"Do you?" He reaches out and grips my jaw, forcing me to look at him. "Because I need you to understand something else."
His fingers dig into my skin.
"I own you. I decide what you do, where you go, who you see. I decide who gets to touch you." Venom bleeds into his words. "I am your God, Keira. And if you forget that in New York—if you embarrass me again or give me any reason to doubt your loyalty…"
He yanks me closer, grip tightening until pain blooms along my jaw.
"Hale won't just forget your face. He'll learn to hate it. I'll make sure of it."
I blink back the tears. "I understand."
"Say it."
"You own me."
"And?"
"Everything I am belongs to you."
He smiles. That cold, reptilian satisfaction that makes my skin crawl.
"Good. You understand basic English. Finally."
He releases my jaw and straightens.
"I have a meeting in an hour. You'll dine with me tonight. Wear the blue dress and the pearls." He glances at me with unconcealed disgust. "And fix your hair. You look gross. Did you sleep outside?"
He turns back to his desk, but I don't move.
My mind is racing, grasping for anything that might shift the board even half an inch in my favor. If we don't get out…if Ewan wins…
No. Don't go there.
I need to make this believable. Gain back his trust. Just for a little while longer.
"Ewan."
He glances over his shoulder, irritation flashing across his face like I've committed some unforgivable offense by daring to speak his name.
"I'll be good," I murmur submissively, knowing it's exactly what he wants to hear. "So good you won't have to worry about me anymore. Just let Hale stay. Let me prove myself to you."
He stares at me, then slowly starts walking toward me. I swallow down the rising panic.
He stops in front of me and just stands there. I hold his gaze, forcing myself to look steady, like I mean every word.
Then his hand clamps around the back of my neck.
He wrenches me forward so hard the air punches out of my lungs. His mouth crashes into mine and his teeth sink into my bottom lip. He bites down hard, twisting, until blood floods my mouth. I cry out against him, trying to pull away, but his grip is too strong.
He releases my lip only to grab my jaw, forcing my face up to meet his eyes.
Blood drips down my chin.
"You think I don't know what you're doing?"
He backhands me so hard my vision whites out.
I stagger sideways, catching myself on the edge of the desk. My ears ring. The entire left side of my face is on fire.
