by Sansa Rayne
“Anton, you failed,” I reply. “You said you did your best, and it wasn’t enough.”
“No,” he admits. “It wasn’t.”
I give the others a second to exchange their whispers, hoping I’ve struck a blow. Not a fatal one, but enough to cast some doubt.
“None of us are perfect, Anton,” I say. “We’ve all failed at something, at some point. You rarely do, though. We’ve watched your company’s meteoric rise, we’ve seen you crush your competitors. There are very few red marks on your record.”
“I’ve worked hard,” he replies. His voice sounds steady but hesitant. He knows this isn’t my next move — it’s the feint before I make it.
“The problem is, we haven’t seen your entire record. We don’t know who you were as a young man, and how you got to where you are. Your history, the source of your motivation, the fissioning reactor that powers your unstoppable thirst for success. Where does it come from? No one accomplishes what you have on talent alone. They have a reason to prove themselves. So what’s yours?”
Jamison gets out of his seat and moves between us. “Anton, I apologize,” he says. “I tried explaining to Ingram that your unremarkable past isn’t really germane-”
“With all due respect, I think it is,” I say, cutting him off. “This is important. We should never accept someone into our midst without knowing beyond a doubt that they can be trusted.”
Anton doesn’t hide his contempt any longer, glowering at me. Baring his teeth, he says, “With all due respect to you, Ingram, everyone else here has already made up his mind. They trust me. And I’ve given you no reason not to.”
“That may be, but I still want answers.”
“Fine.” Anton nods to Jamison to sit, then he turns to me. I don’t move a muscle.
“I’m here today because the world ate up and spit out my father and mother when I was young. It nearly killed me, because there was nothing I could do. No one helped me. Someone could have, but didn’t. Everyone failed me when I needed it most. After that, I decided I didn’t want to be at anyone’s mercy, that the only way to live is to be in complete control of your own fate. The world wouldn’t dictate the path of my life, it would be the other way around.”
He scans the room, meeting the stares of the Masters. He raises his hands in submission.
“When I was young, I worked for the mob. I committed petty crimes and earned next to nothing for it — but I learned how to intimidate and read people. I developed a risk tolerance and an appreciation for honoring and respecting your superiors. Many times I saw the power of loyalty — and the consequences of betrayal. College may have taught me business and software, but my real education came from the street — from being part of a found family. I think we all have that in common.”
The Masters nod their agreement, and I can feel the heat turn back to me.
“Is that enough for you, Ingram?” Anton snarls.
I cross my arms in front of my chest.
“You could be making all of this up. Where are the records? I want to believe you, Anton. I really do. But this isn’t a fraternity you can get into by taking a little hazing. We have to be absolutely certain.”
“All right, that’s enough!” Jamison shouts, rising again. “We are absolutely certain, Ingram! What the hell is it going to take for you to get out of the way?”
There’s no easy way to say what I’m going to say next. There’s no turning back. It’s going to cause a rift, like tectonic plates splitting the surface of the earth. But, it’s the only way to save her.
“We’ve all been talking and enjoying ourselves without even acknowledging the fact that one of our courtesans died this afternoon. I examined Madeleine’s body, and I don’t think her death was an accident. The truth is, I’m in love with Kate Atwood, and she’s not safe here. If you want my approval to induct Anton Ford into the Masters, you will allow Kate to leave the Enclave.”
The proposal goes over exactly as well as I imagined. Evo Griekin and Franco Silvestri shout from their seats first and are quickly joined by the others. Sidney Traves practically knocks over his chair, pointing his finger at me and ranting. His words get lost in the uproar, but the purple shade of his face says enough.
Jamison, Anton and I stand at the center of it, waiting in the eye of the storm.
“Quiet!” Jamison screams. “Everyone, quiet!”
They obey, fidgeting in their seats with a few final murmurs.
“Let’s hear Ingram out,” says Anton.
There’s a strange smile on his face. Did I fuck up somehow? Whatever.
