Her eyes narrow. “I’m not anyone’s possession.”
“No?” I lean in, close enough to catch the scent of her subtle yet enticing perfume. “Then why the bruise? Men don’t mark what they don’t believe they own. Are you telling me it wasn’t your father who gave you this bruise?”
“You don’t know anything about my father or me,” she spits, but I catch the tremor in her voice.
“I know everything about William Pike,” I correct her. “The righteous mayor who blocked my waterfront development while lining his pockets with kickbacks from my competitors. The man who preaches family values while leaving marks on his.”
Something flickers in her eyes. “This is about my father.”
“Smart girl.” I reach out again, this time gripping her chin. “Everything is always about something bigger than what’s right in front of you. That’s your first lesson.”
When she tries to jerk away, I move suddenly, pressing her back against the wall with my body. Not violently—I don’t need violence to control—but firmly enough that she understands the power I hold. My hand rests beside her head, my face inches from hers.
“The next seventy-two hours will teach you exactly how much your father’s actions cost others,” I whisper against her ear. “And I’m only the first installment.”
The sound of the wall mechanism behind us makes her eyes dart toward the noise. I don’t need to look because I know it’s Ryder, right on schedule. Her body tenses further under my grip, her breath becoming shallow as she realizes she’s now trapped with two predators instead of one.
Behind me, Ryder strolls in with that infuriating ease that’s both his greatest asset and my greatest annoyance.
“Well, well. Looks like you found our little prize first, Dom.” His voice carries none of the tension that fills my own. He leans against the wall, arms crossed, a lazy smile spreading across his face as he gives Cora an appreciative once-over. “I’m Ryder. Sorry about the cramped accommodations, princess.”
I don’t loosen my grip on Cora, but I feel her attention split between us.
“Don’t let his casual demeanor fool you,” I tell her, my lips close to her ear. “Your father’s anti-gambling initiative put him out of business for eight months. He had to rebuild his reputation from scratch.”
Ryder shrugs. “What can I say? Daddy Dearest decided my consulting services for high-end casinos were ‘detrimental to public welfare.’ Cost me about two million in contracts.” His smile never falters. “But hey, water under the bridge, right?”
The mechanical sound of the wall rotating again signals Liam’s arrival. He steps in, completing our triangle around Cora. Unlike Ryder’s casual stance or my aggressive proximity, Liam observes with distance, hands in his pockets.
“Ms. Pike. We meet again.” His voice is cultured. “I believe we were discussing the challenges of political family dynamics earlier at the charity gala.”
Recognition flashes in her eyes, then betrayal. “You planned this,” she says.
“Planned? No.” Liam adjusts his cufflinks. “Seized an opportunity? Absolutely.” He steps closer. “Your father called me a parasite on justice for defending my clients. Very publicly destroyed my reputation among certain influential circles.”
I release Cora, stepping back to let her process our collective presence.
“Three different men,” I say, “three different businesses your father damaged. And one daughter who volunteered herself as a participant in the Hunt.”
“Perfect symmetry,” Ryder adds with a wink.
“So, you’re what—going to rape me for revenge?” Her voice shakes, but her eyes remain defiant.
Ryder laughs at her accusation, shaking his head. “Rape? No, princess. Nothing that happens in the Hunt qualifies as that.” He leans against the wall, perfectly at ease. “You signed the contract. Initialed every page of that comprehensive NDA. The one that explicitly stated participants waive all rights to consent for the duration of the Hunt.”
I watch her face carefully, tracking the slight changes in her expression. The flash in her eyes. The tightening of her jaw. She knows exactly what she agreed to.
“He’s right,” I say. “Your signature on that contract was all the consent required. Everything that happens in the next seventy-two hours is perfectly legal.”
Cora glares at us, her eyes burning with fury even as her body betrays her with a slight tremble. The contradiction is delicious—this political princess who willingly walked into our world, now trying to summon moral outrage.
“Look at her face,” I say to the others. “She knows we’re right.”
“Of course she does,” Liam adds, his voice smooth as silk. “Mayor Pike’s daughter wouldn’t sign anything without reading the fine print. She’s too well-trained for that.”
The way she squares her shoulders confirms it.
“Let’s be honest,” I say, stepping closer until my chest nearly touches hers. “No one signs up for the Hunt unless they’re looking for something they can’t get in their regular life.” My hand reaches up to grip her jaw, forcing her to look at me. “You walked in here tonight knowing exactly what would happen. A pretty girl like you, wanting to be hunted, caught, and fucked however we choose?”
