Claude had been there, welcoming me home with tears in his eyes. He’d hugged me for a full five minutes. A few of the maids were still employed, and they were all happy to see me, but I was different. They saw it. They’d expressed well-wishes to me, then lied as they expressed their condolences after my father’s body was found.
Everything had happened as Kai said it would. Every. Single. Thing.
I’d been declared alive and welcomed back into Milwaukee’s high society. They’d thrown me a party. All the while, I was on automatic pilot. I barely remembered what happened day to day.
I knew my father’s old management team had all been fired. Not by me. Kai likely sent the orders down—a new accountant, a new business manager. Every person I would need to help me manage my father’s empire had been replaced. It was an all-new regime.
At home, I kept Claude and the staff I enjoyed and remembered.
On week three, Claude came to the office I’d set up. “A Mr. Bennett is here to see you, mistress.”
Mistress. I flicked my eyes up, standing, and trying to ignore the pit in my stomach. “My name is Riley, Claude. Riley.”
“Shall I show him into the first parlor?”
The first parlor? I wasn’t even sure where that was, but I nodded. “Yes, thank you.”
“As you wish, mistress.”
“Claude!” I yelled after him, but if I could have smiled, it would’ve been then. I hadn’t smiled since Kai had broken me.
I didn’t know if I could get through this meeting, or why Kai was even here, but I forced myself to go. Once I got to the hallway, I stopped. I couldn’t. My feet refused to move. Would he come in search of me if I refused this meeting? Could I do this? Could I see him after what we had shared?
I’d have to leave.
He would look for me in the house, so that meant I’d have to physically remove myself. But I wouldn’t be able to hide. Those were the stipulations. Kai owned me in every way except sexually now, and I couldn’t leave. He would kill Blade and Carol. He was the monster I’d always known he was; I’d just gotten used to his disguise.
I was turning, ready to ask Claude to bring a car around, when the door opened behind me.
“Riley.”
I sucked in my breath, relief flooding me. It wasn’t Kai.
Turning, I saw Tanner in the doorway.
Kai had sent Tanner down to help with running the company, but after only a few days in the office, I let him take over.
Why had I thought it was Kai here tonight?
My stomach dropped—because I had wanted him to come. I wanted him to try, for me.
I was so stupid.
“Yes.” My voice shook. “Hello, Tanner. Hello.”
He gave me a knowing look. “He won’t come unless he absolutely has to.”
I folded my head down. “Of course.”
He was still in me. I felt him. I loathed him now, though. The hatred I’d long harbored for my father had a new target.
Shoving all that down, I cleared my throat, my head rising. I moved past Tanner, extending a hand to one of the couches. “Would you like something to drink?”
His gaze followed me everywhere. He shook his head. “Your butler already offered. I’m not here for a social call.”
Of course. They’d gotten what they wanted from me. Now I was dispensable.
I drew in a pain-laced breath and asked, almost not even realizing it until the words were out, “Once I sign the company over, will you kill me?”
I wasn’t looking at Tanner, but I heard his soft intake of air. “No. Why would you think that?”
I looked, feeling the robot that had inhabited my body take over. “Because you’ll no longer need me, of course.”
He frowned, his eyes narrowing. “Is this because you and Kai broke up?”
Broke up. I almost laughed at that.
“We didn’t break up. Kai had no more use for me, or desire. He ended things.”
“What? He did?”
I waved my hand in the air. I felt a hole opening inside of me, and if possible, I could feel my rotting insides starting to spill out. I didn’t want that, for my own pride. Embarrassing myself, letting his brother see my weakness, I couldn’t do that.
I had to have something he couldn’t take from me. Some amount of pride, at least.