Chapter 48

West

Could I get any happier? I didn’t think so. Bram was almost in the ground; my slave was pretty much mine. I had everything a man could dream of.

“Mr. Harper, my condolences. I’m so very sorry for your loss.”

I shook the older woman’s hand, having no clue who she was. Hell, I didn’t know barely anyone who’d attended Bram’s funeral. Some of the masters came, and all of our associates, but as for the others … I didn’t have a clue. Not that I cared. I shook their hands and said thank you. They moved to Everleigh, saying the same. She was a damn mess, again. I’d barely been able to keep her under control during the service. She was crying harder than anyone. Her body shook against mine as I held her close, and it looked good in appearance. But it was driving me crazy. The good thing was, that I knew how to make it better when we left. I bathe her again. And again. Every day.

“My condolences, Mr. Harper. Mrs. Harper.”

“Thank you,” I said, already looking to the next person. Everleigh sobbed and I glanced over as her hand broke from my arm. She turned, walking back to Bram’s grave. I frowned, shaking the couple’s hands, but continuing to turn back to look at her. The high leader was heading in her direction. I relaxed, going through the motions. He’d make sure she didn’t do anything stupid. Not that I thought she would. With each hour that passed, she grew quieter. More unresponsive. I should have worried, but I didn’t. I preferred her silence. It left less work on my end.

“Mr. Harper.”

I nodded, grasping the hand of the younger man. The line was coming to a close and I couldn’t wait to get back to the penthouse. In truth, it was Bram’s … or now, my slaves. I wouldn’t think about how he left the bitch everything. Even his money. Not right now. Come tonight, I’d make her my wife, anyway. It may not be officially legit, but no one would know the difference. Everything of his would become mine. It may have seemed impossible from the paperwork, but I was no fool. I’d figure out a way.

I went through the rest of the handshakes, nodding to the last person. Cars were already driving away and the cemetery was clearing out. I headed toward the closed casket, crouching to place my hand on Everleigh’s back as I arrived.

“It’s time to go, wife.”

Her head shook. “I don’t want to leave. I’m not leaving.” My eyes went to the high leader’s and he frowned.

“Come, Mistress,” Lyle said, coaxingly. “Mr. Whitlock wouldn’t want to see you so upset.”

Bram? What the fuck about me? She was meant to be my slave. These guards standing out here shouldn’t be seeing her moping over a dead man. She had me!

“Everleigh.” My tone was deeper. When my arm grasped around her bicep to help her stand, she turned, letting out a scream so high-pitched and forceful that it froze me from surprise. Her body launched toward me, knocking me on my back as her fists slammed down toward my face and chest.

“Rapist! You sick, vile—I hate you! I hate you!”

I rolled her over, pinning her arms as I looked around at the men gathering closer.

“You push me. You don’t want to do that.”

Blood swept over my tongue and I stood, jerking her to her feet. I wasn’t two steps in before the high leader rushed up. “I’ll accompany you back to the penthouse.”

“You will not,” I exploded, continuing. She fought me the entire way to the limo, screaming and cursing as she tried to break free. The moment I had her in the car, my hand locked to her throat and I slammed her on the seat. I pushed my weight into her as hard as I could, squeezing around her neck as her face turned a deep red.

“Rapist? Do you think what I did to you was rape? Oh, slave. If you want rape, I will show you rape. You’ll be hanging to life by a thread. And I’ll bring you back and do it all over again. I will make you beg for death.”

I let go, pushing back to sit. Coughing shook her chest, but she didn’t join me. She stayed in the fetal position, panting while she cried and fought to breathe. Within seconds the car began to move.

Had I thought I had this under control? Had I thought I could pretend to be the man I’d been my entire life so I could make her fall in love with me? No, perhaps I knew things would go to shit before we ever returned to Whitlock. Maybe it was even the reason I’d brought her, to begin with. I needed a cold dose of what my subconscious already knew. I’d never have Everleigh. Not how I wanted. But I could have her money, the appearance of her as my wife, and her body. That was good enough for me. I didn’t need her heart. Bram could keep it. It was probably just as cold as his dead body was, anyway.

“Tonight, you’ll sign a paper saying we’re married. You will sign it or I will slaughter every one of those children you intend to protect. If you so much as hesitate in moving pen to paper, I will make you help slice open their little bodies while they beg you to stop. Do you hear me?”

Slowly, she sat. The hate was like nothing I’d ever been faced with before. My fist clenched through the need to hit her, but I held still. I couldn’t do that yet. Not until we were back at Whitlock. There was no telling if I’d run into anyone before I left, and I couldn’t have them suspecting that I abused my wife. I still had my business and status on the outside world I needed to maintain. Especially if I was going to make a name for myself like the Whitlocks’ had.

“I will sign your paper and hand myself to you freely … after I see every one of those children gone from that wretched place.”

I laughed. “You don’t give the orders, slave. I’ll kill them all.”

Everleigh came at me so fast that I barely had time to catch her hand as she stabbed something into the top of my chest. I ripped back her wrist, seeing it was the letter opener from the penthouse desk she still grasped.

“Bitch!”

Pain flared, but I knew she hadn’t stabbed me deep. I dove forward, flipping her over to her stomach, and tearing up the dress as I threw myself on top of her. Just knowing what I was about to do sent my adrenaline racing. My cock got so hard while I pulled at my belt. She was struggling, but she couldn’t break free with my hand planted on the center of her back. “You want to kill me? You hate me so much?” Whack! Whack! Whack!

A scream echoed around from me spanking her ass, but still, I continued to undo my pants.

“You have no idea. I will kill you. So help me, I will.”

“The slave has found a backbone somewhere deep inside that pretty, little body. You keep fighting and hating me. I’ll keep making you scream. It’ll be a wonderful marriage.”