Page 292 of Coal Hearts

“You know what? Fuck you too. Fuck both of you.” Ily sniffed, throwing me a fiery glower.

My hand twitched, but Victor just snickered. “One day, my pet. One day. Perhaps even together.”

She gulped.

My temper prickled. If Victor thought he’d share an Ily sandwich with me, he would find I had a few terms and conditions if he wanted Q’s fortune.

“So?” Victor looked back and forth between the two jewels. “What was the drug that made Ily react?”

Peter balled his hands, well used to answering when asked. “It was psi—”

“Why?” Ily interrupted. “So you can use it as a weapon against me? Drug me each time I’m misbehaving?”

“That’s up to Henri to decide.” Victor shrugged. “Or whatever Master is currently ruling you in the future. I merely want to know so I’m aware of what can kill and maim. Do you think I intend to kill my jewels through allergies? That the notes I have on Rachel and Colin with their peanut and sesame intolerances are a dastardly plot to murder them?”

“I wouldn’t put anything past you.” Ily crossed her arms, not caring she stood naked or that my bloody fingerprints still branded her.

“I’ll take that as a compliment, and perhaps you should take it as a warning.” Victor grinned far too white and wide. “For now, though, I’m impatient to see if Henri can finally be trusted, so...I’ll find out another day.”

Patting Peter’s bare shoulder, he added, “I expect a fantastic treasure hunt tonight. And don’t forget. Good things come to those who accept their place and respect their Masters.”

“Yes, Sir V.”

“Good boy.” Victor’s hand dropped away. “I’ll tell my friends you’re out of bounds for now. You even have my permission to tell me if anyone disobeys that order.”

Peter’s cheeks pinked beneath his natural dusky tan. “Thank you, Sir V.”

“Run along now.” Dismissing him with a wave of his wrist, Victor pinned his eyes on Ily. “You see, my pet? See how generous I can be when a jewel has earned my affection?”

Peter gave her a tight grimace before he left and vanished into the castle.

Only once he’d gone, did she reply with fangs, “I see you using kindness as another form of control.”

“I don’t know if I prefer this real version of you or the one who was acting because she believed her new Master was a cop.” Victor chuckled. “You were so much quieter and amenable yesterday.”

“Yesterday, I believed in a lie.”

“Yes, I suppose you did. Pity that.”

Withdrawing a leather leash from his pocket, he tossed it to me. “Bring her with us. If you are who you say you are, then I suppose you better keep her close. You have a long task ahead of you, Henri. You skipped straight to the obedient slave thanks to whispers and lies. But today, she won’t obey. Today, she’ll fight, and I can’t wait to see how you’ll break her.”

* * * * *

Ily’s mouth parted in unwilling awe as she stepped over the threshold of Victor’s office.

The leash tugged her collar, snaking its way into my palm as I guided her to the button-leather couch Victor had lounged on while I’d transferred two million euros.

I’d paid that money to be the one to fuck her on the maypole.

Now I was about to pay for the right to stay and fuck her for the rest of my life.

Funny that yesterday I’d had such qualms about even touching her, yet now I had overflowing urgency to touch her everywhere.

“Sit her down, Henri, and come here.” Victor pulled out the chair in the centre of his very long work area. He didn’t bother powering up the four computer screens down one end or even flip up the laptop at the other. He merely leaned under the desk, typed in a code with soft beeping noises, and a fortified drawer popped out.

Is that where he keeps the scrambler?

Curiosity flared. Not because I still attempted to live up to Q’s ridiculous mission but because cloaking this place with a dead zone of technology was rather genius. The thought that I’d never be online again was a small price to pay for peace.