“Don’t do this, Mikaela,” he begged as his father cuffed his legs.
“Who’s the fourth man,” I asked like I’d done to Andrew.
Tahir paled. “I can’t,” he whispered as though accepting his fate.
“Do it.” I looked at Kabir.
His laugh filled with a mocking undertone, he picked up the knife and ran a finger along the edge. “I don’t take orders, kitten,” he sneered. “I think this one you need to do.” He held out the knife.
Slowly, I cocked my head to one side and smiled. For a fleeting moment, he reared back, his expression uncertainty. “Okay.” I stepped forward, took the knife, walked casually to the door, and slipped into Xavier’s open arms.
“What the fuck?” Kabir roared, alarm bells ringing in the tone of his voice.
Ignoring my Master, I lifted my eyes to my king. The man who’d promised to protect me, gave me strength and the vengeance I craved. “You okay?” he murmured, his nose against mine, his hands squeezing my body to his.
“Yes.”
“Ready to go home now?”
I nodded. “Just one more goodbye?” Instead of an answer, his lips met mine in a soft kiss.
Behind me, I could hear Kabir snorting his annoyance. “Fucking bitch,” he barked.
Slowly, I turned. Still within the confines of Xavier’s arms, I looked at the other man. His eyes, large saucers of fury, drifted between where Xavier’s finger lay clasped around my stomach to my face.
“You lying bitch,” he snarled. “You played me.”
“What did you expect, Master,” I asked, sarcasm dripping from my words. “That I’d grant you mercy, forget how you used my body for your disgusting pleasure. Forget the pain I suffered?” I shuddered from pure fury, grasping my body, threatening to burn down my calm. Xavier’s arms tightened around me, soothing me.
“What was the plan then?” Kabir stammered, sweat glistening on his brow and upper lip, accepting that he’d been hoodwinked, made to believe I loved him.
“When I left home today, I wanted you dead. Now I realize you’re just a lonely old man looking for love in the wrong way. You don’t deserve death. You deserve pity.”
“I’m sorry—” he began.
“Your apology can’t make me forget, nor would it heal my body or mind. He’s already done that.” I tilted my head to look at Xavier. He kissed my brow. When I looked at Kabir again, his pained expression was all I needed to know he hated what Xavier represented in my life.
True love.
“What do you want then?” he asked, his tone unrestrained surrender.
“I want your suffering. I want you to feel the pain, the fear, the loneliness I felt, the other girls felt, what Mama felt.” I was breathing hard by the time I finished. “I want you to know what it feels like for no one to hear your prayers, your cries for help. I want you to taste the pain of hunger pangs. Welcome to my hell, Kabir Shah.”
His eyes rounded, fear replacing his sorrow. “What do you mean?”
I stepped out of Xavier’s embrace. “This is your new home. Unlike me, you have those two for company.” I pointed to Tahir and Andrew.
“Wait. You can’t do this,” Tahir begged, pulling on the cuffs.
Kabir took a step forward. “You—”
“I wouldn’t if I was you,” Xavier threatened quietly, standing beside me, followed by Luke and Wilkes on my other side.
Shaking his head, Kabir fell back against the wall. “You can’t leave us here.”
“Why not?” I asked. “You have company. Andrew won’t last long without proper medical care. He can be your food supply if you want. Well, that’s if the rats don’t get to you first.”
“Are you fucking serious?” Kabir bit out. “I fucking gave you food and you want me to eat a friend.”
