Wicked Ways (Dark Hearts Book 1) Read Online Free PDF Page B

man he was.
    Cheek stinging, I nodded. The drive of lust was there but I was also torn up by anger and sadness, and I wished I could figure out how to spit.
    “More. Say thank you, Reuben.”
    After five or six seconds, I ground out the words. “Thank you...Reuben.”
    “Well. Well.” He shoved his fingers in again, to very deepest, his mouth twisting when I winced. “That was hard for her to say, Dirke. This one’s feistier than most. I think...I think I’m going to have fun with you.” He smirked. “You’re...interesting.”
    It seemed my mind was open to him, but not completely. If so, maybe I could hide my true self? I must wait until I worked this out, then I could get justice for what he had done to me. And justice also for what he was about to do, because right now, I didn’t have the faintest idea how I was going to shake myself free.
    Until that time came, I would have to endure his perversions.

Chapter 7
    “Never have I dealt with anything more difficult than my own soul.” - Al-Ghazali
     
    Zorie
     
    Dirke drove straight to his house and I caught sight of the street name as well as the number: 323 Aberjule Close.
    Now I knew. I tucked away the knowledge, praying I’d get to use it to prosecute his ass...have him killed or wiped off the face of the earth.
    The house was a modern complex of irregular rooflines – white paint, plus stonework and steel – impressive and surely in the quadruple millions in value. The garage doors unfolded and shut with the purr of a well-made mechanism. Lights flickered on. The man was rich, far more than I was, and I’d managed to build a small portfolio of rental properties since my parents had died. Lecturing alone would never have brought me this far.
    Had he earned his by honest means?
    Reuben came around to my door and opened it. “I can see you’re thinking too much. I’ll answer some of your questions. Come.”
    He walked away, expecting me to follow and I did. Resisting every command would exhaust me.
    “You arranged for breakfast, Dirke?”
    In the middle of opening the door leading from the garage, the driver nodded, eyeing me as he did so. “Yes, sir. For all four of us. Texted him while you were in the police station.” His smile was flat and assessing, and I knew, sickeningly, he was imagining doing things to me. I needed to run, now. And couldn’t.
    “Madoc was curious about your new acquisition, sir.”
    New acquisition? That clinched it. He did this regularly. What happened to the women after he was done with them? How could I not fear when there were so many uncertainties?
    “Was he? Dirty bastard. And I didn’t even have her then.” With his hand between my shoulder blades, Reuben guided me through the door. “Shoes off, Zorie. You’re barefoot from now on.”
    “We both had no doubt you’d get her.”
    Fuck. They were discussing me like I was meat, an object, a thing . Every molecule in my body was cringing and I could do nothing. I took off my shoes and left them beside the door, then followed the two men.
    The dining area was as spacious and light as the rest of the house. High ceilings, ivory and light gray walls. Immaculate. Everywhere was modern and perfectly clean with neat accents of black and stainless steel. A large chandelier, above the long table, resembled a weird, shiny kraken welded from discarded steel. It was scary and no doubt worth a heap of cash, with tentacles that might reach down and grab you while you ate.
    “Like my Kraken?” Reuben gestured. “He’s got so many ways to hold his victims still.” He winked.
    A second later, I swallowed and looked away.
    Where had this man come from? Was he born with this...ability to control? I had to find out how he did it.
    The dining chairs were rectangular lines, steel, and perfect black leather. After Reuben and Dirke pulled out chairs, the first at the head of the table to my right, and the second opposite where I stood, I hesitantly placed my hands on the back of the