Our steps echo off the floors. It seems empty, but I know there are others here. This place is never empty, and at night it truly comes alive.
“Are you well?” I ask her as she leads me to a room I’ve been in before many times. Gabriel’s office is just as spacious as every other room in his home. It smells of wood oil and cigars. The room appears dark due to the rich mahogany furniture and deep red handwoven rug that covers most of the floor. But the thick curtains in front of the windows are also drawn, heightening the effect.
A faint blushes rises to her cheeks. “I am. And you?” she asks.
“You’ve brought me an unexpected guest, esclave.” Gabriel stands from behind his desk and smiles wide at me.
Talia waits patiently by the door with her head bowed, and her hands clasped as he walks over to me.
Gabriel’s a tall man. He's not muscular, but toned--it means he's not an obvious threat, but he's still lethal. He’s ruthless in business. And he makes everything his business. I came here first when I went undercover. I had to become part of the scene, and that meant being talked about.
Talking is what Gabriel does best.
His dark hair is slicked back, and his brilliant smile is just as white as his crisp button-down shirt.
He gives me a quick hug along with a hard pat on the back. “I’ve been waiting for you to show your face in here again.”
I never know how he’s able to suck me in. No one knows me anymore; I don’t even know who I am. But Gabriel does. He has a way of putting me at ease. It’s a false sense of security, but it feels… thrilling.
A darkness I’ve tried to suppress creeps up on me. I need to contain the person I am when I’m here. For Olivia.
He lets a short, throaty laugh out from his chest and looks back at his desk.
“Have a seat, my friend.” At first when I met him, I assumed he called all of his guests his friends. I found out very quickly he doesn’t.
“Talia, come.” He takes a seat and waits as Talia lowers herself beside his desk and sits her knees down on a pillow. He puts a hand on her shoulder and rubs soothing circles over her bare skin.
Her eyes close and she relaxes under his touch.
“I have a problem, Gabriel.” I look at Talia as I use Gabriel’s first name. It’s a rule in his mansion that first names aren’t used around pets or slaves. He once told me that for training purposes it’s important they only ever know you as Master. But his favorite pet knows him by all his names. And he seems to give her more and more exceptions every time I see them.
“And does that problem have a woman’s name?” he asks with a humorous glint in his eye.
“She does. Olivia Bell.” Saying her name makes my heart still in my chest. A part of me wants to keep her a secret. To make sure she’s safe. But she’s not. I can’t keep her safe. “I wasn’t prepared for her. And she’s quite…”
“Difficult?” he asks with a smirk. “The best ones always are.” He looks down at Talia and she must feel his eyes on him, because she looks up. She gives him a small smile and rests her cheek on his thigh.
“I need a room, if you have one available.”
“For you? Of course,” he replies. Gabriel’s always willing to lend a hand. But I’m sure he keeps a record of everyone who’s ever owed him anything. I try to lean back in my seat, but I’m too anxious.
“Thank you. I appreciate it.” I imagine this is going to cost at least 200 grand. Maybe more, depending on how long she takes.
“You’re just in time, too,” Gabriel says. I raise my brows in question. “I’m having a celebration tonight.”
He reaches down and cups Talia’s chin, giving her a small, chaste kiss before looking back at me.
“You’ve never brought your own before. This should be fun.”
Olivia
I slowly wake, feeling groggier than I did when I passed out in the trunk. And hot. So fucking hot. I try to sit up, but then I realize I’m on the floor. My eyes pop open and adrenaline shoots through me. Memories of yesterday come flooding back. Fuck, no. No. I close my eyes and wish it was a dream. But it’s not. This is real. Was it yesterday? Or two days ago? How long has it been?
I see movement to my left, and I instinctively jump back.
“Now, angel, that’s no way to greet me.” His eyes hold a threat I haven’t seen before.
“Get on your knees.”
