Page 23 of Master A-0011

“Master, before you begin.”

“If this is another apology, Pearl, save it. You have nothing to apologize for.”

I slowed just as I approached the sofa he pointed to.

“I think I know what this is about. I won’t apologize. I warned you. I knew it would come to this, and I understand.”

Ethan lowered to the sofa waiting for me to sit.

“I’m not following. I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

My fingers interlaced as I sat straight on the edge of the beige leather sofa, not a cushion away from him.

“What happened between us. I knew you’d regret it, and that’s okay. Just please don’t send me away or give me to someone else because of it. If it makes you uncomfortable to see me, you don’t have to keep leaving. I spent years in a cell a little smaller than the bedroom. I can stay back there while you have your space up here. I don’t mind.”

“You think I regret what happened?”

My lips parted as I took in his sincere confusion.

“You’re gone a lot. You don’t talk to me. I assumed?—”

“You have to stop doing that.”

“But something’s wrong. You’re…different. You went from.” I paused. “Intense to dismissive. Are you giving me to someone else? Is that why the Main Master was here?”

Ethan’s knees turned more in my direction. He was wearing a pair of dark denim jeans and a shirt a shade darker than the green of his eyes. To say he was dreamy was an understatement. Especially with whatever dilemma was causing him to run his fingers through his dark hair.

“Pearl, I know who you are.”

Again, my mouth parted, but words were hard to come by at the unexpected statement.

“I told you who I was.”

“No, that’s not what I mean. I knowwhoyou are. I know your father is Quincy Mallory. I know he married a bitch of a womanname Vicki Fonteau. She has a daughter named Susan. They call her Sissy. She’s your stepsister.”

Was I standing? I barely recalled shooting to my feet.

“How do you know that?”

“Pearl, sit down. It’s okay.”

My fingers were back to twisting. Back to wringing as I clung to the pale-yellow dress I wore.

“Don’t mention their names again. I don’t want to hear about them. I don’t want tothinkabout them. They’re not here, are they?They’re not coming for me.”

It wasn’t a question. More a statement as I tried to get myself to sit. I couldn’t.

“Calm. They’re not here. Not yet.”

Yet? Pounding erupted in my ears, a wish-wash thumping that I couldn’t hear past. I cleared my throat, turning my head and closing my eyes as I tried to swallow the sickness that had me wanting to gag. Pressure gripped my arm in a soft hold, and I opened my lips, gasping as I realized I had forgotten to breathe. I was shaking. I was more than angry. A mix of heartbreak and rage blew up like a bomb in my chest, rattling my insides like a live grenade. More explosions. More panic and gasps.

“Pearl, look at me.Pearl.”

My eyes lifted, taking in a blurry Ethan as he stepped closer. The tears wouldn’t be contained, and I didn’t even try to stop them. It was an impossible task as my past slapped me across the face. It was a past I couldn’t bear to think about. None of them. I never wanted to think of who I was back then ever again. I couldn’t. The pain. The hurt. The screams.The grew louder in the distance with every breath.

“Jesus, I’m going to enjoy what’s coming. Let’s not worry about them now. Keep looking at me.” His hands cupped my face, and he kept his stare level with mine. “They hurt you. Theywon’t ever again. No one is going to hurt you anymore, okay? Not them. Not some fucking chef.”

“What about you?”