Tinted car

I became more nervous when the clock read five minutes to eight. Nero left as soon as he told me to find a driver outside. When I came out of the bathroom, I had been shaken, but I couldn’t bring myself to tell my uncle what had happened.

Would I have to sleep with Nero? Would he hit me during sex? Was BDSM sex more painful than it was pleasurable? And most of all, what was I willing to do to get to the truth?

When I found myself walking towards the exit, I knew the answer—anything. My brother deserved closure, and so did I. We needed to be known as the children of a couple that taught them how beautiful love was.

Not how ugly it could get.

“Where are you going?” Viktor asked as he blocked my way to the exit. Three minutes were left. I couldn’t afford to be late and make a man who had put a knife to my throat angry.

I was already shaken as it was, and alcohol had done nothing to ease my fear.

“Not now, Viktor,” I snapped as I pulled my hand from his grasp. I immediately felt bad for snapping at him when his only fault was asking me a simple question.

“You’re shaking. Is everything okay? You don’t seem okay, and I would love to help you if you let me.” He said softly, making me feel even more like a dick.

“I’m just tired. I’ll text you later tonight.” If I could walk after Nero was done with me.

“Are you sure?”

One minute.

“I’m sure. Have a lovely night, Viktor. It was nice to meet you.”

I walked away before he could say anything. I didn’t want to be late. When I went outside, a car pulled up to the curb. I immediately knew it was Nero’s car based on the tinted windows.

The backseat door opened, and I stepped in. There was no one else inside but the driver and me. He didn’t speak to me or even look at me. He locked the doors as soon as I was in, like I was going to try and run away.

This was the opportunity Lily told me I needed to have to figure out the truth. Getting close to Nero would be difficult, but it needed to be done. I just hoped I could handle sex with him.

We came to a halt in front of the most luxurious hotel in all of New York. My door automatically opened, and I took that as a sign to get out. As soon as I was out, the door closed and the car sped away.

“Ms. Serena, I was asked to give you this key card. The private elevator is this way.” A man said.

He had a smile on his face, but I could smell his fear. He led me to the private elevator, and I used the key card to get in. It opened into the penthouse suite at the very top of the floor. It had floor-to-ceiling windows, glass walls, and an infinity pool.

It must have been worth millions. It probably cost more than my inheritance.

“You’re late,” Nero said.

He was standing by the minibar with a glass of an amber liquid in his hand. The jacket of his suit was off, and his sleeves were rolled to his elbows. I could see a sleeve tribal tattoo on his left hand.

I couldn’t deny how hot it made him look. The other arm was devoid of any tattoos except for a few Roman numbers on his fingers. Those long and powerful fingers had black rings.

He had a mafia vibe to him. Even the penthouse had dark walls and black leather couches.

“I wasn’t—”

“Don’t lie to me, Serena. It’s distasteful.”

If it was so distasteful, why was I in his penthouse? Besides, I was only two minutes late. He had serious OCD if he took offense to that.

“I’m sorry,” I said to keep the peace.

“Insincerity is also distasteful.”

I couldn’t help but roll my eyes. He took an issue with everything, and it was honestly unbelievable.

He walked towards me with slow and deliberate steps that made me step back a little. I was afraid of what he would do. It dawned on me that he had asked me not to tell anyone where I was going.

Was he going to kill me?

When we were only inches apart, he grabbed my neck and pulled me close.

“That’s ten strikes with my belt on your ass. I don’t appreciate your attitude. Don’t roll your eyes at me, apologize sincerely, and when I tell you to be on time, don’t disappoint me.”

For some reason, the power in his voice had me nodding. And then I realized that he had promised to hit me on the ass with his belt.

Like a fucking child.

“I’m an adult. Why would you spank me?” I asked.

“I will forgive you this time because you don’t know me. I don’t like being questioned.” He said as he trailed his thumb up and down my neck.

He was running a strict programme like I was in summer camp, but the intensity in his eyes had me speechless. It was as though I had forgotten how to formulate any words. It must have been because of his commanding tone.

“Come,” he said as he let go of my neck and led me to the couch. “Sit.”

When I sat down, he sat down opposite me. Dominic appeared from nowhere and handed him some documents.

“Read the contract, and we can talk about it. You can either accept or decline if you want to be my property. Remember, if you decline, you have to explain to me what you were doing at my house last night.”