Chapter 9

**ALEXI POV**

I throw my gun across the hallway as I lock the door to Malyshka’s room, furious with myself for not following through on my threat, I thought for certain she would tell me before I made it to one, but she didn’t; and I couldn’t do it. I could not shoot her.

What was happening to me? When did I develop a fucking conscience?

I storm back upstairs to where the men are waiting, their eyes following my every move wearily. They're not sure whether i am losing my mind or not, and honestly, i am not sure either. I have never wanted a woman before, not for longer than a single fuck. But i want Stephanie. I want her more than i want to breathe.

Jione watches me more closely than the others, “There is going to be talk, your men are going to think you are weak for letting the woman live.” his accent is thick, some of his words don’t sound the way he means them to.

But i am used to it. I quite like the way he speaks; it reminds me of home.

It reminds me of the simpler years of my life.

“If you hear anything of the sort i expect you to deal with it.” i say, crossing the kitchen to the coffee maker.

“Of course, i will do this for you.” Jione nods, “There will be no mutiny in our ranks.”

I chuckle a little, the way he says thinks often amuses me. He may be massive, and scary to some, but to me, he is loyal. He'd die for me. But most importantly, he’d kill for me, and he has done. Many times.

Misha leans forward, his elbows on the breakfast bar, “what makes you want this woman so bad?” he asks. “You have never shown an interest before, not unless you want to get your dick wet.”

I turn, my anger flaring, “That is my business, it has nothing to do with you what i do with our prisoners. You are here to follow orders. Nothing more.”

“Don’t forget that i am your brother just because of a piece of ass.” Misha snaps, storming from the room.

Brother. He hasn’t mentioned the fact that we are family for a long time. He is my half-brother, a spawn of my father’s affair. My father wished for me to take care of him, and i have. I have given him all he could want.

In return all i ask for is loyalty. But his mouth is getting the better of him.

I turn back to Jione. “Do we still have some truth serum?”

He nods, rising from his chair, “The girl will be singing the moment you inject her with it.”

Of course, he knows who it is for. He isn’t stupid.

I watch as he leaves the room, deciding to make the girl something to eat before i give her the serum. Sometimes, it can make you sick, and i am not having her take it on an empty stomach and pass out. I need answers. And she is going to fucking give them to me, otherwise a broken leg will be the least of her worries. I'll make sure of that.

I make a cheese sandwich, some chocolate cake the cook made earlier in the day, and some coffee. It should be enough to boost her sugars.

I walk back down the basement steps, i probably shouldn’t have placed her in the slave room so soon, but i could not help myself. I wanted her comfortable, but trapped, and she repays me by destroying the dollhouse that is older than her.

She'll pay for that, and it’ll be more than a slap in the face. But for now, i need to make her eat.

I unlock the door and walk inside, Stepanie stumbling backwards on the bed, her eyes wide with fear.

She should be afraid. Very afraid.

I place the tray down in front of her, “Eat this.” i order.

She shakes her head, “I’m not hungry.”

“I didn’t say you had a fucking choice.” i snap, kneeling down in front of her, “You either eat it, or i will break your other leg.”

Her eyes widen immediately, and she backs into the wall. “Please don’t.” she whispers.

“Then do as you are fucking told and eat the food i brought for you.” i say, wrapping my hand around her throat and squeezing.

I could snap her neck right now and end her pathetic life. But i won’t. I have much better things in mind for her future.

She belongs to me now.

She watches me, her mouth opening several times. She wants to argue. She wants to tell me to fuck off. I can see it in her eyes. But she doesn’t. She's too afraid.

It's a start.

“Ok.” she eventually says, her voice croaky.

She coughs when i realise her, her hand moving straight to her throat.

“Then eat.” i say, leaning back on the balls of my feet, watching her.

She slowly picks up one half of the sandwich and brings it to her lips, taking a small bite. Perhaps she is afraid it is poisoned. But if i were going to kill her, poison would not be my first choice, or my second, or third. I like to make it hurt. She will not die easily, and she will die, as soon as i am done with her.

She eats the first half of the sandwich and goes straight for the second, taking a moment to drink some of her coffee.

I smile, pleased that she is doing as she is told. “See, isn’t it much nicer when you listen to your master.”

She looks at me with fire in her eyes. “You are not my master.”

My smile widens, “Don’t ruin it, little miss, i can easily snap your neck.”

“Then why don’t you?” she asks, placing the sandwich back on the plate.

“Because i have much more exciting things planned for your body.” i say coldly, “But take comfort in the knowledge that you will die, eventually. As soon as i am finished with you.”

She watches me, “Are you going to rape me?”

I shake my head, “No, when i take your body, you’ll be begging me for it.”

She scoffs at me, “I will never ask you for that.”

“You will. In time.” i say. “Now eat your food, or you’ll spend the rest of this evening strung upside down with a vibrator in your ass.”

She chokes on her own breath, her eyes wide as she shakily picks up her sandwich. Eating it without complaint.

Such a good girl.

I am going to mould her into exactly what i want, and she won’t have a choice but to bend for me, otherwise she’ll break.

I'd love the see her break, and she will, eventually. Eventually, she’ll be begging me for it. On her knees for me.

She is mine. All of her belongs to me.

And i am more than happy to use her however i want.