Page 19 of Master A-0011
My rage grew, shifting and changing to something new. Something…different and bigger than my own demons. I could fight mine. I killed those bastards. Who would fight hers? Pearl had no one. She was acrow. She wasn’t even entitled to revenge.
My voice lowered as I turned to Elec.
“I want the sister. I know better than to ask for that son of a bitch, Quincy, but Sissy…I need her.”
“How bad?”
“Name the price. I don’t care what it is. I’ll pay it.”
But the Main Master wasn’t looking at me anymore. His stare was on Pearl. He sat on the edge of the bed, not talking but studying her in an expression I’d never seen on him before. A good minute passed before he withdrew his phone and began flipping through screens. When he finally stopped, I lowered, narrowing my eyes to take in the lines holding multiple names. Some spaces were full. Some were empty. Most of the names I recognized.
Elec glanced up, the blue of his eyes so light that it sent my pulse racing. It was cold. Dead. More…it was determined. Hestood, walking us to the far end of the room and turning the screen to face me.
“I won’t lie. I had doubts about you. I’m still having doubts. You want to know my price? This is my price. We’ve talked about your future before. A long time ago. Where does this line go, Ethan? Who’s does it join? You’re getting older. You’re running out of time.”
My lips parted, and my gaze slowly went to Pearl.
“There we go. You see now. Mull it over. Let it simmer.” Elec’s mouth tugged back on the side as if he’d solved all of our problems. “If you can think of someone you’d like to marry, I may be able to deliver more than the sister. We can make it a family affair. Daddy will love that.”
“But you said she wasn’t elite anymore.”
“I lied. I had to see how far your feelings concerning her went.”
“You’ve been playing these mind games with me a lot lately.”
“They’re not games. You know I wouldn’t do that to you, Ethan. It only shows me what I need to know, and that’s important.”
“Are you sure you haven’t done more?”
“Define more.”
“Messed with my mind, Elec. Bent it to your will. Made me do things I can’t remember.”
“I don’t need to. I could, if you wanted.”
I saw his power. His truth and temptation. My jaw flexed. “Get back to Pearl. Are you saying she still has rank? She really is one of us.”
“Yes.”
“And you’d destroy what’s left of her line?”
“Do you object?”
“Hell no,” I half growled.
Elec smiled. “Both of your lines will be gone. Let’s begin fresh…Her and you. A new line worth more than either of yours alone.”
“As tempting as it is…you know I can’t.”
“You can.You don’t have a choice.”
He was right. I’d have to marry someone eventually. It was inevitable.
My fists clenched as I took in her terrified face. She was trying not to be afraid, but she was so worried I was sending her away.Even after what she saw and knew.And I did want Quincy. I wanted to hear him scream and beg his apologies to Pearl. I wanted him to pay so fucking much I couldn’t stop from licking my lips through the thought of his taste.
“I know you fear a repeat of your own past, but I can assure you that will not happen. I can make her into whatever you want, Ethan. I can promise you the perfect future. I can even make you want it more than anything.”
The conversation with the couple from the auction came flooding back. Elec was a master at manipulating people’s minds. He could make them believe whatever he wanted. Did I want that for Pearl? For myself? Would we turn into them? The Riveras?