Page 4 of Dangerous Games

I scoff and refuse to take it. “Why?”

“Put it on, Nanette. I’m not going to ask twice.” His tone tells me I should listen, though I hardly feel it’s necessary. It scares me to think he could be taking me somewhere dangerous enough that I need this blindfold, but I tie it around my head, making sure my eyes are covered.

“Where are you taking me?” My hands shake as I tighten the knot and the car starts to move.

“I’m taking you where I take all my things—where they’re safe. Stop asking questions.”

“You don’t own me, you know.” I say the words, but I know they’re not true. As long as I’m with him, he does own me. I know what he’s expecting. A man like him gets what he wants too, and I may as well be his toy with which to do whatever he wants. The idea both terrifies me and excites me at the same time. Why does that excite me? What is wrong with me?

“I do own you, as long as your slag of a brother delays his job.”

He infuriates me. I want to shout at him and make him see how abusive he’s being, how he can’t treat people this way, but he’s armed and I’m not. And something tells me he won’t hesitate to use the gun on his hip. After seeing the wound on Jimmy’s ribs from the toe of this man’s boot, I’m scared to death he will do something even worse next time. I can’t make Jimmy do the job, so the only thing I can do is play along with this asshole and pray Jimmy works quickly.

“You’re not going to hurt him anymore, right? I mean, I volunteered to come along. I need to know Jimmy will be safe.” I sound foolish, pleading for my brother’s safety as if I am able to bargain with this maniac. But I need reassurance. I need to know he won’t hurt Jimmy.

“I said, stop asking questions.”

Dominic stops the car, but he doesn’t allow me to take the blindfold off. He opens my door and undoes my seatbelt, then takes my arm and walks me somewhere, up a few steps and through a door. The air smells musty, like the place has been closed up for some time. It’s cool too; I shiver and rub my arms.

“Where are we?”

I hear his footsteps, then feel his fingers on the blindfold. He unties it, and as it falls away and I blink my eyes into focus I can’t believe what I see. The place is a mansion, sweeping grand staircases mirrored on either side of this massive entryway. The marble floor reflects the crystal chandelier overhead. The artwork on the walls looks expensive, but everything has a layer of dust.

“You live here?” I’m gawking; I must look like an idiot. But this place is ritzier than any house I’ve ever been in. It’s more like a castle.

“It is my home, yes, but I don’t stay here often. It’s… safer for you.” He chooses his words carefully. “Go to the second floor, third door on the right. It is your room. There is a dress draped across the bed. Put it on and be ready for dinner at six.” He turns as if he will walk away, and I plant my feet on the floor. I am not going to be bossed around.

“What I’m wearing is fine, and I’m not hungry.”

Dominic rears around, a demanding glare on his face. “Let me remind you, Nanette, that if you do not do as I instruct you, your brother may not be safe.” His hand draws the side of his suit coat back, revealing the weapon holstered there.

“Don’t threaten me. You can’t think that I am going to just be your slave, do whatever you want.” I’m indignant, refusing to play this game. I’m here, and I know there are things he will expect from me, but I want to put all the cards on the table. I’m not a pushover.

He doesn’t even respond. He just marches over to me and lifts me up, slinging me over his shoulder. I yelp at the sudden manhandling he does, and I realize how incredibly strong he is. I’m petite, one-fifteen dripping wet, but this guy is built. I pummel his lower back with my fists and shout. It’s the only thing I can do. He’s too strong to overpower.

“Stop it! Put me down!”

“Play nice, Nanette.” He carries me up the stairs and down the hallway as I scream profanities at him. He walks into a dark room and drops me on the bed and a squeak slips out of my mouth as I land with a hard bounce. “Dinner at six. Put the dress on and be ready.”

Dominic walks out and when he shuts the door, I hear the lock click. I race over and bang on the door, screaming for him to come back, but he walks away. I hear his footsteps on the marble floor fading and I am locked in his castle to stew on my thoughts.

God, Jimmy, just do the fucking job already so I can get out of here and away from this infuriating man.

3

DOMINIC

Ilook at my watch—quarter past six. Nanette is late to dinner despite the fact that I sent Mika to collect her almost twenty minutes ago. I am a patient man, but when people do not do what I say promptly I do get angry. I drum my fingers across the polished mahogany, trying to keep my cool, but I’m tired of waiting. If Nanette does not come down those stairs soon, I will have to go get her and she will regret making me wait.

A door shuts, and I expect to see her enter the dining room as footsteps approach, but it is not Nanette. My maid walks in with a grimace on her face. She bows at the shoulders and nods, waiting for me to address her, but I know what she will say. Nanette is refusing to come to dinner. I can see it in her eyes. Mika is afraid of me, though she has no reason to fear me, but she is wise to know I am to be feared.

“Sir, she will not come.” Mika bows again, so respectful, so I thank her.

“Thank you, Mika. I will go see if our guest will come to dinner with my coaxing.” I push my chair away and stand, straightening my tie and buttoning my suit coat. “You may begin serving dinner. I will only be a moment.”

She offers a pained smile and nods again, backing out of the room, and I march through the door and up the stairs. No one who really knows me would ever test me like this, so I have to be patient with her. She doesn’t have a clue who I am or what I am capable of doing to her. She’ll learn though, and it will only take a single interaction. She will do as I say or she will be punished, except I’ve reserved only the sweetest sort of punishment for a woman like her.

I approach her door and knock, but it’s not latched. It swings open easily, so I push it farther and walk in. Nanette is seated casually in the armchair by the vanity, one leg crossed over the other. She is reclining, reading a magazine, and she is still wearing her jeans and t-shirt, not the dress I laid out for her. In fact, I don’t even see the dress anywhere, and the room looks as if it hasn't been touched at all, except for the magazine in her hand rather than on the stack on the nightstand.

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