Goddess isles boxed set, p.61
Goddess Isles Boxed Set, page 61
Younger than Jupiter, she’d served sixteen months and had seemed to embrace the lust of elixir. She wasn’t the instigator in this...Calico was. Neptune didn’t need to go. Without the ringleaders, she would fall back into place with the other goddesses on this island. She might even learn to like Jinx.
But...Eleanor had asked me to free them...and I fucking promised.
What the fuck made me do such a thing?
I didn’t know, but I wouldn’t go back on my word. Unlike other people I knew, I didn’t believe in betrayal.
But it would be hard to say goodbye to assets that kept me rich. Not that their funds came close to what I earned from my pharmaceuticals and successful breakthroughs in the legal drug market. Then again, running Sinclair and Sinclair Group was nowhere near as much fun as being god on this island.
I’ll just have to source new goddesses to replace these.
Eleanor would most likely have an issue with that...but I stood by my beliefs. Black and white was the only way to view the world because it ensured all things were usable, killable, saveable. A stray dog’s life was worth more to me than a goddess’s because the dog had existed in suffering for far longer than my own species.
A stray dog’s life was worth even more than mine.
And that was the goddamn truth.
I didn’t twist my rules to benefit me. If an animal was at risk from my existence, I would put myself down...not them. They came first. Always.
Even over Jinx.
“Where’s Calico?” Jupiter asked, her dress unable to hide her goosebumps.
“She’s alive.”
“Why isn’t she with us?”
“Because I had other plans for her.”
Her eyes glistened with tears. “It wasn’t all her fault. I encouraged her. I know she’s become a little obsessed with you, but...Jinx had it coming.”
I went deathly still. “I suggest you tread lightly, Jupiter. My leash might snap at any moment.”
She gulped, ducking her head. “Just...Calico...she’s nice. Please, don’t hurt us. We promise we won’t—”
“Enough.” I sliced my hand through the air.
Nice or not, Calico had made me the most at almost seven million. Her contract was close to ending anyway. Her punishment wouldn’t be in a cage, but being kicked off my island without so much as a goodbye. I would not visit her. I would not give her the satisfaction of seeing my guilt over what I’d done.
How much I’d ruined her from the shy, skittish beauty when she first landed to the bitter, jealous thing she’d become.
In the morning, Cal would round them up, give them a bag packed full of clothes suitable to whatever climate home was, and an envelope with two things.
One, a thick pile of cash. Not a cheque or bank deposit. Just fresh, crisp four-hundred thousand dollars in American bills. The other was a simple note. A threat, really. A reminder that if they spoke of what happened on my shores, the money in their greedy hands would vanish, their lives would be forfeit, and I would take no fucking mercy on their soul.
But stay silent and slip back into their world as if they’d been working for an exclusive hotelier who required utmost secrecy for his high-calibre guests, then they could keep every penny. They could live. They could resume their existence before I got in the way.
Clean and simple...for all of us.
That note never left the helicopter, burned to ash as the girls slipped onto a plane and went home.
So far, out of the few goddess that’d reached their four-year term and been released, not one had blabbed. Money was a powerful cage...better than any other trap or threat.
Jupiter puffed hair from her eyes impatiently. “Just tell us what you’re going to—”
“You’re going home.”
Both her and Nep jerked, making the cage clang. “We’re what?”
I paced around them again, needing to move as excess rage flowed down my legs. After what they’d done, I found it incredibly hard to reward such grotesque behaviour. But I was also the catalyst for such actions...so the joke was on me.
“You can thank Jinx for my leniency. She begged on your behalf.” I glowered at their shock and suspicion. The girl they’d tried to kill had proven to be above their pettiness in her selfless mercy. “Tomorrow, you will leave my shores. All of you. You will never see me or my islands again.”
I stopped and wrapped my fingers around the bars, making Jupiter slink to the other side. I yanked on the wire, jostling them. “You tell your families that you had an opportunity you couldn’t refuse. If they pry for information, blame no internet or phone coverage for your lack of communication. If they demand to know details, tell them you’ve orgasmed with princes, and fucked politicians, and sucked the cock of billionaires. Willingly.” I smirked. “Or don’t. The choice is up to you. You can tell them whatever you goddamn want, but if you mention my name, my islands, or the other girls in my employ, you won’t need to look over your shoulder for retribution—it will come swift and sharp and your parents will be grieving over your funeral rather than your disappearance, understand?”
Both goddesses nodded. “We understand.”
I let my hands drop from the cage. “Good.” Smoothing out my t-shirt, still smelling Eleanor on my fingers, I muttered, “In that case, I owe you an apology and a thank you. I’m sorry for taking so much from you—for destroying who you once were. I hope you take this experience and use it to improve your life, to know you were strong enough to endure me; therefore, you can conquer anything.” I backed toward the door. “Thank you for allowing me to use you.”
Turning around, I stalked toward the door.
