I’m dumped unceremoniously onto a soft mattress. I spring up immediately and then freeze.
I’m not in a cell, but a round room. There’s nothing in here but the raised bed and an array of what can only be described as instruments hanging off the wall opposite, and on a table. Above is some sort of viewing platform that circles the entire space and I can see the bodies, the figures, filling up. They’re jostling, shoving, obviously trying to get a good view of whatever is about to occur.
My stomach twists and bile threatens to make me puke, but I swallow it back down. I don’t want them to realise how truly petrified I am. My performance hasn’t even begun, and I already feel like I’ve been flayed open.
The man who brought me has his back to me like he’s clearly occupied with something and, as I stare, I realise with absolute certainty who this is. It wasn’t just my head playing tricks, it wasn’t merely wishful thinking.
Itishim. ItisAntonio. Only he’s not here to save me, is he?
I don’t think, I don’t consider my actions, I just fling myself at him. He turns, catches me by the throat and immediately overpowers me. Those dark brown eyes seem to sparkle as he forces me back one step at a time.
“You bastard.” I hiss.
“Grace…”
“You absolute bastard.”
He lets out what could be a sigh of regret, only I know better. He pushes me down, back onto the bed, and a whimper escapes me before I can keepit in.
“How could you? How…”
“This is going to go one of two ways, Grace.” He says, talking over me, effectively dismissing my words entirely. He plants a knee right between my legs, making some declaration of ownership that I already despise. “I can be gentle, I can be considerate, seeing as this is your first time, or…”
I gasp out in shock as I realise where his other hand is, what he’s now pinching. The gold ring that pierces my clit only makes this more painful as he applies a tiny bit more pressure.
“…you can be difficult, you can fight, and I will have to make an example of you in front of all these witnesses. I will have to force you.”
A tear streaks down my cheek. I shut my eyes, and all I can see is those people far above me. There must be at least a hundred. A hundred people have all come to see my ruin, come to witness Titus Ratcliffe’s precious daughter being turned into a whore.
“Please…” I whisper.
Antonio is not a monster, I know that, I know…but everything I know is a lie, isn’t it? The Antonio I know is a façade. To have been so close to my father he had to be just as ruthless, just as monstrous. I may only have seen the parts he wanted me to; the nice parts, the polite parts, but all that changed the moment Magnus Blake usurped my father’s position. Everything since that day until now has been a ruse.
His hand skims up my body. His touch is light enough that I erupt into goosebumps.
“Let me break you in gently.”
I gulp, telling myself that I’m simply imagining that hint of a plea. That he’s not asking for my sake, no. None of this is about me, about my protection. He simply wants to show the world how easily he beat me, how easily I became what they all want me to be.
I shake my head. “No.”
He frowns, clearly thinking I’m still trying to reason with him, but there is no reasoning with madness.
“I won’t do it.” I say quietly, “I can’t do it.”
“Grace…”
I throw my head back, glaring at all those men. All those faces who once smiled at me, who promised an oath to my father, who swore loyalty to my family. Every single one of them turned their back on him, on me, on my mother too.
“I won’t submit.” I state. “I refuse to submit.”
The warmth of his breath hits me as he exhales. “Fine.” He murmurs, just loud enough for me to hear. “We’ll do this your way. But if you change your mind, say the word ‘Ruby’, and it will all stop.”
I narrow my eyes, hearing the temptation in his words. He’s giving me an out, some semblance of control in all this, at least that’s what he wants me to believe.
He releases his grip, leaves me sprawled onto the bed and steps back, grabbing the piece of paper he’s been so fascinated by.
“Sign it.” He orders, shoving it in my face.
