She shakes her head like it can’t be true, but I see the realization buried in her eyes. She knows what I’m saying is true.
“He’s still a better man than you will ever be!” she yells at me like it’s an insult.
I smile. “You’re probably right. He is a better man than I will ever be. It doesn’t change the fact that I saved you, not him.”
She folds her arms across her chest, and I see the shaking in her legs. She’s trying to act strong, but she’s fading fast. Matteo did a good job of taking care of her. Almost too good of a job. He let her get weak instead of building her stronger.
“You didn’t save me.”
“Why do you think I fucked you?”
“You didn’t fuck me. You raped me!”
“I raped you to save you from my father. He wouldn’t have stopped until you were dead. He hates you more than he hates most of the slaves.”
“Why does he hate me so much?”
“It doesn’t matter. What matters is that I did the only thing that would get you out of there. I pretended to be just like him.”
“You are just like him.”
I sigh. “You’re right; I am. But you’re alive because of me, not Matteo.”
“I still hate you,” she whispers.
“I know. You should hate me. But you should also hate Matteo.”
She narrows her eyes, not following my logic.
“I didn’t force you to suck my dick. Matteo did. He’s not your friend any more than I am. If you hate me, you should hate him, too.”
She smirks. “What makes you think I’ve ever felt anything more than hate toward him?”
I step closer to her until I’m towering over her, letting her know that, as much as she was in control when she was sucking my dick, I’m in control now.
“Because you kissed him and sucked me. You think of him as a possible lover and me as your owner. Don’t let anyone play with your mind, Nina. Not him. Not my family. Not even me.”
I want to kiss her. I want to fuck her. I want to protect her. But I can’t.
If she wants out of the contract she signed, then she has to do it herself. I have to stick to my plan. I have to save myself.
22
Nina
I made a mistake.
I thought Arlo or Matteo cared about me.
I thought I was the one in control and playing games. But Arlo’s words have made me realize what a mistake that was. I have no control. And, as far as games go, they are the ones who are playing games.
I just don’t understand why. Or even what game they are playing.
Why aren’t they all treating me like a slave? Why aren’t they fucking me whenever they want? Beating me like their father did?
I don’t understand any of it.
Arlo might be done talking, but Matteo isn’t.