“Victor proved no one is truly safe here,” I say. “Now Madeleine’s gone too. I won’t let that happen to Kate. No assurance of her safety will be enough for me. I will take her home, and I will ensure she’s safe, and that she won’t betray us.”
I let this sink in, but I don’t expect any of them to care. They’re not perturbed about Madeleine, and they’re not worried they could get shot. But, there’s only one person I really have to convince.
“You know that can’t be allowed,” says Jamison. “The second she gets a chance, Kate will go to the press with everything she knows. She posed a significant threat before you abducted her, that’s why we voted to kill her. Now she could destroy us entirely.”
“She won’t,” I argue, moving toward Kate. She’s holding perfectly still, her face impassive. When I touch her shoulder, she turns to me. She nods.
“Why the hell not?” says Sydney.
“Because she’ll be working for us. I will oversee everything she does. She’ll investigate what we want her to investigate, and publish what we decide should be published. In exchange, she will be protected by me at all times. And if she betrays us, I will make her suffer and I will kill her.”
Jamison steps up to me and Kate. He looks into her eyes. She doesn’t break his attention, she doesn’t flinch.
“Is this true?” he asks. “Will you do everything Ingram commands?”
“Yes, Master,” she says.
“You understand what Ingram will do if you betray us? Or what we’ll do, if we have to?”
“Yes, Master. I will obey.”
“There won’t be any margin for error, Ms. Atwood. There won’t be any second chances.”
“Yes, Master. I understand.”
Now Traves sidles up, slipping between Jamison and Kate.
“If we order you to use fabricated evidence to frame an innocent man, you’ll do it?”
“Yes, Master,” Kate replies. She doesn’t hesitate.
“What if we ask you to sabotage your colleagues at LPN?” asks Anton.
“I will do as I’m told, Master.”
She turns to me and smiles.
“I’ll do anything.”
That’s my girl.
“There’s far more opportunity here than threat,” I argue. “Jamison, have you heard enough?”
Skin gray, lines etching his face more deeply, he’s never looked older than at this moment. Fragile and small, he glances at Anton, as if he’s forgetting that he’s the one in charge here.
“Ingram, if you fail to control her, you’ll pay the price. Is that understood?”
“Yes.”
He sighs.
“Then we’ll put it to a vote.”
First they agree to let Ingram take me away, twelve to eight. Then they vote unanimously to induct Anton into the Masters.
While everyone else drinks champagne, Ingram frees me from my bindings and drags me away from the reception. If he had anything else to say to Jamison, Anton or anyone else, he doesn’t bother. I might have liked to tell the other courtesans to stay strong — and I would definitely have told Garth to go fuck himself. None of that is important right now.
“We’re coming,” Ingram says into his phone once we’re out of the pavilion.
I have a million questions, and I want to thank him, but now’s not the time. We run to the airstrip, every second feeling like I’m holding my breath — as
if a clock’s counting down and it’ll expire if we stop.
We should be safe — they voted on it. There’s no need to flee, but we do. I don’t mind — if this is for real, and we’re really leaving, then I wish we could go faster.
Jet engines whine, drowning out the sea slapping at the shore. Eyal stands at the entry ramp, waving us forward with a slow, calm gesture. He seals the hatch once we’re inside, seated and buckled up. Within minutes, the plane begins to roll down the tarmac.
Ingram holds my hand as we take off. He doesn’t let go, even as the light from the island fades into the vast darkness.
“We’re on course,” Eyal says over the intercom. “We’ll arrive at Teterboro in three hours.”
I’m still not sure I believe it.
“Kate, are you okay?” Ingram asks.
“I… I…”
My chest quakes. My stomach’s empty, or something would come up.
“What have we done?” I ask.
I did my best to seem composed at the meeting, and only managed it because I kept myself wholly in the moment. Say yes to everything. Do exactly what Ingram would want me to do. Don’t think, just act.
