Page 6 of Severance

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“So.” Stan’s deep voice breaks through my thoughts as he stares down at me with a sly grin on his face. “I heard you’ve been keeping yourself pretty busy over the years. Couldn’t keep your legs closed after you realized your purpose, huh?”

My purpose?

With a blank stare, I remain silent and keep my thoughts to myself. His eyes grow darker and his expression becomes sinister when I don’t take the bait. I may have done some stupid shit in my life, but I’m not an idiot. I know these assholes have kept tabs on me and I know what they’re capable of.

This time, I’m not giving them what they want… not without a fight.

Stan leans forward, brushing a stray curl from my face and crouches down until he’s eye level with me. His hands fall onto my knees and he grips them roughly.

“I must say, I am pretty fucking proud,princess,” he croons as he pulls my legs apart. His hot breath skates across my skin and the pungent smell of stale liquor fills my nose. “I heard it costs a pretty penny for you to work your magic with that golden pussy.”

Instinctively, my body reacts and attempts to draw my knees together. Stan’s fingertips dig into my flesh as he firmly keeps my legs spread open. Adrenaline floods my senses as his intentions grow clearer and the panic quickly sets in.

Stan roughly slides his hands up my thighs and underneath my shorts. My skin burns under his ill-intended touch and time stands still as he moves across my bare flesh.

My body’s frozen and I squeeze my eyes shut tight, searching for any reprieve from his unwarranted hands. My mind quickly takes me away from here, away from Stan, and takes me tohim.

Kai.

His soft brown eyes are warm, but his voice is demanding and his words are clear.

Show no weakness.

Those three words were forever etched in my soul in the melody of his voice.

Those three words were a mantra that would never fail me.

Those three words kept Kai from failing me, but in the end, I’m the one who showed weakness.

I’m the one who failed.

A calmness settles deep in my bones as Kai’s voice rings in my head. Like a ship lost at sea, he’s the light shining from the shore that leads me home. He’s the anchor that holds me steady amongst the swells of the storm.

Crashing back to reality, I’m on high alert and hyperaware of what’s unfolding before me. My eyes flash open and collide with Stan’s as he grabs the waistband of my shorts.

He pauses, fisting the material and smirks. “This one is on the house, princess.” He winks as he gathers the thin string from my thong in his hands. “I don’t pay for pussy, especially when I’m the one who taught that pussy how to take a dick.”

The words leave his mouth just as his hands start to move, but I’m ready. It’s a blind shot, but it’s my only chance. My foot darts out and hits him directly between his legs.

“FUCK!” Stan growls loudly and groans in pain. His hands leave my legs as he stumbles backward, grabbing himself.

My shorts are bunched around the tops of my thighs and the material pulls against my skin as I jump to my feet. Stan quickly recovers and straightens himself as he towers over me.

One kick should have bought me more time.

It was a blind shot.

It was my only shot.

I took it, and I fucked up.

Stan’s eyes are dark as he shakes his head. “Oh, princess.” He frowns and taps me lightly on the tip of my nose. “Look at you, all grown up, acting like you’re the fucking queen.”

He pulls away from me but only for a fraction of a second. Lightning strikes as his fist connects with my face. The bones surrounding my eye crunch from the force of the blow. Falling back, I land on the old dusty bed in a heap. My head spins from the sudden shift as my vision blurs.

“You’ll never be the fucking queen,” Stan clips. “Not in this fucking kingdom.”

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