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All Of My Cages Are Mental
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2024-03-29 01:45:22Related chapters
The Deal With The Devil In Your Arms
SiennaIt's so quiet here, it's almost strange. If I stop to listen, it's a sound itself, that silence. And it somehow calms me. Makes things almost manageable when I concentrate on it and that's what I do. I sleep. I listen. I sleep.And the next day when I wake up, I leave another message for Deirdre telling her I don't feel well and it's not a lie. I tell her I won't be in for the next few days and just to close the shop and leave a note in the window.By the time I have a shower the next night, he's still not back.I lock the bathroom door and strip off my clothes then turn my back to the mirror and look at myself. Look at the damage.My butt and upper thighs are bruised, the welts of the belt distinct and tender to the touch. I don't know how many strokes he gave me. I stopped counting after ten.I switch on the shower and I don't know if I'm weak from hunger or just sadness. It's hard to even move, to get myself under the flow of water. All I want to do is sleep. I just want to
Last Updated : 2024-03-29The Deal With The Devil Standing On Business
GiovanniI tracked down the asshole from the other night. I had to fly across the country to fucking Dover, New Hampshire, but I found him.I look down at Sienna. She's a mess. Her hair is a giant tangle around her head, she's wearing the same dress she had on the day I left. When I put my hand against her belly, it's concave. Empty.She hasn't eaten more than a few bites from a few trays. The maid said she wouldn't let her into the bedroom. I could tell when I brought her in here. The bed was unmade, the comforter a heap at the center of it. The glass walls blacked out.And here she lies, sleeping. Peaceful when I look at her face with her eyes closed, slightly sunken now. Her thick lashes flutter and she mumbles something, then settles back into sleep.Her color is paler than usual, but it makes her lips look almost redder for it. Snow White in her glass coffin. Cursed. Sleeping until true love's kiss wakes her. Or is that the other one? Sleeping Beauty? I don't fucking know.I lay
Last Updated : 2024-03-29The Deal With The Devil Under His Protection
Giovanni "When I turned seventeen, I left. That's all," she says, completely avoiding my question. "I was old enough to take care of myself, and I did. I came to Las Vegas and I met Mrs. Adams who owned Wrinkles in Time and worked for her until she died. She left me the shop and I'm continuing her work. And her kids wish they could evict me and make real money on the building, but they weren't able to contest the will. That's about it in a nutshell.""And you donate about fifty percent of your profits to the homeless shelter a few blocks away. That's the reason you have the low rent agreement Mrs. Adams' greedy kids aren't thrilled about.""How did you know?""I heard the woman at the shop the other day and was curious, so I looked into it.""Looked into it? Why didn't you just ask me?""You're not so forthcoming, Sienna."She looks around again, then cocks her head to the side. "You don't have any photographs of family either, by the way," she says.I remember when she found the one
Last Updated : 2024-03-29The Deal With The Devil Pieces Of The Past
GiovanniThe next three days pass peacefully enough with Sienna accepting a ride to work and back. I've become obsessed with finding the password on the flash drive. Of locating anyone who had anything to do with those videos, including Sean Williams, who seems to have disappeared off the face of the earth.If she's realized the drive is missing, she hasn't said anything.She's settling in a little better. Maybe it was our conversation from the night before. I don't know, but she seems at least a little more at ease. She's still secretive, but knowing what I know, it makes sense she would be.I'm looking at her on the monitor in my office when the man who's been checking on her house brings me the stack of her mail. She's up at the pool on the rooftop.I intend to just hand it to her. Most of it is junk anyway. But as I absently flip through, something catches my eye.It's the envelope addressed to Little Bitch Whore.My eyes narrow.It's not stamped so it was hand-delivered.I lean b
Last Updated : 2024-03-29The Deal With The Devil Guardian Angel
SiennaI'm dozing when Giovanni's shadow falls over me."You're burnt," he says.He's like a giant, blocking out the whole of the sun."You need to put on sunscreen. Where's your sunscreen?" He crouches down to look through the straw bag I brought to the pool with me."Relax," I say, sitting up, straddling the seat. "It's here. And I did put it on." I find the tube of sunscreen under my towel and look down at my chest and he's right, I did burn. But it's not bad.He sits on the edge of the chaise and takes the tube, squeezes some on his hand and starts to rub it into my chest. He's been like this since he got back. Attentive. Sometimes overly so.And always watching me."Giovanni, stop. It's fine. It's not bad and I'm going inside anyway." I stay his hand, but he seems anxious. And I realize how totally out of place he looks up here in his suit while people are splashing around in the pool. Pop music is playing probably louder than he likes."I hate this fucking music," he says as if
Last Updated : 2024-03-29The Deal With The Devil The Arduous Trip Homeward
SiennaWe're packed, flight booked and at the airport in record time.All he's said about his father is that he was buried yesterday. After that, he took a call which I assume was a secretary telling him she'd confirmed our flights and told me I had twenty minutes.Twenty minutes to shower and pack and leave for Scotland.And somehow, here I am, wet hair in a clip on top of my head, wearing jeans, a long-sleeved T-shirt and the only sweater I have.Giovanni went into my tote to get my passport earlier, which makes me wonder how he knew it was in there at all, but I don't ask him. He's too distracted. Shocked maybe by the news.He's wearing jeans and a thin, charcoal, V-neck sweater with a sport coat. It's probably the most casual I've seen him."Flight leaves in fifteen minutes. They're holding it for you," Axel says as soon as we pull up along the curb at the airport.Giovanni is out and walking to my side with a leather duffel slung over his shoulder. There's a long line at the coun
Last Updated : 2024-04-01The Deal With The Devil No Brother's Keeper
SiennaGiovanni's hands are tight on the steering wheel. We bump along the road and after climbing one of the steepest hills, I see a lone structure in the distance. It's ten more minutes until we reach the long stone bridge that connects what appears to be an island, upon which the Adams house is situated, to the mainland.And I'm in awe."This is your...house?"He only nods once and when I glance at him, I see how his brows are knitted together.House.This house takes my breath away. It's not a house at all, but a fortress or castle, even. It must be hundreds of years old with stone walls that match the current color of the dark sky. And as we drive over the bridge, I wonder if we should, it's so old.I glance at Giovanni again and I see him differently. In Las Vegas, he's big. He's brutal. He's in command.Here, he's all of those things, but he's a Highlander first. Born and bred here. It's obvious now. Rough and rugged and fierce, but different.Less sophisticated, less polished.
