Ren frowned at the interruption, but when he took stock of Micah’s mumbled realization, he seemed pleased. “You remember.”

“That- that was the day before Nico went missing.”

“Yes.” The way Micah was tied up afforded him very little movement, so he couldn’t even twist away when Ren cupped his cheek and ran his thumb fondly over his brow. “That could have been you.”

Ren sounded regretful, and Micah wanted nothing more than to beat him bloody, but he forced himself to school his expression, focusing on what Ren claimed to have seen at Club Trinity.

“What you saw in the club – that man licking the salt off my neck – that was my boyfriend. His name is Damon Romano. He’s a dangerous man with the money and means to track the both of us down when he finds out I’m missing and that you took me. When he finds us, you’ll be begging him to send you to hell by the time he’s finished with you. But if you let me go right now and get a head start on running, you might be able to put enough distance between you and him to make a clean getaway.”

“It’s sweet of you to worry over my well-being,” Ren said, words laced with sarcasm, “but even if you’re telling the truth about your boyfriend being some thug, I’m not worried.” Ren tilted his head to the side. “Or have you forgotten what you told me at the bar? You broke up.”

Micah’s stomach plummeted. Fuck, he had forgotten that he’d told Ren that.

“He doesn’t care about you anymore, Micah, and he’s certainly not coming for you. No one is. Even if the police are looking for you, there’s no way they’ll find you. Just like you couldn’t find Nico.”

“Fuck you,” Micah spat, voice low and gritty, but full of meaning. “You’re sick.”

“That’s where you’re wrong. You’re the sick one. But it’s okay. God brought you to me to make you better.”

“God has nothing to do with this – and if he does, then he’s just as much of a sadistic fuck as you are!”

Ren’s grip on his face grew uncomfortably tight – until Micah’s teeth were scraping against the tender insides of his cheeks, until Micah was sure it’d leave bruises. He braced himself for another explosion of violence, like when Ren had stomped on his shoulder earlier, but after a moment, the man only sighed and released him. “Clearly, you need more time to yourself to reflect on your behavior. There’s no sense in starting your lessons when you’re still so worked up.”

Ren stood, taking the bucket with him.

Micah’s throat closed up in panic.