he’d been compelled to share his own journey.

Hypocrite.His lips twitched at the critique.I want to know all about her, but I won’t share anything about myself.

No wonder she’s so angry.

His focus flitted back to the sprawling, galleried landing upstairs. He’d expected to hear her frustrated calls, but instead, only quiet met his questions. He should have been pleased, having cautioned her to keep the peace, but the hush only seemed to tighten the knot of foreboding in his stomach.

It was strange for Amy to be so biddable when she was in trouble. She could play the well-trained submissive when in the mood, but obstinate defiance had turned out to be her standard response to anything she disliked.

And she dislikes this.

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