“Maybe in another life I’ll keep you and fuck you until your body breaks apart,” he promises in my ear, his gravelly voice shooting straight down to the tips of my toes. “But not in this one, darling.”
Despite his words, I smile. Never has he called something other than what I am—Nine or Unfortunate. Darling is an affectionate word and whether Master Kade wants to admit it or not, I’ve just buried myself under his skin. My next destination? His heart. I don’t want his love, no. I want his loyalty, I want his protection, and if I can keep getting him to smile and banter with me, that’s exactly what he’ll give me.
I turn, pulling myself from his grip. “It was worth a shot,” I say, ignoring the way my legs wobble. “Have it your way.”
Subtly, I inhale and let it go, clasping my hands behind my back. “What do we do now?”
“Oh, we’re not finished here.” He rakes his teeth over his bottom lip, deep in thought. “Meet me at the lake in twenty minutes.”
“The lake?” There’s a lake that runs in from the ocean and behind the row of Fortunate manors. I’ve contemplated going down there to have a look. “What for?”
He turns and stalks back to his desk. “I’m not about to discuss my plans with my brother lingering in the hall. I know a spot at the lake.”
Lingering in the hall? “How do you know he’s in the hall?”
“You can’t feel your happiness being sucked from you?” He smiles again—his perfect lips curving so flawlessly I hold my breath. “Trust me. He’s out there.”
Great. Now I don’t want to leave. I turn to the door and hesitate a moment. Vince wouldn’t hurt me in the hall, not while Master Kade is right here. What about Thirteen? What if I run into Thirteen? I don’t think I can stomach it.
A heavy guilt settles on my heart, slowing down its pulse. I can’t help but feel as though I’ve betrayed her. Willingly kissing my Fortunate? What’s wrong with me? Have I really been so strongly brainwashed that I’m sexually attracted to the very people who force me to live like this? I reach for the handle and open the door.
“It’s not your fault, by the way,” Kade says, pulling me from my thoughts.
I peer over my shoulder and watch as he fiddles with papers on his desk, avoiding eye contact. “Thirteen.” His black irises find mine. “It’s not your fault.”
Kade goes back to what he was doing and all I can do is watch him. Why would he say that? Why would he offer me any kind of comfort? Has this evening changed him? Despite his words, I can’t smile… Because I don’t believe it. If it weren’t for me, Thirteen would still be in the kitchen, not in Vince’s bed.
“I’ll see you at the lake in twenty minutes,” I mutter and step out of the room, closing the door behind me.
“The lake, huh?”
I squeak as Vince’s voice startles me. With his bent knee, he pushes off of the wall. My spine stiffens, as if a metal pole replaces the bone and my jaw sets, clenching minutely. “Yes.”
His face is still battered, but at least the cuts have scabbed and the bruises have greened. I twist the handle and push the door open, exposing us to Kade. Kade makes me feel safe. Don’t ask me why, but I know he’ll look after me… he’ll keep me safe. There’s no way in hell I want to be alone with Vince, under any circumstance. A wry smile hints at Vince’s lips, but he doesn’t take his eyes off my face, nor I his. Despite my uneasiness, my skin prickles. I know Kade’s relentless stare is on us. I can feel it.
“Isn’t there another Unfortunate with your name on it?” he asks Vince and finally, he lifts his stare from mine.
“She’s feeling a little… under the weather, currently. I thought I’d see if yours is being put to good use.”
“Don’t worry about me,” I snap at Vince.
His eyes darken and his brows narrow, but I don’t regret letting the rough words shoot off my tongue
“Nine, the lake,” Kade orders. “Twenty minutes. Go.”
I attempt to step around Vince, but I get nowhere. He presses a heavy hand to my chest, preventing me from stepping further. “Hold on, now. You think I’m going to let your little Unfortunate get away with talking to me like that?”
Kade laughs once. “Do you think I’m going to let you do anything about it? Leave her alone. She’s still in need of training.”
Vince doesn’t remove his hand, despite Kade’s words. “It’s not your job to train her. If she’s defective, send her back. I’m sure they can find a pretty bullet with her name on it.”