Dumbfounded, I stare at him with my jaw hanging open. What the fuck? “What does that even mean? I’m supposed to get used to this? Or are you used to having prisoners? Oh god, am I not the only one you have done this to?”

“You think too much into the shit I say.”

“That doesn’t answer my question.”

“No, we’ve never held anyone else prisoner, and no, I’ve never forced my cock down someone else’s throat… unless they asked for it, of course.”

“You are unbelievable.” Every time I think there might be a tiny bit of a good person in there, he crushes that thought like an anvil would crush a daisy.

“Anyway, I’ll be taking this back now.” He gets up, snatching his laptop away from me and any hope of my reaching the outside world along with it. It isn’t easy to hold back my emotions, but I manage it.

Before he can leave the room, I murmur, “Thank you. You didn’t have to do that. It meant a lot.”

“Don’t thank me,” he mutters as he closes the door. “You don’t know what is planned for you tonight.”

* * *

At seven o’clock on the dot, the lock clicks. It’s showtime.

Nix opens the door. “Come on. Dinner is ready.” I stand up, shaking, almost wishing we didn’t have to go through the farce of sitting down and having a meal together. Like we’re some kind of normal family. I’ve never exactly been part of one, but I know this isn’t it.

Instead of leading the way, Nix walks beside me on the stairs. “Listen,” he murmurs. “There’s nothing in the food if you’re worried about that. But if I were you, I would have a glass of wine with dinner.”

“Why is that?”

“It’ll help relax you a little. It will take the edge off. And I know what you’re thinking,” he adds when I snort. “There is nothing in the wine, either. The bottle is unopened. You can watch me open it when we get to the dining room.”

I don’t give a shit about the wine right now. There’s only one thing I care about. “Colt told me there are plans for tonight. Is your father going to join in this time, or will he just watch like before?” I need to know what I’m in for since the obsessing I’ve done since this afternoon hasn’t helped much.

“He won’t touch you himself.” That’s all he has time to say before we enter the dining room.