18. WYNTER

18

WYNTER

I t’s so unfair. How can one man be so unbelievably attractive? All I did was come to use the gym while I thought Bones was in his office and here I am needing a change of underwear as I watch him doing sit-ups. I could make my presence known, but it would be rude to interrupt a man so hard at work.

He stands up and rolls his shoulders, his shirt pulling up giving me a glimpse of his tattoos. I’m about to turn into a puddle on the floor as he reaches for the back of his collar and pulls his shirt off in one fluid movement.

I never thought I’d feel like this about anyone, especially not him. As much as I want to still call him a monster, I can’t. I’ve seen the good in him. It’s just twisted up in his own dark corruption.

His body shines with sweat and I never in my wildest dreams imagined licking sweat off a man before, but my tongue is practically on the floor. I want to drag it all the way up that dragon tattoo that covers his back.

“Do you want to join me?” Bones smirks at me over his shoulder.

Crap .

I stroll inside as casually as I can and pick up a weight.

“Not like that.” Bones comes over and swaps it for a lighter one. “I know you want to be able to do everything right away, but remember what I told you. It takes time. Stick with the routine I showed you and once you’re good with that then we can switch it up.”

He spots me through my workout and it irritates me that he was right. I’d be burnt out already if I didn’t follow his instructions.

We switch to my favorite part. Punching.

“Hit me again,” Bones instructs.

Pulling my fist back, I punch him in the shoulder. He doesn’t move or flinch, he simply stands there and lets me hurt him.

“Shouldn’t we be using gloves or something for this?” I pant as I wipe the sweat from my face.

“If you want to train with me you’re doing it my way. I want you to feel every strike and imagine what it will feel like to hurt your enemies. Now give me one more.”

Doing the same again, I pull my arm back and aim for his other shoulder this time. I’m tempted to go for his pretty face, but I’m not that stupid.

“Again. You’re not focusing your mind in the right places.”

I’m glad my face is already bright red so he can’t tell I’m blushing.

Taking a deep breath in and out, I close my eyes and picture all the men that touched me. All the vile things I remember and the ones I don’t. Then I open my eyes and hit.

This time Bones grabs my fist before my knuckles connect with him and spins me until my back is to his chest. I’m caught off guard by the mirrors in front of us and I quickly look down to avoid my reflection.

My body feels different from when I first came here. My muscles are stronger and I’m getting back to the size I was before I was starved. Yet I still can’t bring myself to look at who I am now.

Even when I spent hours in the salon I spent the entire time looking everywhere but my reflection.

“That was much better. Look at how strong you’re becoming. You’re glowing.”

I struggle out of Bones’ grip and he looks at me in confusion. “What’s wrong?”

“I’m tired and sweaty. I’m definitely not glowing so don’t patronize me.”

He looks like he wants to say something, but decides to keep his mouth shut.

To change the subject I ask, “Do you have any leads yet?” We’ve not done anything since that chaotic night with Grayson. I want to be out there getting justice, but I know I need to make sure I’m strong enough to enact it properly.

“Nothing solid. It’s all just underground rumors.”

“What about the other girls from Onyx that are missing?”

“Still nothing new. Those that had family have had police reports filed, but the cops dropped the cases after they found nothing.”

“And Summer?”

“Sorry, little viper.” He offers me an apologetic smile. “You’ll get her back though, believe me.”

Bones has already told me he’s looked into social services and the police records, but they’re wiped. Whoever took her knew what they were doing.

Sighing, I rest my head against his shoulder. “I know you’re doing everything you can. I’m sorry to keep asking.”

I feel his arms wrap around me, holding me close and I press my body tighter to him to keep myself grounded. The dark thoughts come less and less when I’m with him.

“Ask as much as you need, my love.”

I hate that he has so much more patience for these things than I do. All I want to do is charge into the city and bust down every single door until I find her. Then I’ll do the same for the next city and the next until I’ve searched the entire world for her.

“I know what you’re thinking. Don’t stress yourself out. Leave the worrying to me. Just focus on your anger and what you’ll do with it.”

He’s right. Spiraling into my anxieties won’t help. I take a deep breath and untangle my emotions, pushing the unnecessary ones away and letting my rage simmer at the surface.

“How are things going with your father?” Bones doesn't tell me much about what’s going on at his company, but I know it’s been stressing him out. Like right now. His jaw tenses and I can feel him shutting me out again. “You can talk to me about these things. I want to help you.”

