Thy Kingdom Come

He wants to see me. I don’t know why. Has something happened? I gulp at the thought.

Walking through the luxurious home, I pay no attention to the riches because this wealth is merely a reminder of everything I need but will never have unless I do something so deplorable, I’ll question my morals forever.

I’m already halfway there, however.

I’m sore, thanks to Punky giving me the best orgasm of my life before throwing me out like some common whore. I clench my fists just thinking about that son of a bitch. How dare he.

This shouldn’t be personal, but it suddenly feels like it is. I’m in way over my head.

Puck Kelly has gotten under my skin. I should have been more careful, but I never expected to feel…this co

However, when I knock on his office door, I know that this choice isn’t mine anymore. I’m here to serve a purpose. He permits me admission, and I enter, head bowed; just as he commanded I do.

I don’t take a seat. I know better. Someone like me isn’t fit to sit before someone like him. I smell his trademark pine cologne underneath the cigar smoke. It makes me want to gag. I wait for him to address me, but he draws it out. It’s all just a powerplay, but I can never forget who’s in charge.

“Bout ye?” he asks as if I’m here because I want to be.

“Fine,” I reply, keeping my answer short.

“Did ya find anythin’ out?”

Measuring my breathing, I nod. “Yes, he asked about a house in Moville. I gave him what I found at Mr. Duffy’s.”

“Aye, good, love. What else?”

“His face was painted.” My body still tingles at the memory of finding him that way. He looked so frighteningly hot.

Silence.

“He had three red lines down the middle of his forehead. They signify the lives he’s going to take.”

“And he knows who they are?”

“Yes. He didn’t tell me who.”

He claps loudly, clearly happy with the update. “And his father was the one who beat him up?”

Nodding, I swallow down my disgust at the thought.

“Well done. What else?”

I know what he wants me to tell him—that I seduced Punky into telling me all his secrets—but he doesn’t know Punky. And he doesn’t know me.

“I’ve got photos of all the files you wanted,” I reveal, which is not the information he wanted, but it’ll do—for now.

“Nice one. I want ya to keep at it, though. I need ya to break him.”

Tears well, because I don’t want that. I never wanted any of this. But that’s why I’m here. Puck thinks he’s a monster, but monsters come in all different shapes and sizes. His mask last night was a reflection of who he thinks he is.

What happens if he saw mine?

“He’s not easily broken,” I counter softly. “It’s going to take a lot more than—”

When I hear the leather of his chair creak, indicating he’s risen, I seal my lips, terrified. I shouldn’t have contradicted him. But I can’t stand this.

The plush carpet a

“Try harder,” he calmly says—but make no mistake, this is a warning. “Ya know what happens if ya don’t?”

Biting the inside of my cheek to stop the tears of anger, I nod firmly.

This motherfucker loves to assert his power as if anyone could ever forget. “Yer here for one reason only. And what’s that?”

I stand tall, hating myself more than I already do as I stonily reply, “To…seduce Puck Kelly and make him fall in love with me.”

And there it is…the ugly truth. The reason I’ve helped Punky. The reason I can’t leave him be.

At first, he was merely a means to an end, but the moment we met, I realized he was something more. But regardless of my feelings, if Punky ever knew who I really was and why I was sent to him, he’d have no qualms killing me for my betrayal.

He nods happily, brushing over my trembling bottom lip. “And?”

“And to uncover everything I can about the Kellys.”

“And what does that make ya?”

A tear trickles down my cheek. “It makes me a liar.”

“Aye, and no one could ever love a liar,” he says, wiping away my tear. “Ya think yer meeting was by chance? None of this is by chance. Ye all played right into my hands.

“I knew dressin’ the way ya did would spark his interest. As would doing something which would have him lookin’ for ya. Stealing from him was perfect. I gave ye orders, and ya ran with them. None of this makes sense. But it will.”

I hate him, and he knows it.

“Yer nothing but a liar. And a good one at that. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. Never forget that. I own ya.”

I’ll never forget because no one can hate me more than I do myself.

He walks toward his desk and picks up the phone. He dials and offers it to me. This is the reason I’m doing this. This is the reason I’ve sold my soul to the devil.

I quickly accept, and when I hear that voice, I know what I have to do. Puck Kelly will hate me, but I’ll deal with the repercussions because nothing else matters…but this.

“Hello?” the voice says, heavy with burden.

I don’t speak. It’s been so long since I’ve heard that voice. I just want to absorb this rare moment in time because I’m happy. It soothes me, even this far away from home.

“Hi,” I finally reply, squeezing the phone tight, wishing it was them instead.

He’s watching me, so I can’t say what I want. I’m a prisoner—in every sense of the word.

“Oh, baby, I’ve missed you! Are you all right?”

He looks at me with a cocky grin, daring me to tell them otherwise.

“I’m fine. How are you, more importantly?”

“I’m okay. Just worried about you. Is it over?”

And that’s the million-pound question.

“Camilla?” the voice presses, reminding me this isn’t over…

Things have only just begun.