Now, though — now the enormity of the situation rolls in like a tsunami. The things I said I would do… And if I don’t… What if I can’t?
If I disobey, after everything we just went through, they’ll kill Ingram. Maybe I could go to my death for the right cause, but how could I do that to him, after what he’s done for me?
Should I have refused his proposal? Should I not step into a situation I can’t handle? At the time, the idea was unthinkable. How could I pass up a chance to leave that fucking island? It’s hard to stand up for your principles when your life’s on the line, when refusal to comply means certain death.
Would they let me change my mind and come back? I can’t even bear the thought, but if it’s that or risk Ingram’s life…
“I know it’s going to be difficult,” he says. “But I’ll be there to help you. We’re going to figure this out together, Kate. I promise.”
What will I tell John and Brendan about my absence? Will I be in trouble for disappearing? Will they fire me for not telling them where I’ve been?
“We’ll take care of the details,” he continues. “Don’t worry. That’ll be the easy part.”
“Okay,” I say, exhaling.
He squeezes my hand, then leans in and kisses my forehead.
“Are you hungry?” he asks.
I haven’t eaten since breakfast, but wasps buzz in my gut at the prospect of eating.
“No.”
“Are you tired?”
Mentally, I’m so exhausted I could sleep for a year. Right now, adrenaline screams in my veins.
“No.”
He releases our seatbelts and takes me back to his room. We sit down on his bed, sinking into the soft mattress. Memories of being here snap into my head — it was a month ago, but also another eon. Am I going to stay in that cage? Am I trading one on the island for one in New York? Is that even better?
“Relax, Kate,” he says. Opening the cabinet, he takes out a bottle of Bordeaux and a pair of plastic cups. “I know you’re scared. I’m not going to tell you not to be.”
He eases out the cork and pours our cups full.
“But this is a cause for celebration.”
“Is it?”
He nods.
“This isn’t the end of your ordeal, but it is the beginning of your revenge. And my conquest.”
I take the offered cup. Revenge sounds good. So does conquest.
“I told you I’d hurt the Masters who wanted you dead, and I meant it. But I’m not going to stop there. I still have every intention of taking over Jamison’s leadership seat. When I’m in charge, not only will you be untouchable, I’ll destroy anyone you wish.”
The promise appeals to me more than it should.
He raises his cup. I lift mine. We drink.
The alcohol hits me fast, or maybe I’m just dizzy from not eating. Blood rushes through me. My senses heighten — the dulled vibration of the jet, the lingering taste on my tongue, the sweet scent of Ingram’s cologne… It’s all more real than real.
“By the way, you look amazing,” he says, brushing my gown. His hand slides down to my knee. “It’s a miracle I could take my eyes off you back there.”
I run my fingers along the edge of his tux’s lapel.
“You look pretty good too.”
He stands up and takes off the jacket, then the vest. His pants already bulge at the crotch.
This is perverse. I shouldn’t be thinking about pleasure when there are so many questions to answer — when at the very least I should still be furious for Madeleine’s murder. After what we’ve been through, though — I need relief.
Standing up, I slip the sleeves of the dress from my shoulders, letting it fall at my feet. I’m not wearing anything underneath.
He doesn’t bother to finish undressing, he picks me up and holds me against his body. I lock my legs around his hips, kissing him fiercely, sucking the Bordeaux’s flavor from his lips. He clutches my ass, squeezing hard. I brace my hands against the jet’s low ceiling, and grunt as his fingers probe my slick entrance. Craving his massive rod, I grind my hips against his firm touch. He ends our kiss with a throaty chuckle, and drops me on the bed.
Landing on the mattress gasping for breath, I’m not prepared for him to pin my arms down and spread my legs. Juices flow into the sheets, and the scent of our desire fills the room.
Ingram kisses my nipple, a cruel tease considering my pussy throbs for his cock already. His fingers graze my clit, eliciting a surge of excitement, followed by frustration as he gives me nothing more. Groaning loudly, I try to lift my hips against his hand but he pushes my body back down into the bed.
