Had I not already decided to deal with Lisbeth tonight, the reminder would have been a slap to the face.
“I’m dealing with her tonight,” I said, turning away to go outside.
“And what will you do with her?”
Stopping again with my fingers gripping the doorknob, I twisted just enough to meet Gretchen’s stare.
“Whatever I damn well please.”
Her eyes flicked to the window, gaze staring out between the small crack in the curtains.
Nodding her head, she returned her stare to me.
“Fine. I just wanted to remind you why this house runs as efficiently as it does.”
Brows tugging together, the thought occurred to me that Gretchen was stalling me for another reason. Rather than asking, I stormed out the door instead, just in time to see a car pull away as Franklin turned to look at me.
“Callan. I thought you were in the gym with Jacob.”
Striding toward him, I stared over his shoulder at the retreating taillights as the car turned a bend.
“Who was that?”
He turned to follow my line of sight, his face the usual blank mask.
Returning his attention to me, he waved the car off.
“That was Natalia Hilliard. One of the grocery reps who manages our supplies. She came to settle a payment discrepancy.”
Staring at him, I wasn’t sure why I didn’t believe what he had to say. But rather than confronting it, I decided to deal with what I’d come to discuss.
“I want to let Haley out of her contract for Jacob’s fight.”
Franklin’s eyes rounded.
“That’s in two days, and she has another year left in our agreement.”
“She’s his, Franklin. We’ll never use her for another fighter. And if she wishes, she can still play the part of slave on the nights he’s in the ring.”
Opening his mouth to argue, Franklin pinned my stare with his, but something stopped him from saying the first word.
“He’s my brother in every way but blood,” I reminded him. “That has to count for something.”
Silence fell between us for several seconds, but eventually Franklin nodded his head.
“Fine. I’ll speak with Colton, and we’ll arrange the terms of her release.”
The tension bled from my shoulders. I’d expected more of a fight. “Do it without Jacob knowing. It’ll be a surprise.”
Another nod.
Conversation finished, I turned to deal with another problem.
“Where are you going?”
My steps paused as I glanced back at him. “To the lower levels to deal with another woman and the terms of her release.”
Shock constricted Franklin’s expression.
“You plan to let Lisbeth go? Even after she attempted to run away?”
“No,” I answered honestly, both to him and myself. Jacob was right. It was time I faced what I wanted from this.
“I plan to show her why she was stupid for ever wanting to run away in the first place.”
His lips pulled into a thin line.
“And how do you plan on doing that?”
I laughed. “Have I ever asked you about your sex life, Franklin?”
He shook his head.
“No.”
“Then I suggest you don’t ask about mine.”
Lisbeth
It wasn’t surprising when Callan dragged me down to the lower levels.
We’d stood in that maze for what felt like hours. Really it had been only minutes, I’m sure, the tense silence stretching out until it was thick enough to choke us both.
We were in the past and present at the same time, a place that bridged the gap between youth and maturity, between a moment where I’d once been powerful and a moment where all the power belonged to him.
It was full circle in a sense, the beginning and end, and yet nothing had come of it except for the silent walk we’d taken here.
I didn’t fight against him. Didn’t give him the satisfaction of escorting me down again over his shoulder. I didn’t give him tears, and I didn’t beg. I gave him nothing but a quiet acceptance of my fate.
Callan had opened the door to the dungeon with the expectation that I’d see the women strapped to devices, their skin exposed with marks, and that I’d break down at his feet. There was disappointment in his expression when he closed the door to the room I was shoved in, and all I gave him was my silent stare.
It was all he deserved at that moment.
And here I’ve sat ever since.
The first day was grueling. I didn’t know what to expect. Would I be strapped up like the others? Would the man who worked down here be given free rein to hurt me and take joy in my pain? I didn’t know, and for that reason, my stomach was a twisted