“This offer expires before you leave here.” Devlin’s grin is smug. “So…ready to play a game, little thief?” He slinks closer, like a beast hunting me down for sport, drowning me in the rich, earthy scent of leather and spice. He wraps a lock of my hair around his finger while the smile dances on his lips, the dimples on display. “I’ll explain further. The rules are simple: my way is law.”
“That’s it?” I purse my lips to the side.
Things with Devlin are never simple. There are always layers, cruel pranks lurking beneath his punch line. I have a hard time believing what he’s offering is as straightforward as he puts it.
“It’s a one time bargain.” Devlin leans in to whisper against my ear—because what’s a ringmaster without the theatrics? “You might say it’s a real steal.”
Devlin’s deep voice tugs at something deep inside me, his hot breath coasting over my skin.
“Ugh.” I tug away from him, jerking my head. He releases me, still invading in my personal space. “Seriously, what’s the fine print? No way in hell will I agree to anything you want without knowing what a deal with the devil entails.”
Devlin chuckles, the sound low and raspy. “Smart. Too bad you don’t have any leverage or negotiating power. Your choices are limited to what I offer, or communal soap.”
“Just tell me.”
“The deal is this, little bug.” Devlin taps my nose. “You become mine.”
My breath catches in my throat as he goes on.
“Mine to command, to do anything I say, whenever I demand it.” Devlin cocks his head, hooding his eyes. “And I’ll pay you for it. If you behave and do as I say.”
How can I agree to that?! I’d have to be crazy! But…the money.
I have to swallow twice to dislodge the thickness clogging my throat. “Like your—your personal servant?”
“Like a well-trained,” Devlin flicks his eyes to my shirt and grimaces, “…dog. Even mutts can learn to obey their masters.”
Master. My stomach clenches and a cold prickle travels over my skin. Sweat beads on the back of my neck.
This is insane. I’m actually considering his offer. I have to, don’t I? I’m once again left with few options.
Devlin’s right, unfortunately. He threw it right in my face.
It’s jail time for me if I refuse him.
I can’t do that to Mom.
For whatever sick reason, he wants to give me this out. The notice letter burns in my back pocket. Debts chained to us by Dad will bury Mom and I, but this could be our way to dig out of the endless sandpit. Damn it, we need the money.
What’s worse, a jail sentence or becoming the devil’s toy?
My pride screams at me. Years of bullying at his hand in school flickers like a movie reel in my mind. It goes against everything in me to bow to his rule.
Last year my life was easier at school. My friend Gemma was the new girl, unafraid to stand up to people’s crap. She’s in college now, so things have gone back to the way they’ve been since I started at Silver Lake High School, the pack of vultures led by Devlin himself to pick at my pride until there’s nothing left but scraps.
Agreeing to this will undermine the efforts I go to in order to rise above his petty bullshit.
For Mom… You can do it as long as it helps Mom.
“I want it in writing,” I breathe, barely recognizing my strained voice.
He hums, covering his mouth. It’s even harder to guess his thoughts with only half of his face visible. “Why?”
“You didn’t record this conversation on your phone. Verbal agreements are paper thin. You could just turn around and decide you want to fuck me over anyway.” I wet my lips and will the words out. “Put it in writing and I’ll sign it. I’ll—” My voice gets stuck in my burning throat. “I’ll…become yours. For payment.”
Devlin considers me for a long minute, tracing an absent pattern over his lips. He steps back, giving me room to breathe.
“Clever girl,” he mutters as he rummages in the drawers, coming up empty. He grabs a magazine from the middle of the island and tears out a page. “Fine. Is there a pen in your thief kit?”
“Yes. You’ll need to untie me so I can sign.”
On the outside I’m collected, confident, and calm. Inside I’m a mess, a storm of wounded pride and hungry desperation. Survival above all else. It’ll be worth it.
Devlin rifles through my pouch and bends over the torn paper to write out the terms of our agreement. After he signs it with a flourish, he frees one of my hands.
“Still tied up here,” I point out, shaking my wrist out and flexing it.
“Just how I like you, troublemaker.” Devlin slaps the pen down on the contract and slides it in front of me. “Sign it and I’ll let you go. Of course, if you’ve taken to being tied up, we can leave you like that. You make an excellent addition to the kitchen decor.”
The corners of my mouth turn down. Dickhead.
My hand is clammy as I hold the pen. It slips a little and I adjust my grip.
The wording is simple. The ripped magazine page states precisely what Devlin said.
Blair Davis agrees to complete any order set by Devlin Murphy in exchange for monetary payment.
There’s no end date specified. I’ll endure it, even if it’s forever. The chance to clear the crushing debts Mom and I carry is too valuable. My life and pride are small prices to pay.
Inhaling quietly, I sign myself over to the devil.
Five
Devlin
Once she signs her name on the contract she insisted on, I dig my fingers into the knotted cord on her other wrist, freeing her.
The heat of success coils deep in my gut as I skim over our impromptu contract, her name written neatly with no frills beside mine.
Oh, sticky fingers. You have no idea what you’ve signed up for.
I stick my tongue into my cheek. My head is already overflowing with ideas to humiliate her. I’ll teach her lesson after lesson. Not only will she regret the day she set her sights on taking what’s mine, she’ll learn to fear the monster I keep chained up inside me.
I'll be her own personal nightmare and her salvation all at once. A heady mix of power put in my hands.
The thought of making her dance to my own twisted tune fills me with so much satisfaction I go a little lightheaded from the rush.
Blair slides off the stool, rubbing her wrists. There are pink marks on her skin that will fade by morning. The cord wasn’t tied tight enough to leave a lasting mark.
I should do something to mark her.
That craving gets put on hold for the time being. I need time to plan out the commands I want to give her.
Blair makes quick work of the cord, undoing it from the stool. She skirts around me to snatch up her zipper pouch. Once it’s reattached to her belt, she runs her fingers through her sleek hair.
We’re at an impasse. The terms of the contract are in place, but the mood of her intrusion and my efforts to thwart it hangs between us. We’re not friends—quite the opposite.
Instead of reclaiming firm control once more, I let the moment stretch, curious what she’ll do. Hell, she’s fast enough, I wouldn’t put it past her to snatch the closest thing she can and make a mad dash for the door. If it comes to that, I’m fast as fuck, too. I’ll catch her again.