“Please,” I mumble.
Sweat collects on my forehead. Chest heaving, I close my eyes and put my trust in Ingram. He’s going to give me what I need, I just have to be patient. For all the darkness in his past, and the crimes he’s still planning to commit, he’s proven he’ll sacrifice what he must for me. He’s my guardian — my master. He’ll keep me safe, and give me pleasure. The future might be rough, but we’re strong.
“Please what, pet?” he growls, biting down softly on my nipple.
“I need… oh…”
“Tell me, Kate. What do you need?”
He drags his cock along my wet pussy lips, tantalizing me with its heat.
“You. I need you, Master.”
He kisses me hard, then plunges his cock deep into my eager channel.
“And I need you, Kate,” he whispers.
Then he starts pounding, not wasting any time being gentle. His thickness fills me completely, and his full thrusts unleash unstoppable pulses of ecstasy. My body burns; I thrash against Ingram’s iron grip. I almost wish he’d tie me down, but he doesn’t need to — he’s not letting me go.
He brushes my cheek with his hand until I open my eyes. He stares into them, captivating me.
My jaw hangs open as he withdraws and enters, withdraws and enters. Fingering my clit, he lifts me into rapture. Heart thudding, bliss swirling, I gaze into his beautiful eyes and cry joyful tears. An orgasm burns inside me, threatening to erupt.
“Hold it,” Ingram says. “As long as you can.”
Whimpering, I obey.
“That’s it, Kate. Just like that.”
Pride swells in my chest. I want to please him, even if it’s just a primal reaction manifesting from my psyche. He’ll protect me, but I have to obey. Maybe someday I’ll ask a therapist how I came to be so broken, but for now I don’t care. For the sake of survival, and for pleasure, I’ll put my trust in Ingram. I’ll let him take me, command me, scold me — I’ll be his to own and protect.
For Ingram, I’ll be disciplined.
“Okay,” he says. “You can come.”
I cry out my relief as he drives inward and holds himself there, giving me every
inch of his lengthy shaft. Then he pulls out and resumes his relentless rhythm. My orgasm releases all my pent up need, washing away everything but pure euphoria. Lost in my transcendent state, I writhe happily, clamping down on his swollen cock. Hazy from a dearth of oxygen, I revel in the pleasure for as long as it lasts.
When Ingram finally releases his seed, I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve climaxed. He lets me go at last, but I can’t move. Soaked in sweat, I inhale deeply, lying flat on the bed. He lies next to me, smiling as he gazes at the ceiling.
His fingers touch mine; he takes my hand in his.
“Has it hit you yet?” he asks.
“What?”
“Going home. Having something like your old life back.”
“Not really,” I say.
At some point I internalized the idea I’d never go home again. I adjusted to my new reality. I refused to entertain the idea that it could turn back into something resembling normality. How am I going to face my friends and colleagues? How can I pretend to be myself, when all I’ll ever be thinking about are all the secrets I’ll have to keep?
Then again, at least I’ll be off the island. I’ll have some freedom. Someday, maybe I’ll be completely free.
“I’ll be there for you,” he says. “Always.”
With that, I shut my eyes and let myself drift off. I could probably sleep for a day.
—
I’m dreaming of being chased on the subway by goons in business suits when Ingram’s stirring rouses me. He’s awake, rubbing his forehead. The lights are turned low, and I can feel the jet starting to descend. I want to go back to sleep, but we’re probably landing soon.
Then Ingram sits up so suddenly I shriek.
“What is it?” I ask, rising and gathering the sheets around me.
“Anton Ford,” he says, turning to me. “I see it now. I know who he is.”
Who is Anton, and how will Ingram deal with him? Will Kate survive living under the thumb of the Masters, or will she find a way to turn the tables on them? The Masters series continues with “Disciplined” — order a copy now and prepare to stay up all night finding out how far Kate and Ingram will go to survive… and fight back.
