Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 77485 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 387(@200wpm)___ 310(@250wpm)___ 258(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77485 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 387(@200wpm)___ 310(@250wpm)___ 258(@300wpm)
“Finally shipping er off, Diabolus?” Freddy asked, his thick accent laden with humor. There weren’t too many occasions where he wasn’t in a good mood. He’d been one of my watchmen since I was nineteen and it’d been the same back then.
“I should’ve gotten rid of her when I did Clarice.”
“At least you gave her a chance,” Isaac remarked, ever the voice of reason.
“I didn’t allow her to stay out of kindness. I wanted someone who knew my routines and was familiar with the house.”
I added another orange slice to the dish.
“You’ll find someone new,” Federico assured confidently.
“I’m not worried about that. There are more pressing matters to concern myself with right now.”
Isaac looked past me, and I turned to see Kennedy had emerged from the hall that led to where Lolita was being held. At the sight of them, she became cemented in the doorway. She knew their presence could only mean one thing. Her eyes widened, and the bucket slipped from her hand.
“No.” Her voice wavered, and she dropped to her knees. “Please, don’t do this.”
How melodramatic. Who the fuck did she think I was to be swayed by her pleading? “Get her out of my house. They’re on standby at Carcerem.”
I turned away and resumed fixing Lolita’s plate, paying no mind to Isaac and Freddy approaching Kennedy.
She screamed and begged for mercy as they dragged her through the house. It ended abruptly after one of them knocked her out. The second she was gone, a tranquil silence blanketed my home.
I grabbed the dish I’d just prepared and another bottle of water, carrying both to the bedroom. Lolita had retreated to the corner of the room, as far as the chain would allow unless she hid in the bathroom. I could read her well enough to see she was afraid. It wasn’t a pleasant sight. I didn’t want her to fear anyone other than myself, and even then, I only wanted to savor her terror when the situation called for it.
“Sit back down,” I ordered softly.
“What happened to that woman?”
I withheld a sigh, mindful that this was as new to her as it was to me. I wasn’t accustomed to having to repeat myself or wait to be obeyed. “Nothing that should have you cowering in a corner.”
“I’m not cowering,” she retorted with a hint of indignation.
“Sit back down then,” I coaxed.
I waited for her to move, pleased when she finally listened. I walked to the edge of bed and set down the bottle of water before I offered her the dish. “You need to eat.”
She gingerly accepted it and studied the fruits and chocolate almonds as if searching for a hint of visible poison.
“It’s safe. I prepared it myself.”
Whatever she was going to say, she thought better of it and picked up an orange slice. Regardless of what was going on inside her head, she couldn’t deny her body needed food and rest. I watched her eat, knowing my stare was making her uncomfortable. I was too enraptured to care. Didn’t matter I’d spent hours on end watching her the past few years.
I never tired of it.
She was so beautiful. And most importantly, she was mine.
After taking a few more bites, she sat the plate down and rolled her lips together before fixing me with a curious, yet guarded stare. “Do you have cameras in here?”
“They’re in the whole house.”
“That’s how you knew she spit in the food.”
I gave nothing away as that registered in my brain. Kennedy was fortunate not to be here anymore. To think she could ever get away with such a disgusting act was naive at best. I would’ve gutted her like the lowly swine she was, right where she stood. Of course, I knew she’d tampered with the food. I didn’t need to play any footage back to confirm that, but to spit in it? The way she behaved was inexcusable.
Lolita took a small breath and stared at me.
I could tell she wanted to say something but was either unsure or afraid. I kept silent and waited.
“What’s going to happen to her?”
“Nothing you need to be concerned about.”
“Then… then what’s going to happen to me?”
This was the question I’d been expecting her to ask. I knew my answer mattered. Whatever I said would weigh on her mind and subconsciously influence how she behaved. With less than twenty-four hours until the Rite, I wanted to keep her as calm as possible. That left me unable to respond with full disclosure.
“As much as I’d like to answer you, this is a conversation for tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow? Then you’re going to keep me chained up like this?”
“Lolita…” I swept my gaze over her face. I couldn’t get over how beautiful she was. I’d grown up being told I was blessed and highly favored by Carnalis Dominus. I’d never believed it more than in this moment. It was thanks to him I had her.