“She values money. Status. I can use that.”
Dima considers this. “Bribe her?”
“Redirect her.”
“To where?” Seb asks.
“Anywhere far away. If that fails, a coffin.”
Seb exhales slowly. “You’re sick.”
“Yes.”
“But you’re serious?” Dima says.
“I’ve never been anything else.”
Dima shakes his head, amused by the whole situation.
“You know what normal people do when they like someone?” Seb says.
“Irrelevant.”
“They flirt,” Seb says.
“I make an offer.”
“They date,” Seb continues.
“I assess compatibility.”
“They don’t build containment strategies,” Seb argues, crossing his arms.
“I build security. Anyway, I didn’t hear any complaints when Dima tied you up until you complied?”
Seb opens his mouth to speak, but slumps back into his seat, thinking better of it.
Dima leans toward me across the table. “You’re going to ruin him.”
“No,” I say calmly.
“I’m going to remove everything that’s ruining him already.”
I picture Leo’s apartment. The way he carries disappointment like an inherited disease. He deserves peace. Control. Relief.
Dima studies me for a long moment.
Then, reluctantly: “If you’re doing this… you need leverage. Legal. Financial. Emotional.”
“I have all three.”
He snorts. “Of course you do.”
The song changes. Slower. Softer.
My thoughts return to the shape of Leo’s shoulders as he runs. The way the sweat on his neck dripped down to his t-shirt. What would he taste like? What do his moans sound like? Will he cry? Will he scream? My dick is so hard, thinking about it. I’ve never felt this urge of desire before. It’s becoming uncontrollable.
“One night,” I say again, tasting the lie in it.
