Page 67 of A Deal in Darkness
I tip my head and try to soften my expression, hoping she'll stop before I lose my shit.
“Is my boss one of your minions, too? Is that why she used magic or crap around me today?”
“Adi, I never sent...”
“Don't fucking lie, Lorenzo. I'm so done with being treated like an idiot. I felt her use it. It was creepy, really fucking creepy. Like that time at the river when you screwed me over.”
I know the day and the spell she's referring to. Petrificus is an unusual spell but not a difficult one and if someone's using it around Adriana, then I want to know why the fuck they're messing with my girl.
“Adriana, I didn’t send anyone to work in your office. As far as I know, Emily's human. I swear, baby, I had nothing to do with this, but it's important that I know. Do you want to hear what I say to Byron?”
She arches her eyebrow, crosses her arms and huffs.
I call the demon, taking a chance that this won't make her feel even worse.
“You're on speaker,” I snarl. “Adriana thinks her boss was using magic around her. It sounds like Petrificus, but I got fuck all read on Emily when I met her. I need you to look into her, Byron. Figure it out. Quickly.”
He growls. “I checked the employee list before she started, Enzo. It looked safe and no one flagged on any list I've access to. Do you think this is part of something bigger?”
“Maybe,” I reply before he says anything else. “Just look into it and do whatever it takes to keep her safe.”
“On it. Anything else you want to add to my growing task list?”
“Get it done, Byron. I'll consider rewarding you when it's over.”
I hang up and Adriana tosses her long blond hair.
“That doesn’t prove anything.”
I’m going to have to spank her if she doesn’t stop behaving like a goddamn brat. It’ll bring her back into line, but more importantly, it’ll give me the release I need. She’s winding me up and it won’t take much more before I snap. I’m close and it’s vexing.
Adriana huffs and returns to pushing her pasta around her plate.
“Why me?”
“Because you’re special, Adi. I’d have done anything to have you. I wanted you and now I have you, and you can have whatever you want in return.”
“Except a choice.”
I smile. “Choice is overrated. It’s an illusion. You don’t have a choice within my presence, but outside of it, you can have anything and everything you want, baby.”
Her mouth twitches, and she finds her center. My girl’s temper is cooling and although she’s hurt, she’s swayed by the promise of what I can offer. Adriana likes the idea of having options, and I think I can let her have some choice within what I’ll tolerate.
“You can have a choice tonight.”
Adriana’s eyes flick up to mine and those innocent, pale blue irises flood with hope and excitement. This could be a fun game for us to play—one that gives us both a thrill and makes her a more compliant submissive.
“I can?” Her voice trembles, wondering what the catch is.
“If you want it, baby. We can add in choices if that turns you on.”
She blushes and her lips part. Adriana loves the idea and I enjoy watching a submissive caught in a predicament. It’s a different kind of agony to pain, but it fuels my desire just as much.
“What do you want, Enzo?” She swallows. “In return?”
“Nothing,” I reply. “We’re going to do something new tonight and you can pick between two things, sweet girl. Daddy’s either going to fuck that tight little ass of yours or he’s going to tie you up and flog you.”
She crosses her legs and shifts her weight as she shrieks.
