Bird.

My eyes locked on the black-haired slave, stretching her atrophied muscles, bending around the pole. Her ribs stuck out, br**sts were small with large prominent ni**les, and she had no hair between her legs—showing bite marks on her inner thighs and a piercing through her cl*t with a small chain leading to a piece of jewellery wrapped around her waist.

Her eyes met mine briefly. There was nothing left but hatred and contempt.

Looking away, she gyrated on the pole, flowing like a broken girl rather than a sensual mistress.

Five hours and fifty-five minutes.

Lynx leaned back, eyes glued to the girl. He snapped his fingers again, summoning the other slave to go to him. She crawled over, keeping her head low, showing the beads of her spine. Her brown hair was cropped to her skull, highlighting shadows of fingers around her throat and multiple ear piercings. She was the curvier of the two but still looked unhealthy.

Fucking animals.

The girl positioned herself between Lynx’s legs, reaching to his fly without a word. He arched his h*ps for the girl to unbuckle his trousers, sighing deeply as she pulled out his bent, foul erection.

It took all my willpower to stay sitting and not throw myself at him. Four guards loomed around me—two in front, two behind. I couldn’t do a thing as the girl spat on her hand, smearing her saliva over his c**k and stroking him.

“Suck it.” He grabbed the back of her neck, bringing her face to crash against his crotch.

Her mouth opened, swallowing his putrid length with no complaint.

His eyes rolled back, groaning as her cheeks hollowed, sucking him hard. “Yes, that’s it. Suck. Suck.” He shuddered as her lips opened wide, swallowing his entire length. He forced her even further, suffocating her against his pubic hair, holding her until she struggled for breath.

“Stop. It,” I growled, echoing with darkness.

“I’d let you do anything, Q. Because I love you.” Tess’s voice whispered in my mind. Images of burning her with red wax sickened and excited me.

The room smelled of sex, feeding my sick senses with increasing lust.

Something other than anger lived in my blood now. Something twisting and tempting and entirely wrong. I had to get out of there. I had to run. Or kill. Both preferably.

Lynx opened his eyes, piercing me with his black gaze. “You don’t tell me what to do.” To prove his point, he hit the girl on her shoulder. She moaned, tears welling, mixing with the glistening saliva on his cock. “She’s mine to do with as I wish. I’m f**king God to her. And you’re a sad excuse of a prick who denies his own needs.” His h*ps twitched, pushing himself further into the slave’s mouth. “You want this—just admit it and tonight could go a completely different way.”

Fuck. No moisture remained in my mouth. My heart turned into a wildebeest galloping to its death.

Locking my fingers together, I snarled, “Let’s cut the bullshit, Dante. You know I never used. I bought from you and what I did with them is none of your f**king business. I gave you what you asked in return. How many buildings did I help you with? Four? Five? Stop being an ass**le, and I won’t kill you.”

Lynx laughed, his hand on the bobbing head of the girl blowing him. “See—all stinking lies. You want this. You want the control. The power. Admit it.”

My eyes fell on the girl.

I sank deep into Tess’s mouth, f**king her lips while she hung upside down. I’d never felt anything as good as driving into her throat while she was completely unable to stop me. I groaned as the orgasm I denied forced one thick wave onto her tongue.

Shit.

My f**king body betrayed me. My c**k thickened. Don’t think about Tess. She’d loved taking me. She’d wanted it. Unlike the poor girl blowing Dante.

Don’t confuse the two.

Forcing Tess out of my thoughts, I muttered, “Without me, you wouldn’t have the wealth you do. Spare me the cock-swinging contest.”

His eyes narrowed. “You’re such a French idiot. You’re in denial.” Grabbing the girl’s ears, he shoved himself deeper. Her back convulsed with a gag reflex.

He slapped her. “You don’t gag, bitch.”

She nodded, resuming her task as if the glowing handprint on her cheek wasn’t burning.

I stood, towering over him, cursing my semi, hating the betrayal of my body. “Do that again and I’ll—”

“Shut the hell up.” Two men pressed on my shoulders, shoving me back onto the couch. My leg gave out, thanks to the weakness of being f**king shot.

I balled my hands. “It’s not denial. I don’t have to partake—just like I don’t use drugs or gamble. Stop trying to convert me. Let her go and let’s get down to f**king business.”

Whatever that was.

“Q, you’re not a monster. I know the truth.” I squeezed my eyes, trying so hard not to let Tess into my mind. Not here. I wouldn’t taint her memories.

My eyes fell on the upside down girl on the pole. Her legs were spread, showing me every crease and fold of her abused pu**y.

My c**k throbbed. Fuck! Overwhelming pressure built behind my eyes. I wanted to leave before the sickness inside could grow stronger. I would gladly walk to my torture if it meant retaining my morals and decency.

A moment ago I didn’t want to think about Tess. Now I did. Think of her in their place—being so badly used. You’d hate it.

My semi turned into a full-blown f**king erection.

I’d hate it but love it.

Tess spread-eagled on a pole. Her hair wrapped in my fingers as I forced myself inside her mouth. Her moans and pants and cries.

Shit. I couldn’t think about anything without it lacerating everything good I tried to retain.

I scrubbed my face.

Lies.

I f**king judge you. I’m your executioner.

Five hours and forty minutes.

“I heard a rumour, Mercer. About the sparrows you seem to have on every logo and possession.”

I struggled to keep my face impassive. How the f**k did that piece of information get out?

Reclining in the seat, I did my best to ignore my cock, focusing on buying time for Franco and his team. “Oh? And what do they say?”

Lynx thrust his hips, his body shuddering as the girl sucked harder.

I averted my eyes. His mind games were about to get worse. I was sure of it.

Dante’s voice was lust-laden and scratchy. “That it symbolises women you’ve saved. That you think you’re a f**king hero.”