“I know you do. I’m sorting it though. No matter what happens I won’t lose the company. But I don’t want you worrying your pretty little head over it. I actually have something very special planned for you tonight.” If he’s trying to distract me from whatever he’s not telling me, it’s working.

“You do?” I can’t even take a guess at what it could be, he surprises me every day. Usually, it involves orgasms. Lots and lots of orgasms.

My mouth waters and my pussy clenches at the thought of it being something sexual. I still find it odd that after everything I went through I’m able to feel such sexual need. But it’s different with Bones. Whether we’re soul mates or he’s conditioned me to be this way, I don’t really care. He’s my constant. The man who pulls me out of every nightmare and doesn’t stop giving me pleasure until I’ve fallen safely into his arms again.

“Go freshen up, put on something that makes you feel …powerful .”

“Can I get a clue? If I have some idea it’ll help me pick what to wear.” I pout at him as I press my palm to his cock. That usually helps me get what I want.

“No,” he says as he spanks me on the ass, making me yelp. “Go clean up and meet me by the front door when you’re ready.” He slaps my ass again and pushes me towards the doorway. I look back at him over my shoulder and my heart feels like it doubles in size as I catch the way he’s looking at me.

Bones waits for me at the bottom of the stairs. He’s changed into a pair of black slacks and a white shirt with the top few buttons undone, showing off his silver chains. The rolled-up sleeves granting me a lovely view of his corded arms and all his tattoos.

I’m drooling at the sight of him. Again . I don’t know what’s gotten into me recently.

I ended up choosing a short black dress that stretches over my body, making me look curvier than I am, and paired it with some fishnets and black heeled boots. It didn’t take me long to pick it out. Most of my time upstairs was spent staring at the makeup on the dresser, trying to figure out what to put on without needing to look in the mirror. In the end, I decided on nothing.

“Fuck,” Bones exhales as he takes me in. It shouldn’t matter what he thinks of me, but I find myself loving the way he appreciates my body. I greedily eat up every morsel of affection he tosses my way.

“I swear every time I look at you, you get even more beautiful.”

“I could say the same to you,” I say quietly as I peek at him through my lashes and he smiles.

“Here.” He holds out a long thin satin box to me. I take it and flick it open.

“What—what is this?” I stammer as I look at the weapon inside. It’s just bigger than my hand. The blade is long and thin, the handle ribbed and dark blue, almost black. At the very end sits a shiny blue gemstone.

Bones plucks it out of the box and twirls it between us. “It matches your eyes.”

“You bought me a dagger ?”

Holding it flat on his palm he tells me, “It’s made from tamahagane , Japanese precious steel.”

I take it from him and examine it under the light of the chandelier above us. “I don’t understand.”

“My great uncle is a retired bladesmith. I hadn’t spoken to him in years, but he was happy to make it. I asked him the same night that you held that knife to my chest. That moment’s been replaying in my head ever since. The fire in your eyes as you took what you wanted and made me bleed for you. I knew this would be a perfect fit.”

I feel the dagger’s weight in my hand and test out my grip on it. He's right. It’s perfect.

“It’s beautiful.” No one’s ever bought me anything expensive before and as I get used to the feeling of it in my hand I’m reminded of everything Bones has bought me. Clothes, my new hair, books, sushi…is it all his way of making up for how we started off?

Perhaps I’ve become pampered and spoiled with him, but I’m not ashamed. I’ve gone through enough shit to deserve it all.

An idea sparks in my mind as I twirl the dagger through the air. Bones catches my eye and lowers his brow as he tries to figure out what I’m thinking.

Before he can take a guess I point the tip of the blade to his throat and drag it down his skin. He lets out a shaky breath as he watches me intently.

“Are you not scared I’m going to stab you with it?” I hold it to his chin and a small bead of blood appears, running down the blade. Carefully I drag it down, more blood booms on his pale skin. I’m lost in the sight of the crimson trail when he grabs my wrist and brings the dagger to his mouth. His long tongue extends out and he laps the blood up from the tip. I watch in hungry fascination. My mouth going dry as my pussy steals all the moisture from my body.

“I’d be a happy man if you did, my love.” He smiles showing me his bloodied teeth. Heat surges between my legs and I bite back my whimper.

“I’m going to come in my pants again if you tease me like that.”

He’s not the only one. Wait again ?

