Where the fuck is he going with this?

“I also heard you did use one of the slaves you bought.” His eyebrow quirked. “A girl from Mexico—Red Wolverine gave her to you.”

I tensed. This was where the conversation went from civil to littered with minefields. I refused to talk about Tess with him. Flatly fucking refused. I didn’t care how much he knew or how much he didn’t. None of it mattered because by the time dawn arrived I would either be dead—or he would be. Either way, my reputation and what I did with Tess was irrelevant.

My mind filled with blonde curls, pink lips, and a strong innocence that made me bow to the woman I missed so fucking much. I better be in one piece to marry her tomorrow.

I’d fixed her but hadn’t done the one thing I wanted above all. I wanted to call her my wife.

Hurry up, Franco.

I nodded. Once. That was all he was getting.

“I also heard you murdered Wolverine. Hardly fair since he gave you a slave you finally enjoyed.”

My skin tingled with rage, muscles locking with the need to pummel his face. A bodyguard moved closer, sensing the fraying hold I had on my emotions.

Narrowing my eyes, I said, “Yes, I murdered that cretin. Sliced his throat like fucking caviar and I did the same to his son.”

Lynx froze, his eyes fluttering as the skilled tongue of his slave worked him closer to release. “So cocky, Mercer.”

I shrugged. “It was easy. About as easy as it will be to murder you.” My temper swelled. I couldn’t do his question and answer session anymore. “Why did you drag me here? I’m done watching you get a blowjob. Fucking do something or let me go.”

I was aware the question might catapult me into the killing zone, but I couldn’t sit there any longer.

I wanted to leave. I couldn’t leave. The lack of freedom made me slip from sane to crazy.

“You came for me, Q. Je suis à toi.” Tess’s voice wouldn’t stop cutting through my thoughts.

Lynx stiffened, his mouth fell open as he rhythmically thrust into the girl’s mouth. She went slack as he came down her throat, shuddering with his orgasm. The second his hips stopped pulsing, she licked him clean.

The last sweep of her tongue, Dante shoved her away and tucked his cock into his pants. Snapping his fingers, a guard handed him a lit cigarette.

Taking a puff, he murmured to the girl, “Did you like the taste of my come, slave?”

She nodded.

“Do you think you deserve a reward?”

She froze.

“Answer me.”

Slowly, she nodded again.

Lynx smiled, lashing out with the burning ember he stabbed the cigarette into her stomach, holding it until her lips turned white from holding in her scream. Pulling back, he ordered, “Your turn on the pole.”

She gratefully spun around. Not touching the seeping wound, she took her place on the podium.

My mind churned with waves of ferocity. Images of stabbing him in the heart, chopping him up, hanging him from the ceiling for his slaves to whip and abuse were the only reason why I didn’t risk certain death by hurling myself across the couch and strangling him.

Smiling, Dante wiped his lips. Crooking a finger at the black-haired girl on the pole, he summoned her from the pole.

She let go, hopping off the platform.

But she didn’t go to Lynx.

She came for me.

Oh, fuck.

I sat taller, hating the sickening panic almost as much as I hated the growing lust.

She fell to her knees, never making eye contact.

I swallowed hard.

Five hours and thirty minutes.

“I’ve also heard you’ve fallen for the slave Wolverine gave you. Bad form to murder him after he gave you love, isn’t it?”

My concentration split between Lynx’s taunts and the girl breathing softly on my knees. Her hot breath heated through my trousers.

“I didn’t kill him for his gift. I killed him for taking it away. If he’d never interfered, I wouldn’t have had to take his life.” I looked up, hoping my anger painted every facet of my body. “I’m sure you can appreciate revenge. After all, isn’t this yours? Revenge for me not being a sick fuck like you?”

Lynx laughed. “This is just a get together amongst old associates. However, I must admit I am a little pissed at what you did to me a few years ago.” He leaned forward. “I had justifiable reasons to come after you then, but I never did. Shows I’m a better man than you. Don’t you think?”

He still hadn’t got over the incident? Idiot. “Just because I knocked you out when you tried to stop me taking fair payment for that monstrosity you built in Madrid, doesn’t mean you had reason to kill my bodyguard.” Franco had not been pleased. Needless to say others died and not him.

“You stole an extra girl—that wasn’t the agreement.”

“The agreement was you wouldn’t torture the ones I left behind. I needed more collateral. You’re a high risk client, Dante. I’m sure you can appreciate that.”

“Was a client, Mercer. Don’t forget this conversation focuses on the termination of our association. Ending with a few severe penalties than just parting of business.” He chuckled. “Parting of a few other important things, too, I can assure you.”

My gunshot twinged but I kept the flash of fear hidden.

“If you felt so unjustly dealt with, why didn’t you come after me then?” I grinned. “That’s right—because you know the truth. I have more power than you.”

He chuckled, tilting his head. “That might’ve been the case, but my how the tables have turned.”

You’re scum. Worse than scum. You’re the disease that grows on scum.

I muttered, “If you want the award of being the biggest, baddest asshole then sure. You win.” I saluted him. “Now fucking stop with the mind-games. I’m done.”

Lynx grinned. “Sure. By all means.” Nodding at the girl between my legs, he ordered, “Do it.”

She sat up on her knees, reaching for my hastily buttoned blazer. The only thing keeping my naked chest from being on display. My throat closed at the memory of Tess ripping my shirt, ruining the buttons in her need. It felt like centuries ago.

“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 cock 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 fuck 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 fucking 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.