“Sit,” I say, indicating to the chair Langston, my right-hand man, was occupying before.
Kai’s eyes cast down to the chair, but she doesn’t move. If she doesn’t sit down soon, she will collapse from exhaustion.
“Sit,” I practically shout, my voice bellowing throughout the room. I’m not used to my orders not being followed immediately and completely.
Kai doesn’t shutter at the loudness of my voice, but my command finally registers. I expect her to fight and argue with me at every step. Instead, she steps toward the chair. He legs wobble and shake, barely keeping her upright with each step. But she doesn’t seem to notice her flawed body shutting down.
She stumbles, and I reach out my arm to catch her, but she pivots at the last second, catching herself instead of tumbling into my grasp.
I sigh and move my hand to the back of my neck, rubbing hard, trying to get the frustration out on my tense muscles.
I shouldn’t want to help or even touch her, but I can’t help the pull this woman has over me.
I need a drink. Kai needs food. I don’t know when the last time she ate was.
Fuck.
How could I let this happen? I’m a cruel, sadistic bastard, but I never meant for this betrayal to take over her life. I hate how hollowed-cheeked she is. I hate how much pain she’s in. But most of all, I hate that any man ever touched her.
She’s mine.
Then why’d you let her go?
Because I didn’t have a choice.
I leave Kai in the room as I walk to the kitchen to get some food. I should be worried about what Kai will do in the minutes I’m gone. What secrets she will find in my private room. I’m more concerned that her weak heartbeat will stop or her lungs will give out and she’ll be dead before I return.
I don’t know what food is nourishing for a person who has been to hell and emerged on the other side. So I just throw the first things I find onto a plate: strawberries, old pizza, crackers, and olives.
I jog back to the room, my feet silent as I move.
When I enter my lair again, Kai is still sitting in the chair, her fingers brushing against the hem of her shirt.
She startles when I enter.
I should apologize. I should make her feel better, but I don’t. I want her to eat, but I also want her on edge. I want to win our game of truth or lies. I want to take her and secure her as mine.
I don’t know why I suggested the game, when I could just as easily take her by force. She’s too weak to fight. I could toss her over my shoulder and take her to my home. Lock her away forever.
But it doesn’t seem fair. I like giving her a fighting chance, even if the result is the same in the end.
I set the plate of food on the end table next to Kai and then pour us each a glass of water. I’d offer her alcohol, but I’m afraid it would burn what little lining is left in her stomach after years of eating itself in order to survive.
“Eat.”
She stares at the food, like it’s a pile of worms and bugs I’m asking her to eat.
“Kai, eat,” my voice warns.
Her eyes flutter up to me as her breathing slows. “I didn’t come here to eat; I came to get answers. Are we playing the game or not?”
I sigh. She’s the most frustrating woman. “When we play, and I win, you will eat. You will do everything I say, because I own you.”
She releases a breath. “You forget that I won last time. And now I’m more determined than ever to win again.”
“You may have won before, but by the end of tonight, you will be mine.”
“I will belong to no one, but myself,” she snarks.