Last Updated : 2024-04-01The Deal With The Devil The Curse Of The First-Born Son
GiovanniSienna is taking in every aspect of the house as I lead her through it. Her mouth is practically hanging open, but she doesn't realize she's seeing it at its worst.It's strange to come back to the house in this state. I knew what I was doing over the last several years, but to see it in person is more difficult than I realized it would be. It's run-down and old. Something that was once grand, reduced. Humbled.I guess that's what I was trying to do to them. To my father. My step-mother. Declan.I shove that pang of remorse down deep and lead Sienna up the stone steps to the second floor and to my father's rooms.Two maids are rushing in and out, carrying his things out.I push the heavy wooden door wide and gesture for Sienna to enter. She does, quickly scooting to the side to let another of the maids with an armful of clothing out.I don't recognize the things she's carrying but know they're my fathers from the colors alone. Our colors. Strange the things you never forget.
Last Updated : 2024-04-01
Latest chapter
The Deal With The Devil Epilogue
StefanSpring, One Year Later* * *She never did sign those annulment papers. My stubborn, beautiful wife.I stood drinking coffee at the kitchen window, watching Veronica talk to one of the workers. Charlie, full grown and weighing eighty pounds, never left her side.We'd come back to Tuscany a few days after the bank took possession of the house in Philadelphia. Robyn had come with us and would be starting her final year at a school in Florence geared toward gifted musicians.Thanks to their grandfather's greed, Veronica and Robyn had lost everything. Guardia Winery no longer existed, except as an example of corruption and destruction.Robyn never spoke about any of it. She rarely mentioned her grandfather at all. Veronica worried, but Italy was a good move for her. It got her away from everything, the past, the publicity, gave her anonymity again, and hopefully would give her a fresh start.I finished my coffee and set the mug in the sink before walking outside. Veronica waved whe
The Deal With The Devil 65
Veronica"Well, I wouldn't want to put you out. You've probably been busy tonight, putting someone else to bed." I didn't mean for it to come out angry like it did."Ah." He finished his drink and poured another. "The truth.""I never lie to you.""You did once.""When?""You lied to protect your sister."I felt heat flush my face. How had he known?"I haven't put anyone to bed but you since we've been together," he said, cockiness gone."Oh.""Did you really think otherwise?""I don't know what to think. You don't have to be married to me anymore. I'm really more of a liability now.""I think of you as a human being, not a liability.""But I'm not an asset either.""Human being. Don't feel sorry for yourself, Veronica. Shit happened to you. You survived it, and you will now move forward. Welcome to life.""Piss off."His face changed, hardening a little. "Be careful, sweetheart."Sweetheart. God, I loved when he called me Sweetheart. "I'm not feeling sorry for myself.""Then ask the
The Deal With The Devil 64
VeronicaThe house had never felt like home to me. I didn't want to stay here and wouldn't have if it weren't for Robyn. But she'd been closer to our grandfather than I ever had been. And she'd lived here for as long as she could remember.After the very public scandal, Grandfather took the plea deal he was offered, which meant a reduced prison sentence—they took into consideration his age—in exchange for full disclosure. He'd kept meticulous notes, so much like him. In addition to the notebook Robyn had found, there were three others. At least three that were uncovered. I wondered if there were more. If he'd ever tell us. The land in Italy was auctioned off, bought by Vincent Moriarty of all people. And what a deal he got. It was unfair, but it was also finished.I saw my grandfather during his sentencing. I watched from inside the courtroom. I didn't make physical contact with him. Seeing him like that, up there looking smaller, older, I wondered if there was something wrong with me
The Deal With The Devil 63
StefanShe finally quieted.Fuck. I hadn't come here to fuck her. I hadn't."You still want me to let you go?"She shook her head.I released her wrists and flipped her over onto her belly, then straddled her again, trapping her beneath me."I love you," I said, reaching over to grab the bottle of hand moisturizer she had on the nightstand. "But you're a pain in my ass." I drew her hips up, so she was on her knees. "Don't get up," I told her when she started to rise. I pushed her knees apart with mine and fisted a handful of her hair, pushing her face down into the bed. "Ass up, face down. Understand?""Stefan—"I slapped her hip—not hard, but enough to get her attention. She cried out and looked back at me from the corner of her eye."Understand?""Yes.""Good." I let go of her hair and twisted the lid off the lotion, squeezing about half the tube on her lower back. "Now like I said," I started, unzipping my jeans and pushing them and my briefs down, my cock like steel in anticipatio
