The sight of my warehouse makes my soul sing and a sense of normalcy washes over me. I watch Jude carefully as we head in, noting his limp is more pronounced than it has been since recovering from the injury. He’s pushing himself too hard to be everything Hollis and I need, plus his duties as a Council Second,and his responsibilities to his Boys… He’s another one who won’t be leaving our bed once Roman and Lio are back. Hollis and I need all our lovers in one place, and soon, before my Tesoro spirals even further.
My men stand to attention as soon as the three of us walk into the room. Their expressions are controlled, but there’s a thrum of excitement in the air. I was very clear in my instructions to Joel, they know something is coming, and things usually get…interesting after one of my experiments.
“She all ready for us?”
Joel doesn’t smile, but there’s a lightness to his brown eyes that shows more than his usual exasperation at my antics. “Yes, sir. Everything is set up. I’ll be on standby should you need anything else.”
“Good. Unless it’s Hol, or an emergency, don’t interrupt us.”
Leading Jude and Marucs into the largest of the torture rooms, I can’t help but smile at the sight of Cecily stripped naked and chained to the floor in the middle of the room.
She tries to stand, but the chain around her neck—connected to the ceiling hook—prevents her from doing so, lest she choke herself.
“Hello,” I tell her, keeping my tone light and pleasant. “I realize,” I say, as I walk further into the room. “We didn’t get to properly introduce ourselves. I’m Tennant Mason, I work for the Council. This is Jude Manassero, a Second in Command to the Council, and Marcus Martelli, he also works for the Council.”
Silence lapses as the four of us stare at each other. I sigh and shake my head. “Oh, Cecily, did your father not teach you manners?”
She sneers. “Whatever you’re hoping to get from me, you’re shit out of luck.”
I laugh. “I love when they believe that.” Turning to Jude, I say, “I’m sorry, Agnellino, we’ve been lax in your training.Though, I am impressed with your skills as a Second. Let’s see how well you remember your lessons in interrogation.”
Jude smiles, but it doesn’t reach his eyes, and I know he’s still thinking of Antonio. Good, that will help bring out what I need from him.
“Unchain her, but not the one from the ceiling.”
Marcus jumps in to undo the chains keeping her to the floor. When he’s done, I loosen the one connected to the ceiling, giving her enough slack to stand without worry.
“Are you going to have your way with me now?” she asks, tossing her head, her hair falling down her back in what should probably be an enticing way.
I grimace. “Fuck, no. The only one here who likes women is Marcus, and I highly doubt he’d touch you with a ten-foot pole.”
The man wrinkles his nose. “Fucking hell no.”
“So you see, we’re just here to chat. This can be easy or hard, but that’s up to you.”
“Fuck you,” she spits. “I don’t have shit to say to you.”
I hum. “The hard way—my favorite.”
Leaving them standing there, I head toward the table with the knives. I thought about making her choose, a la Cristian style, but I don’t trust her near the weapons. Not that I’m scared she could actually hurt one of us, but still, why make it easy for her?
Choosing one of the dullest knives, I hand it to Marcus. “Antonio is your friend. How about you get this party started?”
He looks surprised, but weighs the weapon in his hand, looking between the blade and Cecily. Marcus doesn’t disappoint, crossing the small distance between them, and even though Cecily tries to back away, tries to bring her arms up to defend herself, the chain is still around her throat, looser but not loose. She chokes on a gasp when she reaches the end of her slack and can’t move anymore.
Marcus cuts deeply across her face. Dull the blade might be, but it’s still a weapon. He has to dig harder into her flesh to draw blood, but he manages it. The sight makes my heart pound in my chest, and my cock hardens with the adrenaline rushing through me.
Jude moves behind Cecily to hold her still for Marcus. This would have been easier while she was still chained to the floor, but there’s no fun in that. Watching her squirm between the two of them, her screams echoing off the cement floor and walls, as Marcus carves the word “BITCH” into her forehead, is music to my ears.
When he’s finished, Cecily’s face is almost unrecognizable due to the blood and cuts. “Your knife sucks,” Marcus says casually.
I laugh. “Don’t worry, I have more toys. Go ahead and release her, Little Lamb.”
Jude’s arms drop from Cecily so fast she stumbles, no longer having anything to brace herself against.
“Now that you’re nice and primed, how about you tell us what we want to know?”
“Fuck. You.” Blood spills down her chin as she tries to spit at me.
