Tall, Dark & Lonely (Pyte/Sentinel #1)(89)

Ephraim laughed. “You really need to get over it, sweetheart. I’m sure you’ve f**ked plenty of guys and walked off when you became bored.”

“Jealous?” She gave him a sensual smile.

“Not in the least. Fuck whoever you want just don’t touch my property anymore. You know the rules.”

Caroline walked around his chair, running her hands over his shoulders. “So, which of your property do you want back?”

Ephraim’s cold eyes ran over Chris and Madison. If he cared it didn’t show. “Tell those ass**les to lower their guns or I’ll rip their hearts out.”

She waved a hand and both guns lowered. “That’s fine, Ephraim, but realize that not even you will be able to get there before they shoot and you most certainly won’t be able to save them both. Now tell me, is it the woman or the baby that you want?”

“Does it matter?”

“No, not really. All that matters is I get what I want and I don’t care how it happens.”

“Cut the shit and tell me what exactly what you want? I know your little brain has been scheming for the last century.”

“Hmmm.” She walked away from him and stopped directly in front of Chris and Madison. “Lower them,” she said firmly and stepped away. They watched as a set of thick chains lowered two feet from the ceiling in the spot she just abandoned. At the end of each chain was a thick cuff.

“What is that?” Chris asked.

Caroline smiled triumphantly. “I’m guessing from the look of fear on Ephraim’s face that it’s déjà vu.”

Madison looked at Ephraim. His face was pale and his hands were clenching the arms of the chairs. He looked utterly terrified.

Caroline reached up and ran her fingers lovingly over one of the cuffs. “To answer your question, Ephraim, yes these are your old chains. I believe these were the very ones you woke up wearing on that faithful day. Of course, I had them reinforced and cleaned up. They’re stronger, much stronger. Granted it would have been cheaper to buy new ones, but where’s the fun in that? I would have missed the look on your face and that is utterly priceless.” She winked at him.

She snapped her fingers and the man that hid in the corner stepped forward pushing a cloth covered table. “It costs a little bit extra, but I do believe I was able to recover all of Nichol’s favorite tools.” She pulled back the cover, revealing at least a dozen sharp barbaric looking instruments. “What I couldn’t have repaired I had replaced and of course I’ve added a few of my own over the years, anticipating this moment.”

Ephraim remained quiet. His eyes moved over each tool slowly. “Of course you don’t have to do this. You can get up and leave at any moment we both know that. I’ll see you in nine months and we can further negotiate. Until then I’m sure the boy and your whore will be very happy. I’ll take very good care of them.”

“Let me do this and I’ll let them leave. A fighting chance you might say. She’ll have nine months to run and hide and have the little bastard then a lifetime to hide the child from me. It will be her only chance and his as well. Or leave and you can come back for the baby and the bitch will be dead and the boy will be my new bitch.”

“Ephraim, just go!” Madison pleaded. She didn’t know exactly what Caroline had in mind, but she knew it wasn’t good. He had to go. He had to. She wanted him safe and away from here and she never wanted to see that look of raw panic on his face again.

“Don’t you dare leave Madison here, you son of a bitch! I don’t care if you were using her or not, don’t leave her here!” Chris yelled.

Ephraim stared a moment longer before standing up. His face was white as a sheet. “I’m sorry,” he whispered.

“You son of a bitch!” Chris screamed.

“I knew you wouldn’t do it,” Caroline said smugly. She didn’t seem upset at all. In fact she seemed relieved. Her eyes darted to Madison for a quick second and it became obvious. She was jealous and worried that Ephraim cared about her. Well, she just got her answer. Madison wanted to cry for herself, but she loved him too much even if he didn’t love her she needed him to leave.

Chris’ grip tightened around her. “It’s okay, Madison. I’ll take care of you.”

Ephraim turned around and stepped up to Caroline. He gripped the bottom of his shirt and tugged it over his head, throwing it to the floor. Then he pulled off the cross necklace before she asked him. “If I were you I would make it last because the very second I escape you’re dust.” He reached up and clasped a cuff around his wrist. It closed with a sickening "clink." He held up his other wrist and looked at Caroline. “You may do the honors.”

With a smile Caroline did just that.

Chapter 23

“Please stop!” Madison cried. She tried to pull free from her chains and go to him, but they wouldn’t give. Chris grabbed her and pulled her back.

“Oh, don’t worry, dear, he can’t die.” With a tilt of her head she considered Ephraim. “I believe I could do this forever.”

Ephraim stood erect looking ahead and seeing nothing. He didn’t react. That was one thing he stopped giving to Nichols years ago, a reaction. The bastard might have had his fun with torturing him, but he never gave him the satisfaction of a response after the first five years. He would do the same with this bitch no matter how much it hurt.