The Deal With The Devil 62
VeronicaI felt stronger, like the effects of the wine were wearing off. Maybe it was the water or the coffee, but I had a feeling it was the anger inside me burning away the alcohol more than anything else.But then he said what he said."If you wanted me out of your life, you would have signed the annulment papers."And I knew it was true. He was right. If I wanted him out, I would have signed and put all this behind me."I've changed my mind, anyway. You're not going anywhere, Veronica.""Not until you have my signature, you mean? Did you bring a clean copy of the paperwork?""You're being stupid.""No, I think the word is naive. You used that once too, didn't you? You had my number all along. I was the fool to fall for it, for your tortured soul act. Get out. I mean it.""No.""Get the fuck out."He cocked his head to the side. "Fine. You want me out? Make me go."I narrowed my eyes and went toward him. With both my hands on his hard chest, I shoved him backward.Except he didn't
The Deal With The Devil 61
VeronicaI left by train from Siena to Venice that evening. Once I checked into a small hotel, I called the attorney who'd overheard my conversation with my grandfather and left him my address, telling him to forward any paperwork to me here. I called Robyn and told her I was in Venice, told her what had happened and what I'd done, and told her I needed to be off-line for a few days.I missed Charlie. I missed cuddling up with him on my lap, missed his unconditional love.The first twelve days I spent in bed, feeling sorry for myself.On the thirteenth day, someone knocked on the door. When I told whoever it was to go away, they answered that I had received a package.Reluctantly, I went to the door, cringing when I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror. I opened it and took the large white envelope, assuming it was paperwork about Robyn's guardianship. I pushed the shutters and window open to let in some fresh air and sunshine. The room smelled stale, and it seemed my sadness had
The Deal With The Devil 60
StefanIt had taken all I had to turn my back on Veronica and walk out of that office. I knocked someone's shoulder on my way out but didn't look back, didn't apologize, couldn't stop. I went out the door and into the hallway and flew down the stairs and out the front doors where I stopped, gasping for breath, my hands on my knees, wanting to vomit.Lying to Veronica on the chapel floor, that had wounded me. But this? Today? Leaving her like that, signing that damned contract and walking out on her, it finished me. I'd promised her truth, and I'd kept my promise, finally. And it destroyed me.I straightened, wiping sweat off my forehead.I didn't remember walking through the city to the parking garage. Didn't remember driving home. As soon as I stepped out of the car, though, Charlie came running to me. I stopped and looked down at him. Watched him wait for the passenger side door to open, for Veronica to step out. He barked several times, ran back to me, tail wagging, then returned t
The Deal With The Devil 59
VeronicaAfter Stefan left the office, I stood in the room, staring after him. Staring at the space where he'd just been before falling back into my chair, my legs unable to support me.I wasn't sure what would be easier, thinking he didn't love me or knowing the truth. Although I guess I knew there was no easy. This would hurt. It would hurt for a very long time.My grandfather and the attorneys walked back into the room. No one seemed to take notice of me. Grandfather set the ring and pen aside and checked the signature on the contract."It's done," he said, handing it to one of the men who slipped it into his briefcase then clicked it closed. No one sat back down. "Gentlemen, thank you. I'll be in touch."They were shaking hands, almost at the door, when I spoke. "Why did you want the marriage consummated?"They all stopped. Someone cleared their throat. My grandfather turned to me, a coldness in his eyes that chilled me, then shifted his attention back to them."Forward official c
The Deal With The Devil 58
VeronicaStefan shifted his gaze from my grandfather to me, but his eyes revealed nothing. My hand rested in his. His thumb drew circles in my palm.The longer he took, the heavier the silence grew, the more tears welled in my eyes.This was it.Stefan and I were finished.My grandfather cleared his throat and rose from his seat. "Five minutes, or the offer expires, and you can take your chances on the payout." He buttoned his jacket. "I'll be outside."We didn't watch him go, and we didn't speak for an eternity after the door closed.Stefan stood and went to one of the two windows. "I thought you were dead," he said, his back to me."What?" I started, swallowing the lump in my throat.He faced me but remained where he was. "I have this nightmare—I've had it for six years now—where I keep seeing the fire at the house, keep running inside to save my mother, and keep finding her too late."A weight heavy as a pile of bricks settled in the room with us."Well, it changed over the last fe
