A man like him shouldn’t have to bow down to anyone. He wasn’t a fucking slave.
He was a god.
He decided who lived and died.
He glanced at his watch, then speared his shovel into the snow and hoisted the icy precipitation over his shoulder. It was time to clear the ground and dig another grave.
Beside all the others.
Chapter Twenty-Three
DANIELLE GLARED AT herself in the mirror. On the outside, she looked fine. Her makeup was impeccable thanks to Gracie, who had helped her get ready.
But on the inside, she was a mess, knowing that sometime tonight, she’d have to drug Cole, find this mysterious account, and give the information over to the kidnappers.
Then what? Would they release Tasha? Would Danielle leave Benediction and walk out of Cole’s life forever? Did she tell Cole the truth and risk retaliation from the kidnappers? And what if they didn’t release Tasha? There was nothing to keep them from killing her once they had what they wanted. Or Cole. Or Danielle for that matter.
The image staring back at her from the mirror was the face of a liar. After tonight, she didn’t know how she’d ever look in the mirror again and see anything else.
She opened the locket, confirming the pills were still there. Cole would forgive her. Once he realized she hadn’t any other choice, he’d have to.
What she still didn’t understand was why Cole would be the trustee for an account in her name or why he hadn’t told her about it.
She picked up her perfume with the intention of applying it when she suddenly remembered the scent on the note from the kidnapper. Shivering, she dropped the bottle in the trash, no longer wishing to associate herself with it.
A light knock fell on her door. She opened it to a mouthwatering Cole, who was wearing his tight leather pants and a black T-shirt with the name Benediction across the chest. He eyed her hungrily.
She wasn’t wearing much since she assumed he wouldn’t allow her to remain dressed for very long tonight. The sleeveless black cotton dress hugged her curves and left most of her back bare.
“How was your meeting with the bank?” she asked once she found her voice.
He snaked his arm around her waist and tugged her into him. “I’m not sure. I couldn’t pay attention with your scent all over me.” He pulled her out of her room and shut the door, backing her up against it. “You have a good day?” He didn’t let her answer, taking her mouth in a bruising kiss she felt down to her toes. She sighed into him, treasuring his rich taste.
At the sound of a few excited trainees chattering down the hall, Danielle broke away from his mouth and turned to lock the door, although God knew it was a pointless endeavor.
Wondering what Cole had in store for her as he brought her to the dungeon, she nervously toyed with her locket. He brought her to the dungeon stage, where Adrian and Logan were laying out rope onto a small round table.
“Danielle, you know Adrian and Logan.” Cole grasped her hands, rubbing them between hers. “Logan’s going to introduce you to Shibari and at the same time instruct Adrian on it. While Adrian is my slave, he’s also a switch, meaning he’s willing and able to take the Dominant role sometimes. One of those times is now. You are to submit to both of them Danielle. As always, you have your safe word. Do you understand?”
She opened her mouth, and nothing came out. Adrian winked at her, probably remembering how she’d done the same upon her arrival a few days ago. She glanced around the room, catching the crowd’s interest in what was going on upon the stage, and realized Cole was fulfilling several of her fantasies at once. “Yes. I think I do.”
She panicked as Cole removed his arm and stepped back. “Master Cole? I’d feel more comfortable if you stayed . . . and watched.”
“I’m not going anywhere,” Cole promised, kissing her cheek. “I want this for you, and it will please me at the same time. Do you understand?”
“Yes.”
Cole was her mirror.
The voyeur in him would enjoy watching her receive pleasure, and she’d enjoy herself knowing he was watching. He wouldn’t get jealous. He wanted this for her as much as he wanted it for himself.
He brought her to Logan before taking a seat in the chair at the back of the stage.
“What is your safe word, Danielle?” asked Sir Logan, using the same voice he’d used when doing the verbal exercise to identify her fantasies. She suspected Logan and Cole must have discussed it and come up with this scene together.
“Red, Sir.”
Adrian inched closer. “Are you familiar with rope bondage, Danielle?”
“Very little, Sir.”
“Adrian, take off Danielle’s dress and her wristband,” Logan said. “You can keep her locket on since it won’t interfere with the ropes.”