“We have all the time in the world to discuss that.” She waves a hand in the air dismissively. “But where are my manners? Do you two want something to drink?”
“No,” Dom bites out, practically vibrating with unfettered fury.
Aria ignores him. “Guards, please send him inside,” she instructs.
In an almost choreographed move, the two men manning the door step to the side and open it.
A familiar man staggers inside, trembling.
Senator Reece Whipers.
Like the last time I saw him, he’s naked, his body covered in bruises and lacerations. He doesn’t even glance in my direction as he presents a tray full of drinks.
Neither Dom nor I take one.
Aria’s smile stretches as she watches the exchange, and it’s clear this is nothing more than a power play. She wants me to seeexactlywhat happens to the people who cross her. This once-powerful man is now nothing more than a puppet for her to use and discard.
“If you don’t want a drink, there are other services our dear friend offers,” Aria says, her empty eyes sparking with an indecipherable emotion. “He’s a pretty good fuck, despite his frail appearance.”
Reece jerks, his already pale complexion whitening further.
I stare at Aria in disgust. “You can’t be serious.”
Aria focuses on her glass of whiskey, stirring the contents around in a way that almost seems nonchalant.
“I could always force you to fuck him,” she continues, making my blood chill. Dom’s grip tightens on me, and he bares his teeth at her. “Or I could make your precious boyfriend fuck one of our girls. He would, you know. If it meant protecting you. I don’t think he would hesitate to stick his dick inside some cheap bitch’s pussy if he knew it would keep you alive.”
Nausea scorches my throat, and bright spots dance across my vision.
No. No. No. No.
“Would you do it, Dominic?” Aria tilts her head to the side as she eyes Dom up and down. “Would you fuck one of Ellie’s cute little friends if it meant saving her life? Would you eat Jane’s pussy? Stick your dick in Victoria’s cunt? Play with Piper’s nipples?—?”
“You sick fucking bitch!” I roar, my rage spilling out of me in a tsunami of emotion. I lunge toward her without thinking, without consciously articulating a plan. All I know is that she needs to fucking die.
Arms grab me from behind. “Don’t,” Dom warns, his voice a breath of air by my ear. “She’s just trying to get a reaction out of you.”
“And it worked, did it not?” Aria’s lips twitch for a fraction of a second before compressing in a straight line. She waves a hand impatiently. “Reece, you’re dismissed. I need to have a word with my daughter.”
Reece’s eyes flash to mine at the word “daughter,” but he doesn’t comment as he hurries out of the room.
It occurs to me then, almost belatedly, that both Reece and the guards saw The Divine One without her mask. Which means…they know her identity.
How has it remained a secret for so long? Fear? Respect? I imagine it’s a combination of the two.
It’s terrifying to even comprehend. For one person to hold so much power…
Aria waits until the door shuts behind him before refocusing her attention on us.
“I won’t ask you to do any of that. Believe it or not, I’m not a monster.” She daintily brushes a strand of short hair behind her ear.
Anger thrums, white-hot and blistering. “You’re nothing but an evil, conniving, murderous bitch who will get what’s coming to her."
The change is almost instantaneous. One second, Aria is sitting there, her expression serene, and the next, she’s on her feet, rage darkening her eyes. She slams her hands down on the table and leans forward slightly, spearing me with a look I’ve never seen before. Each word she speaks is clipped and concise.
“Listen to me, Ellie. I can make things very, very difficult for you and the people you love. Do not test me. I’ve been lenient so far. I’ve let you play your silly little games and allowed you to be the heroes of this so-called story. I’ve made it incredibly easyfor you to find the men who purchased you. You want to know why? Because Iwantedthem killed. All of them were thorns in my side, and you eliminated them for me. For that, I thank you. But I’m done fucking around and playing games. You are my daughter, my rightful prodigy, and this story will only end one way—with you and your brother standing at my side. We can do this the easy way or the hard way, so don’t fucking test me. I will torture everyone you care about until you’re putty in my hands. I will force you to watch the men you claim to love fuck other girls. I will make you fuck other men. And that will only be the beginning.”
She’s panting heavily by the time she’s done with her little speech, a red flush erupting from the top of her forehead to her cheeks. Her hands clench and unclench on the table before she forces them to relax, her fingers straightening. She sucks in a deep breath, the noise ragged, then slowly reclaims her seat.