Page 6 of Deadfall

“How much longer, Vetticus, it’s been months.”

“Not yet.”

“My sweet little doll.”

“One day you’ll be mine.”

Then, one night was different.

It was the night he came.

All I remember was the house being full of men’s voices. I didn’t want to play the game tonight. I didn’t want to drink the drink that made me forget things—bad things. I always hid, but Vetticus always found me, even though he only ever watched. He never played, it was only Octavius.

Always Octavius.

I was his doll.

And I hated it. I hated HIM.

Vetticus found me and dragged me towards the study. I didn’t want to go—I cried and fought him.

“Cut it out,” Vetticus snapped. “They’re all here tonight. Don’t embarrass me.”

I didn’t know what that meant. I found out when he shoved me into the study and it wasn’t just Octavius like it usually was. There were more men, and all of them were wearing masks. I froze like a deer in the headlights.

“What is this, Vetticus?” One of them asked. He sounded mad. Octavius stepped forward and I winced when he put his hand on my shoulder.

“This is my little doll,” Octavius said. “Vetticus has been so kind as to lend her to me. But, I have plans for her to be mine and I thought tonight, she could be included in the ritual to make it official.”

“No.”

All eyes turned to the man who had spoken earlier. He stood slightly apart from the others.

His mask was the face of a black wolf.

Octavius frowned at the outburst. “I know you’re not familiar with this line of business but—”

“I said no,” the man repeated, his voice low and dangerous. “She is underaged.”

A few men chuckled and Octavius’ smirk was condescending. “Well, yes, that’s the point.”

The man’s jaw tightened in disgust. “Then I will not participate.”

“Everyone must—”

“Choose another,” he insisted. “I know for a fact Vetticus has brought several others that are of appropriate age.”

The room had gone quiet again. These two men were obviously the ones in charge if the power that simmered between them was any indication. Octavius’ grip on my shoulder had slowly tightened and I shifted uncomfortably. The man in the wolf mask approached and pulled me away.

He leaned into Octavius. “Choose another,” he snarled quietly. “And do not pull this stunt again in my presence.”

Before Octavius could respond, I was pulled out the door and into the dark hallway. The man in the black mask walked me all the way down the hall to the base of the stairs.

“Go straight to your bedroom. Lock the door.”

I stumbled up the stairs and only glanced over my shoulder once. The man in the wolf mask stood at the bottom, the glint of his eyes through the holes shone like obsidian in the dim light.

I didn’t look back again.