Bones drops to one knee and I freeze. The dagger now points at his face as he reaches into his pocket.

No. Please don’t do this. Please don’t ruin whatever this is we have by asking me that question.

I breathe a shaky sigh of relief as he pulls out a leather strap and wraps it around my thigh. Then he takes the dagger from me and slips it into the sheath.

He lets out a low groan as he takes in the sight of my weapon-adorned leg. His fingers trace where the leather meets my skin and find their way closer to my pussy.

“So hot,” he murmurs. I squeeze my thighs as more heat gathers between my legs. “I want to taste you so badly. Want to eat you out until you’re threatening me to stop with that dagger. Even then I don’t think I could. I’d be so fucking grateful to die with your blade in my back and my face buried in your glorious pussy, the taste of your sweet come carrying me up to heaven.”

“Not hell?” I ask as I run my fingers through his hair.

“No. Not with you all over my skin. God would definitely mistake me for an angel if I was saturated in your come.”

I shift my feet so my legs part slightly. His nose presses against the hem of my dress and he breathes in deep.

“If you invite me in, I’ll never leave.”

“You don’t need an invite, remember?”

His eyes darken and I swear he’s about to follow through on his promise, but he stands up instead. Leaving me full of need and disappointment.

“This is just the start of your surprise. The wait will be worth it.” Is he trying to convince me or himself?

He opens the front door and I expect to see the car parked up ready to go out, but it’s not there. “What are we actually doing?”

Rather than answer me, he takes my hand and leads me towards the back of the house.

Bones starts humming to himself and the tune stirs something in me as I recognize it. “Is that K-pop?”

“Oh, yeah. I guess it was,” he says like he didn’t even realize he was doing it. “I listened to some recently. Must have got stuck in my head.”

Did he listen to it for me?

Calm down heart. That doesn’t actually mean anything.

It’s already dark out and I notice a small cottage tucked away at the back of the estate, a few of its windows alight with a cozy glow.

“Who lives there?” I jut my chin towards the place. Bones eyes linger on it for a moment before he smiles and pulls me closer to his side.

“Just the groundskeeper.”

“How come I’ve never seen any of your staff?”

“I don’t like too many people in the house so I have them come over when we’re out.”

We head in the opposite direction of the building and into the woods. I grab hold of Bones’ hand as I nearly trip over a branch and he holds me steady.

After a few minutes of walking, an old stone structure comes into view. A mausoleum.

“You’re not fucking me in some musty old tomb!” I exclaim and he chuckles.

“A moment ago you were reminding me how I can fuck you wherever and whenever I like. But no I didn’t bring you here to fuck you. I have somewhere else in mind for that.”

There are candles lit all around the place and it’s oddly romantic. I step forward onto a trail of leaves—no, not leaves, a mix of black and red rose petals.

“Is this your idea of a date?”

“I wanted to make the night as memorable as possible for you.” Bringing my hand to his lips he presses a kiss to my knuckles. I swallow down the lump in my throat as I try to ignore the heat now skating over my skin.

“Is this where your family is buried?”

“No. This place was already here when my parents bought the estate. It’s been left to turn into ruins.”

Bones pushes the iron gate open and it gives with a foreboding creak. There’s a scuffling noise inside and I try to step back, but Bones tugs me inside.

More candlelight fills the space, revealing a man tied up in the middle of the floor.

His eyes widen with terror as Bones steps towards him. “Please, no more,” he chokes out through the gag tied around his mouth.

“I’m sure I don’t need to introduce the pair of you. Unless you care to know the name of the man that thought it was okay to shove his dick down your throat while you were unconscious. He’s been so helpful and has told me every disgusting thing he did to you and wanted to do to you. It only took a bit of prodding to get him talking.” Bones nudges his foot against the man’s ribs and he sobs loudly.

My throat closes and refuses to open back up. I can’t breathe. All I can see are the dark walls of the basement closing in on me. I run back outside and grab hold of the nearest tree so I don’t fall over as I try to catch my breath.

Bones comes up behind me and places his hand on my back.

“You could have warned me first!” I gasp out.

“You need to know what they did,” he says bluntly, his arms wrapping around me, holding me close. “It’s the only way you’ll be able to take revenge on him and the rest.”

“I know.” Now that Bones is here to pull me from my nightmares, I’m calmer about the whole idea.

