Page 23 of The Fixer

His dark, sinister laughter had my hackles rising at the foreboding sound. “Howard is dead, darling. He’s currently hanging around Alaska, feeding the wildlife. He’d be a shit choice for them now. As for Spencer, he’s not an awful choice, no. They’d never choose him. He’s reckless. The GOP would need to muzzle and leash him in order to control his temper.”

“And that’s something they’d be unwilling to do,” I sighed heavily.

“Not necessarily, Chevelle. People are simple to control when you hold the ones they love most out of their reach. Men like Spencer would fall on their own sword to keep their family protected from men seeking to hurt them if he stepped out of line.” Truth. My stare lifted to Raithe’s, and a vise gripped my heart, twisting it. “He’s too good to be president. Spencer is a man who’d break his binds and bring the entire country down with him.”

“Then Seth Ramsay’s their choice?”

“No,” he whispered with an edge in his reply which caught my attention. He was lying, which meant I had both candidates and all I’d had to do was tarnish my dignity a bit.

Reaching for the evening gown, I slipped it on before turning to peer at Elias. His eyes glittered as much as the rose-gold dress I’d selected to dress in for the pretend party we’d be leaving for. Smiling at the way he looked at me as if I was worth something, I stepped closer to the camera.

“It’s been a pleasure, D’yavol. Unfortunately, I’m late to a party. Pity you won’t be there to pin me against the wall, and fuck me like I’m your world. I hope to see you soon?” I asked with genuine interests.

“It is my hope as well, love. But I fear I won’t be available for a few weeks. Someone who thought to take my crown murdered my sister. I intend to hunt him down and cut him into a thousand pieces before I send him home to the motherland. His family will follow him until his name is only a ghost story.” Fact. A shiver shot down my spine as I chewed my lip.

“I am so sorry for your loss, Elias. Catch him, and make him regret ever crossing the devil,” I replied with sorrow pinching my features. It was another reason I wouldn’t ever actually consider becoming his wife. In his world, they were always collateral damage. “???????, ???? ?????? ??????? ?????, ??????,” I offered with conviction, meaning it.

“Me too, precious girl. Enjoy the party, but not too much. I don’t like the idea of my future wife tasting too much pleasure before she lies beneath me.” He smirked before ending the call without another word.

Turning toward the others, I smiled with victory shining in my eyes. “We know our targets. Now the actual work begins,” I announced. “Mikel Hamilton’s the democrat nomination and Seth Ramsay’s the republicans. I want you to find every speck of dirt you can on them. I want to know the smallest detail, even if you don’t think it’s worth looking at twice. We leave no stone unturned while we scour for anything on them.” Crossing my arms over my chest to hide the nervousness I felt from the stare Raithe was still directing at me. “Let’s go people.”

“A moment, Miss Reed?” Raithe asked in a tone belaying none of the animosity I felt rolling off of him. Nodding nervously, I followed behind him until we were in the hallway alone. The moment he spun around, he pushed against the wall with his hand cradling my throat threateningly. “You’ll not do anything like that again.”

“You don’t own me, Mr. Dravyn!” I snapped vehemently. “I am merely your employee now, and if you threaten me, my team, or those I love . . . I’ll bring down the wrath of hell on your entirely too handsome head. I am not a pet you can own, or play with when it suites you. I am a woman who will use what the gods gave me in any fucking manner I deem fit. You and men like you think women are weak, feeble beings but the truth is, we’re not. We are stronger, smarter, and more evil than a man could ever become when pissed the fuck off. You’ll treat me with respect, and you won’t criticize me for using my assets when the need arises foryourbenefit.” My chest heaved as anger radiated through me. His shimmering stare lowered to my lips briefly before lifting back to lock with mine.

“I own you, Elle. Keep this in mind the next time you think to allow anyone to see your lithe body in such a manner. I will cut their fucking eyes out of their skull so you’ll be the last thing they ever see. You aren’t fucking around with some little boy who doesn’t know how to handle you. I know how to keep you in line. Don’t make me your villain because I’m fucking good at it.” His hold on my throat tightened until the air reached my lungs no more. “Be careful how you speak to me in the future. I’ll consider it foreplay and fuck those lovely lips of yours.”

“I don’t intend to fuck you, Raithe.”

“Keep telling yourself that, little lamb. Right now, your pupils are blown, and your back is arched inviting me to bend you over and fuck you into submission. That’s lust churning through your system. The anger churning through your mind is only fueling it into a dangerous combination of chaotic desire. I’m not immune to the scent of your needy pussy. Right now, it’s currently begging me to stretch it until it fucking aches from being fucked open until it knows who it longs to be abused by. If I were to slip my hand between your lovely, curved thighs, I’d find it soaking wet and welcoming me to use it like the filthy little bitch you really are.” I sucked in air as he released his hold on my throat and stepped back as the others rounded the corner.

“You think you’re untouchable?”

“I know I am,” he shot back with a look of pure challenge simmering in his gaze. “I’d be careful threatening me, Miss Reed. The last woman who thought to try my patients ended up locked in a tomb of her own design. You wouldn’t get that lucky. I’ve no mercy for those who think to threaten, challenge, or turn against me. I’ve allowed no one to go unpunished for any of them, and you’ll not be the exception. Keep in mind the next time you think to throw signals to your team about our arrangement. If you do it again, I’ll end them and chain you up like a pretty pet. I won’t warn you again. I’d get some sleep. You’re looking pale today, little lamb.”

My heartbeat was thundering against my ribcage as I seethed with the need to slap the smug look of masculine amusement from his aristocratic, too handsome face. Raithe turned on his heel before I could do what I wanted to, and left me standing in the middle of his palace, both turned on and terrified.

“Chevelle?” Rory asked as she rounded the corner, staring at my shaken appearance. “Is everything alright? Did he hurt you?”

“I’m fine, Rory. Everything is fine,” I lied fighting the tears swimming in my vision. “We have to win the presidency and then get as far away from Raithe Dravyn as possible.”

If we didn’t escape him, we’d be causalities like all the others who’d displeased him. I would figure out how to get myself and my team out of this alive, even if it was the last thing I ever did. I’d sacrifice myself to save them if it’s what it took to get them out of this still breathing. I wasn’t a martyr, but I also wasn’t willing to lose them to the monster that held the keys to our cages. There was no question of if he was the monster they’d whispered about in the shadows of polite company. Raithe Dravyn was the epitome of evil and we were all at his mercy.

The End For Now