“I love you so much, Q. I trust you.”

Fuck. Tess.

I was so glad she couldn’t see me now. See a whore fumbling at my belt, her hands brushing a hard c**k that I wanted to cut off for being so twisted.

Pain echoed, amplifying the punches and kicks, hacking at my willpower to keep going. Five hours was an eternity. It was life-changing—or ending. So much could happen in that time.

I shuddered with violence as the girl’s hands undid my jacket, spreading it open. The moment my tattoo was visible Lynx clapped his hands. “It’s a lot different than the rumour. I’d heard it was bats not birds.”

Who the f**k had spread my secrets? Only a select few knew. A few paid prostitutes at the beginning of my career—they were the only ones who would tell. I trusted my staff and confidants completely.

I couldn’t speak through my tight jaw. I refused to utter a word.

“What do you think of her?” Lynx motioned to the girl now bowing at my feet. My fly hung open, revealing the waist band of my boxers.

A sickly spasm filled me. I hated where this was going.

“She’s underfed, sad, and no doubt thinking of ways to murder us.”

Dante glowered. His mohawk bristled with gel as he stood. “I suppose you prefer overfed women who don’t obey, is that it?”

I thought of Tess. Her incredible curves. Her feisty strength. My lips twitched, allowing one ray of light into my soul. “Yes. One in particular.”

Lynx’s face darkened. “You might as well get her out of your thoughts. You won’t be seeing her again.”

I sat solid, unmovable. Not rising to the bait.

Five hours and twenty minutes.

“Tell you what…I’ll let you survive—after I take payment for what you cost me—if you can do one thing.” His eyes flickered to the slave, filling with smug pride.

My heart splattered into my feet.

Shit.

I looked at the girl; her eyes flickered to mine. Her plea for help pierced around the room—I heard it so clearly I was surprised the windows and mirrors didn’t shatter with her high-pitched sorrow.

“Want to know what it is?” Dante prodded.

I didn’t need to know. I already did.

“Blow down her throat. Use her like I know you want to. And I’ll let you live.”

My lungs stuck together.

And there it was.

The crux of my life. The one thing that would end up killing me. Not only my vow never to be my father but also my vow to a woman who held my f**king heart.

Either I had to hurt this woman and desecrate a body that now belonged to Tess or die.

The decision crippled me.

I would never be able to explain either situation. I wouldn’t be able to soothe Tess’s tears when she found me murdered for honouring my loyalty to her. And I wouldn’t be able to fan her happiness when she found me alive, knowing what I’d done to stay that way.

Honour was a bitch but there was no other way. I would die with no regrets. I would die being loyal.

Cursing the forming headache, I said, “If you ask your men, they’ll kindly inform you I came rather well a few hours ago. They saw the event. I’m wrung dry.” My eyes sparked, hot anger trickled down my back in a droplet of sweat. Nothing hurt anymore—only my heart. “But thanks for the offer.”

The girl’s face paled. She curled her shoulders, expecting a beating for no longer having the task assigned to her.

I wanted to pick her up and drape my jacket over her nakedness. Shit, I wanted her away from this creep and safe.

Lynx’s fingers cracked, forming into fists—the first sign of aggression. “This isn’t a negotiation, Mercer.”

“I thought that’s exactly what it was. A negotiation for my life.” Glaring, I added, “Let’s cut the crap. Name a price. Wouldn’t you rather a fat cheque rather than a messy corpse to clean?”

He laughed. “Who said I’d be the one cleaning afterward?”

The tension in the room thickened. Dante lost his joviality, pointing at the girl. “Do it. Otherwise this nice little conversation will end, and you’ll wish you’d taken the offer.”

The girl suddenly reached for my waistband, tugging it away from my tight, unwilling body. I stiffened as her small hand dove into my boxer-briefs, grabbing hold of a c**k that had no f**king right to be hard.

Five hours and ten minutes.

I grabbed her wrists, shaking my head. “No, thank you. Stop.”

A cold muzzle pushed against my temple. Angry breathing hit the side of my face. “You don’t have a choice, ass**le.”

Two options: die here with my pants undone and my skull shattered, or give myself another five hours for a chance at living.

A howl resonated in my soul. The monster inside couldn’t understand my hesitation but my love for Tess was stronger. It didn’t help when voices whispered permission.

“I’d rather you live, Q. Do whatever’s necessary to survive.”

“Do it, Q. I understand.”

Tess’s voice cajoled and danced, stealing everything.

Goddammit.

Removing my hands, I shut my eyes, allowing the girl to pull my c**k out with her cold fingers.

Her touch was so different. Weak, unsure, full of history of other men she’d held—other bastards who’d used her body against her will.

Tess, f**k I’m sorry.

“Suck him,” Lynx demanded.

My stomach curled as the girl bowed over my hips—her breath hot on my length. My c**k lurched at the subtle sensation. That piece of meat was the reason I’d been conflicted all my life—driven by genetics I wished I could delete.

I can’t do this.

I couldn’t use a slave. It would be the slippery slope hurtling my soul to hell.

My hand landed on her chin, holding her a millimetre from sucking me. “Arrêt.” Stop.

Let her blow you. Buy some time.

No matter the voices inside my head making it okay, I couldn’t.

The gun on my temple pressed harder. Lynx demanded. “You would rather die than have some woman’s spit on your cock?” He laughed. “You’re f**king unbelievable.”

A fist landed on my cheekbone, snapping my neck to the side. Two men grabbed my arms, jerking them behind my head.

“Do it.” Lynx snapped his fingers again. The girl grabbed my cock, her mouth descending, sinking down my length.