What I did to Grayson was a moment of panic, I didn’t actually think about what I was doing. But tonight everything will be done by choice. I’ll be killing a man because I want to. I’ve known this moment was coming since I struck the bargain with Bones. Yet it feels surreal.

I’m actually going to kill someone.

“What if I’m not ready?”

“That’s what you’ll always think. No one’s ready for their first kill. You’ve just got to do it, get your hands dirty then deal with the consequences later.” His fingers trail up to my throat.

“You still want to protect Summer, don’t you?”

“Of course I do.”

“There’s only so much I can do. You have to help her as well. You can do that can’t you?” His words are a warm whisper on my ear, making my skin pebble.

I nod slowly, unable to give him audible confirmation of my willingness to kill a man. It’s good enough for him.

Once Bones moves away from me, my breathing steadies out and I feel like I can think again. “How long has he been in there?”

“About a week.” Surprisingly, I don’t feel bad about that. I spent months in the dark. One week is nothing.

I look up at the inky sky through the canopy above us as I remember it. With Bones this close to me it feels so far off. Like it happened to someone else.

“In the beginning I dreaded them coming. All I did was fight them. Constantly. It got me nowhere. Being left alone not knowing if I was going to die down there was just as painful as the beatings, maybe even worse some days.”

Bones is silent and when I turn to face him I expect to see pity on his face, but there’s cold anger there instead. I know now that it’s not aimed at me, it’s for everything they did to me.

“Do you really believe that bad people deserve bad things to happen to them?” I ask. “That they should be punished for what they did? Maybe even die for it?”

He’s so silent I wonder if he even heard me.

“Yes.” Bones hands settle on my shoulders.

“It’s wrong to want to hurt someone so much, but I do. As much as I want to move on, I also want him to feel as afraid as I was.”

“Then let’s do that. Make sure his last moments on this earth are filled with nothing but terror.”

Bones’ features are like they’ve been chiseled onto his face, he’s so still. Placing my palm on his chest, I feel his heart pounding wildly beneath. It’s like it’s beating for me. With me.

“What do I need to do?”

A dark smile appears on his beautiful face. Suddenly I realize that I’m in way over my head and there’s no way out. I’ve already sold my soul to the devil.

He places his hand over mine and says, “Whatever you want. If it feels right, do it. If it feels wrong, definitely do it. Don’t be afraid of what you’re feeling. Channel it and make him suffer through his last breaths.”

“Do I need to interrogate him?”

“No, I’ve been doing that all week and he gave me nothing new.”

Still no information on Summer. It feels like I’m never going to find her.

“Wynter, I don’t want you to get in your head. Just do whatever feels natural.”

Taking a deep breath, I settle any lingering nerves and give Bones a determined nod. I can do this.

We head back inside the mausoleum and when the man sees me he starts to struggle again, begging me to help him, but I ignore him.

I remember my own pleas for help going unheard by him or someone just like him. The men were all the same. Brutal uncaring monsters that only got off on my pain.

“Did you not think to help me rather than take advantage of me when I was drugged? I was just a toy for you and all the others to use when…when Tommaso was done with me.” Saying the man’s name feels like letting his ghost back in to haunt me, but nothing changes once it’s out in the ether. I look back to Bones who’s leaning against the wall with his arms crossed and a deadly smile on his lips as he watches me.

He is the only demon that matters now.

I find myself wanting to prove to him that I am strong enough to protect myself.

“We were told it was okay to do what we wanted as long as no one came in you,” the man blubbers through the fabric.

“Did I say those words?”

He shakes his head.

“No, I didn’t. So you had no right to go anywhere near me! I wasn’t some man’s property to be loaned out to whoever wanted a go. I was just a person. Someone that needed help, not to be hurt even more. Do you have anyone you love in your life?”

He swallows and looks over at Bones. “You’re not answering to me. Tonight she’s in charge.”

“A girlfriend.”

He raped me then went home to his girlfriend. The thought makes me feel sick.

“You’re disgusting. She’s going to be better off without you. The entire world will be.”

I run my fingers over the cool handle of the dagger on my thigh, before pulling it out and admiring its beauty.

“Let's have some fun.”

The man starts crying even harder, begging for his life. His girlfriend soon forgotten.

Bones circles around us to the corner of the room.

Out of nowhere, heavy symphonic metal starts playing. When Bones shifts, I spot the record player he's set up for this moment. That’s so sweet.

