Of course, if I fought or sassed him, I would be punished. He sat in the chair next to me, remaining calm. He grabbed my hands with one hand, gripping them. My body had already reacted to his touch.
I could feel my heart flutter at his nearness. The man trained me well, or maybe it had nothing to do with that. Perhaps I like violent sex and the kinky games he played with me. I never experienced that kind of sex play with any other partner. Atlas turned me into his personal whore, and I actually enjoyed it.
I don't think I could ever go back to a normal sex life. His lip lifted into a slight smile. The sound of his gentle voice made my heart melt. I enjoyed this Atlas. Jeckyll was more human than Hyde, who could sometimes be cruel and careless.
"My pet, I understand you're not a killer, and I don't blame you for being an innocent thrust into my screwed-up world."
He looked at me, his demeanor remained calm.
"I would not lie and make up a story regarding who I am. I'm sorry you had to hear our conversation, but it is what I do, and I spilled my secret the first night we were together. If I had kept you locked up in your room twenty-four hours a day, you would not have had the opportunity to listen to my discussion with Yara and the guys, but that isn't what happened."
He lifted my chin and smiled.
"I am not upset with you for having mixed emotions, so don't worry. Good people don't die by my trigger. I kill criminals that are more violent than you could ever imagine. If you think I am cruel, you have never seen the underbelly of society, and I will make sure you never do."
He rubbed my arm as he continued speaking.
"The man we will eliminate tonight is a very mean, calculating, evil person. He takes women and sells them into the sex trafficking business. I don't make it my mission to take outallof these rotten individuals, but when someone puts a hit out on them, I am happy to take out the trash, so to speak."
What Atlas did to me is wrong, but at least he didn't sell me to the highest bidder.
His voice took on a more authoritative tone.
Now, dismiss the thoughts from your mind, pet. You and I need to discuss the arrangement for you while I am gone tonight. I will be out of the house for about two hours."
I looked at him with desperation spread across my face and pleaded with him to let me remain alone tonight.
"Atlas, I can stay by myself. I don't need a babysitter at this point. I've been with you for almost five weeks now. There is no way for me to get out of this house. Everything is locked up. There isn't a soul around for miles."
I looked at him nervously, biting down on my lower lip.
"I…I am tired of being treated like a child. Besides, I have the tracker in my arm, and the entire house is under surveillance with cameras in every room. Even if I broke free, and I know I can't, you could find me in a minute."
I hoped begging would allow me to win the right to be left to my own devices.
Even though I fantasize about escaping, there is no way out of here. I am trapped, but I don't want to be locked up in my room for two to three hours, and I don't want a damn babysitter. It is unnecessary.
He rubbed his chin, shifting his eyes. He was thinking about it. I could tell. He may allow it. I prayed he would relent and not insist on a sitter. I hate being treated like a goddamn toddler. He lowered his lids at me.
"You do know I want you to accept your fate and try to be as happy as you can under the circumstances, Kitlyn, even if the way you got here wasn’t conventional, right?"
He used my name. He rarely calls me by my real name.
I nodded, smiling at him.
"Yes, I know that, Atlas."
I wasn't lying. Things have shifted between us these past couple of weeks, with him catering to me more often than he did initially. He was more attentive and not as harsh as he had been when this whole nightmare began.
Maybe he was developing a conscience after all. I looked at him with a stubborn intensity.
My gaze locked onto his. "So, will you let me stay alone and not confine me to my room?"
He took a deep breath, then exhaled loudly.
"Well, I guess leaving you alone won't do any harm. You can't get out of the house. I had everything installed myself. There is no way out of here without the remote and code access. You can have free rein, except in my office, where my computers and your cell phone and laptop are locked up. No landline phones are anywhere in the house, so you can remain free from your room while I am gone."
I couldn't contain my excitement. I jumped up from my chair and threw my arms around his neck, repeatedly kissing him on the cheek. His shocked expression was almost comical.Iwas even surprised at my reaction.
