Page 61 of Enslaved

“Ah, but you have. Not even Dimitri knows the extent of my condition. No one has seen these medical files, but me and my physician. How you betray me with your desire tohelp. I TRUSTED YOU! MAYBE EVEN LOVED YOU! We’ll never know now.”

“Don’t. Don’t stop falling in love with me. Please, hear me out—”

“I heard enough when I listened to you flirt with him, say his name…and spill my secrets. Tell me who’s your unknown friend with all my medical info? Hmm? Your new lover at Ciao?!”

“No…and Andre, he’s just a friend. I swear it.”

“A friend, eh? I don’t think so. You know he wants you. Why did you make plans with him?”

“It was just going to be lunch, next week when he’s in port. You-you said you’d be back at work,” she dropped off and backed away from the rage burning in my eyes.

“Never. You’re never to see him again. In fact, I don’t even want to see you right now. Maybe I should find your replacement, eh? Thank you little one for showing me what true pleasure feels like, but maybe we’re not written in the stars after all. Maybe you were just meant to turn the lights on for someone else to come home to.”

“No. Please, Christos, I know you’re angry. Just please listen. I was trying to gather more information and come to you with it all, so we could come up with a plan. A solution.”

“Angry? That doesn’t even begin to cover it, sweetheart. What if there is no solution,agape? Would you take me as I am? Love me as I am…a broken man…a broken soul and half a heart? You—stupid little bird. Did you think I haven’t done this exact same research?” I grabbed the files from the floor, waving them in her face. “Did you think I would just mindlessly take pills? I’ve been to the damn facility, met with the damn scientists. I know more than your attempt at research could ever tell me. Guess what? What if I like who I am? What if I already know I’m both dark and light with the power to decide which man I want to be? Maybe I just wanted to be able to feel it for a change.” I grabbed her purse, unlocked the one drawer to my desk she hadn’t managed to break open, and chucked her passport and a thousand euros at her. “Take it and go.”

Her chin quivered, but she stood her ground. “No.”

“So be it. If you stay, I willhurt you. If you were smart, you’d run.”

“Alex invited me. I’m going to his party.”

“Alex? Do you think he gives a shit about you? That he’d stop me from caning you, letting another man fuck you until you scream—while I sit with a drink in my hand?”

“You wouldn’t. I know you wouldn’t let anyone touch me, no matter how mad you are.”

“Don’t bet on it, sweetheart. You have no idea how I feel. What it’s like to have a hot poker dipped in rage be the first emotion to feel at one hundred percent.”

“I’m not leaving you, ever.”

I answered by reaching inside my desk for a generic sub collar, one I used on my last sub that George missed when clearing out her things. I unlocked the diamond collar from her throat, replacing it with the black leather one. Wrapping the chain around my wrist, I gave my command. “Crawl like a dog to the door. If you want to stay, it’ll be on my terms. Do you want to please me? Make me forgive you?”

“Yes, Christos. Yes, master.”

“Well, what if I can’t?”

“I’ll try with my last breath. You’re more broken than you’ve ever made me. I love you. I love you, despite your beautiful darkness.”

“I’ll destroy you with it.”

“I’m not afraid.”

“You should be, little dove. Feelings won’t change who I am. My personality is dark and depraved. Maybe having my emotions turned on, only heightens the pleasure I get from living this way.”

“I-I don’t believe that. When I’ve seen you shine like the sun?”

“No,agape. I never shined. What you saw was your reflection on me.”

“I’m guessing this is your first fight where you’re actually vested in it. I’m sorry for being stupid. For being so excited to be with you…I wanted to speed the process along.”

“All you did was derail me.”

“Don’t do this,” she pleaded, recognizing that Christos from the sea was gone, andEl Diablowas back.

“You had your chance to run,” he informed me grabbing my hands and tying rope around them.

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