Page 41 of Coal Hearts

Q will take one look at me and know.

I pinched the bridge of my nose and hung my head. Pain throbbed in my temples.

I didn’t have the strength to do this.

Not with her.

Not with an innocent.

Not with someone who still had her fight and future...someone who I wanted to protect as much as I wanted to drag into the darkness and bleed her dry.

“Thank you, Captain,” Victor finally said, cutting into my thoughts. “I appreciate you flying us home so swiftly.”

“Not at all.” The captain bowed a little and grabbed the handle to the cockpit. “There might be some turbulence on our ascent. A storm is brewing. I suggest tight seatbelts for the duration, just in case.” He vanished into the dark control room and closed the door.

The minute he was gone, Roland licked syrup off his lips and snickered. “A storm is brewing in my pants too, and I know exactly which jewel I’m going to have take care of it. A lovely little diamond called Mollie.” He winked in my direction, sending a ripple of disgust down my spine. “She’s such a good girl.”

“I bet she is.” I smirked, well used to acting around this creep. “Might need to sample her myself.”

Ily huffed and glowered daggers at me.

“She sucks like a champ.” Roland laughed. “Even with a black eye.”

I laughed to hide my grimace.

Fucking cunt.

The last porn he’d made me watch had earned him an early grave.

The ages of those girls, as he jerked off in the dark to their screams, ensured I didn’t eat for two days straight. If anyone deserved torture and mutilation before he died, it was him.

I might be built wrong.

I might house a curse given to me by my father.

My soul might be filth and my heart might be foul, but at least I wasn’t as sick as some.

Yet.

Waving his fork at me, he grinned. “Bet you’re a frustrated bastard with a painful hard-on, huh, Henri? Damn cops giving you blue balls.” He leered at Ily beside me. “How did she feel? That first touch? I admit watching you line up, seeing the way she flinched as you notched inside....Oh yeah.” He shuddered dramatically. “I’m gonna need a front-row seat for when you do fuck her.”

Victor smirked as he sat in an empty row, buckling up with elegant hands well used to the opulence surrounding us. His private plane dripped with decadence from the oversized cream leather seats to the rose-gold accents and twinkling starlights above us. “Henri is in for the time of his life. We’ll all have to watch how he adapts.”

I forced a smile. “Can’t wait.”

Ily muttered a slur under her breath.

Victor chuckled. “To think...two new guests. One potential Master and one new jewel. I love when things work out.” Running his forefinger over his bottom lip, his gaze slithered from me to Ily and back again. “You’re sitting beside a stunning girl, Ward, yet you’re not touching her. Why?”

I choked. “Why? Eh, because we’re not at your estate yet?”

“Wrong.” He shook his head. “You’re not touching her because you still don’t think you can.”

“She’s yours for the weekend; you heard the Master Jeweler.” Roland chuckled. “You can touch her any place you want. Any time you want.”

“Like hell he can,” Ily hissed. “Let me off. Right now. You’ve all had your fun. If you let me go, I won’t say a word to anyone, I swear.”

“Ah, you could’ve come up with something original, my sweetling,” Victor drawled in his posh French accent. “Do you know how many times I’ve heard that one over the years?”