My breath catches as I watch him in his element. He craves this sort of macabre dance with death. It’s a part of him and soon it will be for me as well.

The first time I watched him torture for me was an odd mix of emotions. I wanted to bolt right out of the room, but I also wanted to see how far he would go for me. Turns out he’s all in.

“Did you even know my name as you abused me?” I ask tonight’s victim.

“No,” he sobs.

“Guess we’ll remain strangers for your last moments on earth then.”

I step in front of him and hold the dagger out, but I’m not sure what else to do with it.

He’s a pathetic-looking mess of a man and I would feel sorry for him if he didn’t deserve this. There’s probably more girls like me out there that he did this to. That thought clears my mind. This is the right thing to do.

“This is for me.” With all my weight behind my arm, I stab the blade into his shoulder. It slides into the hilt far easier than I imagined it would.

Pulling it out again, I say, “This is for all the women who vile men like you take advantage of, thinking they're put on this planet for your own sick amusement.” I stab the blade down into his crotch this time.

He howls in pain and falls onto his side. Bones grabs his arms, pulling him upright for me.

“Again.” Bones’ eyes flash to mine. I’m lost in them as I stab the man again. Blood coats my palm and when I look at it I don’t feel disgusted. No, I feel elated. I’m finally taking back control of everything that was taken from me.

I stab again and again until his screams turn into strangled sobs.

“Fucking stunning,” Bones whispers with pure awe on his face.

As the man goes silent I half-sob, half-laugh, “I did it.”

“You did it beautifully.” Bones drops the body and grabs my head, bringing me in for a vicious kiss. The blade is still in my palm and I hold it to his throat.

“I could kill you as well. Steal your car and get out of here. Find someone to cut the tracker out and make a life for myself.”

He doesn’t look surprised or scared of me. In fact, his features soften. “You hate me too much to kill me and you love my cock too much to leave.”

Smug asshole.

Dropping the knife, I grab hold of his shirt and force my own kiss onto him. It’s hard to catch my breath when we pull apart.

Something warm and wet touches my knees and I shoot to my feet. Blood pools around us.

Blood .

“Bones. I—I killed a person.” My voice is shaky as reality sinks in.

He’s suddenly in front of me. His hands on my cheeks. “Yes, and it was a truly incredible first time, my love.”

I shake my head and step away from him. If Summer could see me now she’d be terrified. I look down at the blood on my hands and my stomach drops.

“He deserved it. Don’t feel bad about it now. He fucking deserved every second of that.”

I don’t know how to feel. I know he’s right, but I just ended a life.

“You want to run. It’s okay. Let it out. Run from me. Run from them. Just remember who will be the one catching you in the end.”

I’m not sure what he means, but without thinking I’m pushing open the gate and running through the trees.

I don’t hear him following behind, but I can’t hear much over the blood pumping in my ears.

Distorted faces lurk between the trees, mocking me, haunting me. They’re not real. They can’t hurt me.

“Run faster!” Bones shouts behind me, making me scream. When I look back all I see is a dark figure in the shadows. Green eyes peering at me through the holes of a black ski mask.

I scream and run again.

He catches up quickly and shoves me roughly into a tree. The bark scratches my cheek. His strong body presses firmly against mine and I feel his prominent erection against my ass.

“Bones,” I whimper as I press back against him, wanting him inside me. Something on him rubs against my skin, unlocking a feeling that seems to have nestled itself in the recesses of my mind. My thighs get slick and I try to figure out why my body’s responding this way.

Then I realize what I’m feeling.

Rope.

Bones plans to tie me up again tonight. I want that. No, it's more than a want. It’s more than a need. It’s something primal, carved deep into my bones, into my very marrow.

“I’m not Bones. Right now, I’m your demons. The ones that haunt you day and night, never leaving your mind. I want you to finally let them roam free. Run from me, fight me, try to kill me.” I feel his hand on my thigh, slipping my dagger back into the holster.

“Don’t let them win.” He drags me back, then pushes me away from him. I stumble as I look over my shoulder. He's removed his shirt and the black tank top he's left in grips his muscles tight. I drink the sight of him in and I'm about to take a step toward him when he shouts, “And don’t stop until you’ve drawn blood.”

I run again. My heart races, but it’s not from fear. I’m not running from the monsters anymore, I’m running from him. For him. My devil. My savior. The man I should be afraid of, but the fear only makes me want him more.