Chapter 0069

“What,” he says, bringing his face closer to mine, “did she tell you to do with it?”

I lower my voice almost to a whisper, forcing him to lean closer. “She told me to give it to Alden.”

I see Kent’s lips curl back from his teeth at that. But before he can ask another question, I continue.

“But obviously, since it was still in my room,” I whisper, lowering my eyes to his lips as I speak. “I

didn’t.”

I hear a low rumble of dissatisfaction in Kent’s chest as he pushes away from the table, turning his

back to me, clearly thinking this through.

I stay where I am, leaning my weight onto my elbows and forearms, watching him, my hair spilling

around my face. I shake my head, trying to push it back, but it doesn’t work.

“Why,” Kent says, over his shoulder. “Why didn’t you give it to Alden.”

“Because,” I say, my voice deadpan. “I don’t know which of you to trust. I’m still deciding.”

He whirls on me then. “After all I’ve done for you, Fay – everything I’ve given you –“

“Oh!” I say, laughing up into his face now, shaking my manacled hands. “Yes, thanks so much, Kent –

you’ve been a real angel to me these past few weeks – I just feel so cared for when I’m being chained

to a table in your basement -“

This sets him off.

I can’t help myself from smiling, a little, as he storms to the right, coming around the table. I try to turn,

to watch him, but he’s too fast –

Kent grabs me by the back of my neck, pushing me down so that my chest is flat on the table, my

cheek likewise touching the cold surface. Again, he’s controlled enough to ensure that I don’t slam my

head on the metal surface, but I can hear his breath coming fast now, his chest heaving –

“God damnit, Fay,” he says, “I could make this so much worse for you – you’re treated like a damn

princess in this house –“

“Don’t you get it, Kent?” I say in response. “I know that you only treat me well because if it got back to

Alden that you weren’t, that he’d move to take me from you. And you like having me here in this house.

Like having me as your little pawn, to hold as a threat against him.”

Kent pauses for a moment, and then I gasp and wince as he pushes on my neck harder, my face

pressing hard against the metal.

But then, to my surprise, he releases me.

I take a deep breath as I feel the pressure lessen on my neck, feel him take his hand away. I hear him

move back a few steps, starting to pace behind me.

“This, Kent,” I say, panting a little, stretching my neck to soothe the ache there. “This is why I kept the

note, taped it behind my desk, instead of giving it to you straight away. I kept it because I know that this

lurks around every corner – you treating me like an animal.”

“Maybe,” I continue, my voice cold, “if you gave me the respect I deserve to begin with, I would have

given you my allegiance from the start – given you the note, instead of keeping it as leverage in case I

needed it.”

I hear silence behind me as Kent stops pacing. For a minute, all I can hear is the sound of my

breathing.

Then, I hear three slow steps as Kent comes up behind me.

I feel him there, the warmth of him behind me, as he slides one hand over my ribs and the other over

my shoulder and collar bone to wrap around my throat, pulling me upwards as far as I can go, until my

arms go taught against my chains.

“And I told you, darling Fay,” he says, his quiet voice itself a threat, “that respect in this house is

earned, not given. So, let’s see if we can teach you a little lesson.”

He lowers himself so that I can feel his taught stomach against my lower back, his voice close to my

ear now. “A little lesson,” he whispers, “about respect.”