JOLIE
I’dnever been one for dreams.
When Iclosed my eyes at night, behind my lids swam only blackness. There was no running from something or someone Icouldn'tsee. There was no warm embrace from my father, though he had been aloving one. No sweet memories of childhood, though there had been many. There was only the endless black.
That night was no different.
Islept with aheavy heart and amind full of darkness, black enveloping my soul like ashroud. It had never bothered me that Ididn’tdream, but that night Iwished more than anything that Icould fill my head with dreams. With colors and pictures, with faces and voices. Anything to keep out the darkness. Iwanted akaleidoscope of beauty, but all Ifound was ugliness.
And when Iwoke, it was to abad taste and the sound of gunfire.
The taste was because, for what was the second time, Iassumed Ihad been drugged. The gunfire Ihad no clue on, but Iwas guessing whoever the Master was, he didn’tmake many friends wherever he went. Iknew for sure that I’duse agun on him if Iever got my hands on one.
Isat up, feeling naked despite still wearing the ridiculous pink baby doll dress. I’dalways hated those things and had never understood what men—or women, for that matter—thought was attractive about them. They weren’tcomfy or warm and they sure as shit didn’tcover anything. They were sexy and childish all rolled into one, which screamed all the wrong things to me. Regardless of whether Iliked it or not, it was currently all Ihad.
The gunfire above me had stopped, and Irealized how strange it was that Ihadn’tflinched when it was happening. Despite my brother being in the MC, Ihad tactfully avoided being around this life for the best part of seventeen years, so realistically guns should have scared me. But they didn’t.
The sound of akey in the door had me dragging myself out of my thoughts and looking up as the door swung open and the Master walked back in. He thought that I’dgiven in to him, but Iwas only biding my time.
He smiled as he came in, his hands holding atray of food. He kicked the door closed behind him and Iheard the lock engage. He made his way slowly across the room, enjoying it when Ipulled the covers higher to cover my body from his view.
Placing the tray on the bedside table next to me, he then perched on the edge of the bed, the scent of expensive aftershave filling the air. He laughed when Inarrowed my eyes at him, his laughter growing when he reached out to touch my leg and Ikicked out at him.
“Now now, Ithought we were past this,” he tutted. “It seems you still have some taming to do.”
“Fuck you,” Isnarled, and he smiled wider.
“Fuck you…” he said with aquestioning tone, his hand rolling in the air for me to continue.
Iswallowed, knowing exactly what he wanted me to say next. And Ihad to give it to him if Iwanted to win the fight.
“Fuck you, Master.” When Ispoke, Ispoke with care, attempting to tame my anger with him. Now wasn’tthe time for emotions. Now was the time for being smart.
“That’sbetter.” He reached over and grabbed abottle of water from the tray before unscrewing the lid and beckoning me forward.
Idid as he requested and Iopened my mouth for him to carefully pour the water into it. Despite how much Ihated him, Iwas thirsty and Ineeded something to wash away the disgusting taste in my mouth. When the bottle was half empty, he stopped pouring and wiped my wet chin with the pad of his thumb. Ipulled away from his touch like he’dburned me, and he chuckled again.
“That’sno way to treat someone who cares about you, Jolie,” he tutted.
My eyes, if possible, narrowed further. “You care?” Iscoffed.
His mouth twisted into ahandsome smile. Ihated that—hated that despite everything he was and everything he had done, he was still beautiful to me. He couldn’tnot be. He was alion in lamb'sclothing. His gaze was earnest. His jaw chiseled. His lips were set to put you at ease. He was amodern day Dorian Gray.
“Ido, actually. Icare alot. You’re going to make us alot of money.” The casual way he spoke meant it took me aminute to understand what he was saying. And even then Icouldn’tquite comprehend it.
He picked up aspoon and scooped some scrambled eggs onto it before offering it to me, and when Iturned away he moved it closer. It was only when Ilashed out, hitting his arm so that the spoon flew across the room, that he gave any real reaction. And it wasn’tagood one.
His large hand reached out to grip the bottom of my chin and he pulled me forward by it, making me squeal in pain. He reached across and grabbed ahandful of the eggs from the plate and shoved them against my closed lips so quickly his hand was ablur.
“Eat!” he yelled in my face, his eyes alight with pure rage. “Eat now, or I’ll choke you with my cock and fill your belly with my semen!”
His words shocked me to my core and Iopened my mouth automatically, letting my cheeks bulge with eggs until Iwas sputtering and choking on them. Only then did he release my chin. My automatic reaction was to spit them out in his face, but his last warning stopped me and Iforced myself to chew and swallow, the eggs sliding down my too-dry throat and landing in my empty stomach like lead.
He took anapkin from the tray and wiped his hands clean, his gaze almost never leaving mine.
“Is there anything you’dlike to say?” he asked, his tone like ice.
“Sorry—” Ibegan, watching as his eyes narrowed marginally. “Sorry, Master.”
