CREWE'S POINT OF VIEW
Her rage always impressed me. It could intimidate even the most dangerous men. In many ways, she reminded me of my prisoner—her zero tolerance for nonsense. Ariel did her job efficiently and never allowed any obstacle to stop her. The fact that she could stand her ground against a man and win had won my respect. When I saw her face down five ruthless men, I offered her a position immediately.
"What did you do, Crewe? Joseph spat in our faces trying to scam us, and that's your retaliation? Is that how we handle problems now?"
"Enough."
I raised a hand to silence her. Ariel was one of the few people who could tell me I was making a mistake. But she did not have the right to insult me.
"When Bones pulled out a chain and a collar, I changed my mind. I knew what he was about to do and I couldn't accept it. I'm not soft, alright? Keeping him captive is punishment enough. Joseph will know exactly what I'm doing to him every night. And it will give him nightmares, believe me."
Ariel pressed her lips together, annoyed, but didn't argue further.
"You're in love with her or what?"
"Absolutely not."
I found her intelligent and entertaining, nothing more. She was a spoiled girl who thought she could do whatever she wanted. She was just a pretty girl with a beautiful body—nothing more.
Ariel narrowed her eyes, as if reading my expression.
"You slept with her?"
It was not in my nature to lie. I sometimes bent the truth, but when a question was that direct, there was no escape. I didn't answer—which was as good as admitting it.
She hid her frustration.
"If you want to sleep with your prisoner, I don't care. But don't let it become anything more."
"That won't happen."
"Clearly it already has, since it made you change your mind about Bones. You're one of the toughest men I've ever met. I've never seen you back down from punishment. Don't change. I respect your coldness, and I don't want it to disappear."
"It won't. Don't worry."
Ariel finally dropped it.
"So what are you going to do with her?"
"I already told you."
"When you're not parading her around like your slave?"
"She'll be under my personal control."
Talking about my private life with Ariel didn't bother me. She felt like another man in that sense—someone who understood my needs without judgment.
"It will be punishment enough."
"I thought you already slept with her?"
"She seduced me to manipulate me so I wouldn't hand her over to Bones."
Ariel looked at me coldly.
"But it didn't work. I changed my mind for my own reasons. Sex had nothing to do with it."
"You expect me to believe that?"
"Yes—if you want to keep your job."
She rolled her eyes and stood up.
"This place would fall apart without me, and you know it."
She walked toward the door with graceful steps. She was beautiful, but had a tomboy edge.
I smiled when she turned her back.
"No, it wouldn't. Finley could replace you."
She laughed and turned back.
"What would he do? Cook problems to solve them?"
I shrugged.
"He'd cook people. I've seen him do it."
She left still laughing.
"I should improve my game. I'm about to be replaced."
---
London spent most of her time outside. She walked around the island with binoculars, exploring the surroundings, observing wildlife and plants native to the Shetland Islands. Even on the coldest days, she stayed outside all afternoon. She only stayed indoors when it rained.
I was busy with work and paid little attention to her. Sometimes her sarcastic remarks annoyed me. Even after a month of captivity, she still hadn't accepted her situation. She still clung to the ridiculous idea that she would escape one day.
I had hoped she would have given up by now. But breaking her proved to be a real challenge.
So be it. I liked challenges.
I was sitting in the living room reading a book, the fire crackling in the fireplace. A television was mounted on the old stone wall, but I rarely turned it on. TV bored me. A story told too quickly lost its depth. But with a book, there was never an end.
London announced herself with light footsteps. She sat on the opposite sofa, wearing black leggings and a pink sweater. Dunbar brought her clothes during his trips to the island, and he chose outfits that fit her perfectly. Her hair was tied in a ponytail.
I kept my book open.
"Can I help you?"
"Am I not allowed to sit here?" she teased. "I thought I could move freely around the house."
Every time she spoke like that, I wanted to slap her—then lose control in a different way. Something about her provoked me intensely. Usually, disobedience meant death in my world. I needed control at all times—but with her, losing it only made my attraction stronger.
"Shut your mouth before I make you quiet."
It wasn't an empty threat.
She glared but said nothing.
I returned to my book, pretending she wasn't there despite my rising tension. I liked sex, but I wasn't obsessed with women. They came and went. It took a lot to hold my attention. At thirty-one, it had never happened before.
But London was changing that.
"I've never seen you drink anything other than whiskey and coffee," she said.
"Because everything else tastes like garbage."
"Even water?"
"Like piss."
"Do you like wine?"
I closed my book. This wasn't going to end quickly.
"What's with all the questions, sweetheart?"
Her face flushed slightly, but she didn't protest.
"I haven't spoken to anyone in days. I'm bored. I feel lonely."
"If you're lonely, I can fix that."
She understood exactly what I meant.
"I'll pass."
"You seemed to enjoy it last time."
"I was pretending."
A dry laugh left me.
"Sure."
"It's true."
"Your mouth can lie, but your body can't. I made you feel it—and you know it."
She flushed but didn't deny it again.
"And I can do it again…"
I took a sip of whiskey.
"No thanks."
She crossed her arms and looked away.
Silence followed.
I poured her a glass of whiskey and placed it in front of her.
"Try it."
She drank. No grimace. No struggle. She set the glass down halfway empty.
"Not bad."
"Not bad? It's the smoothest whiskey you'll ever taste."
"Are you a drinker?"
"Something like that."
The fire crackled.
"If you were home right now, what would you be doing?"
"I'd probably be studying. People are probably looking for me. It's only a matter of time before the police or Joseph find this place."
I almost felt sorry breaking her hope.
"Good luck to them."
My voice made her hesitate.
"They'll never find me, will they?"
"Let's just say I'd be surprised if they did."
I was untraceable.
After a month… she began to understand.
"It's been four weeks… I thought Joseph would come for me.
A part of me considered telling her the truththat I had threatened him never to try. But I didn't. Hopelessness would make her easier to control.
"You'll build your life here, sweetheart."
"Easy for you to say…"
Then she asked the question:
"How would you feel if I kidnapped you and forced you to live with me?"
I smiled.
I think I'd enjoy it.
She sighed.
Do you ever think about anything other than sex?
"When I'm with you, no."
I moved closer, my hand resting behind her on the sofa. She tensed.
My hand brushed her thigh.
I leaned in, my voice low near her ear.
I don't think about anything else.