Neptune’s voice halted me as I reached for the handle. “Sullivan?”
I raised an eyebrow, twisting to look over my shoulder, waiting for her to continue.
“Jinx...will you let her go, too? Eventually?”
“Why do you care? You just tried to murder her.”
Nep stood up, rubbing her arms. “I care because she’s not like us...not to you, anyway. We were safe in a way because...you barely noticed us.” She swallowed before adding breathlessly, “You’ve noticed her and I don’t know if that’s a good thing.”
Cracking open the door, I shrugged. “Perhaps she wouldn’t leave, even if I did set her free.”
Jupiter sneered, her anger not appeased with her upcoming demotion. “Keep telling yourself that, Sinclair. Convince yourself that someone could love you. That a woman trapped here wouldn’t use every trick and guile she has to get free.”
I smiled until my cheeks threatened to split. “You didn’t try to get free.”
“No, because I wanted this. I wanted your island...not you.”
My fingers clutched the handle. “Even monsters sometimes find their missing pieces, Lucy.”
She twitched at her real name. She’d have to get used to it again.
“Monsters are the ones who die, not the ones who end up happily ever after.” She crossed her arms. “Stop fooling yourself. We never loved you. We despised you. And now that you’re letting us go...I can be honest with myself about that. Whatever I felt for you. Whatever your bloody elixir made me do...I hate you.”
I bowed, low and mocking. “I don’t care what you think of me, Lucy Hall. Just remember to keep your thoughts hidden from your family. Otherwise, your freedom will be very short-lived.”
I left before I could wrap my fingers around her throat and finish what I started. Maybe Jupiter would be the first to be exterminated after her freedom had been granted. I didn’t trust her. Then again, I didn’t trust any of the girls I released. I kept them under strict surveillance after they went home. Just like I kept surveillance on all the families who adopted the rescued animals I’d nursed back to health.
My mother had taught me that lesson.
Pretend you trust them...but never ever be so fucking stupid.
“Goodbye, Sullivan...and thank you,” Neptune murmured just as the door closed on two girls who were no longer my elixir impassioned goddesses.
Thank you?
What a sad, misplaced phrase.
I didn’t deserve thank you.
I didn’t deserve anything, and that was why it hurt so fucking much wanting Eleanor.
I wanted her...but in my heart, I knew I couldn’t have her.
How could I?
When I revelled in the misery of others.
When I put creatures above humans.
When I refused to change who I was.
* * * * *
To: 89082@gmail.com
From: S.Sinclair@goddessisles.com
Subject: Three staff required
Hello,
I seem to require more housekeepers due to a restructure in my property portfolio. All I ask is they’re young enough to work hard, diligent, and obedient. At your soonest convenience.
Hitting the enter button, I dug my elbows into the desk. Pinching the bridge of my nose, I tried to squeeze out the headache I’d had since draining my system dry thanks to elixir. My lungs still felt odd from inhaling so much water. I overall needed a reboot from the shit in my system.
I meant to email Peter Beck and his team of scientists to potentially scale back its potency. It was never meant to be a date rape drug on steroids. More like better stimulation than Viagra. To make the user beg to be fucked but not be so out of their mind they’d literally choose death if it meant the nightmare could be over.
I’d almost drowned thanks to its obsession.
If Jinx hadn’t pulled me from the bottom of Nirvana, I would be dead, and she’d be free.
And what had I done?
Stuck my cock inside her the moment I could breathe again.
Goddammit.
Raking both hands through my hair, I peeked at my overcrowded inbox. One a.m. and I’d done my best to clear new bookings for guest stays, read complicated in-depth text on another scientific recipe Beck wanted to try, and go over invoices for the copious amount of animal feed I brought in each week for Serigala.
The words blurred.
I’d done my best to stay busy, so I didn’t find myself at Jinx’s door, ignoring the fact that she was sore, I was sore, and stuffing my body back inside hers before we were fully healed was not recommended.
But I’d gone past sex and become delirious with exhaustion.
Pika zipped into my office, his black eyes beady with temper.
The second he landed on my keyboard, he stomped around like the mini dictator he was, cawing and carrying on like a madman. “Sleep. Tired, Pika!”
I groaned, scratching at my longer chin-stubble from not trimming for a few days. “Came to get me, huh? Don’t like sleeping alone?”
He puffed up, eyeing the letter Z and launching at it with his sharp beak.
“Oh, no you don’t.” Picking him up like a fuzzy tennis ball, I kept him cupped in my hand, letting him grumble and growl. “Fine. I’m tired too. We’ll go.”
With my free hand, I went to turn off my laptop.
A reply arrived from my goddess request.
Huh, that’s strange.
To: S.Sinclair@goddessisles.com
From: 89082@gmail.com
Subject: Re: Three staff required
Your email has bounced due to an incorrect address.
Please check and try again.
First, they advised their operation was on hold.
Now, their address was no longer operational?
Chills darted down my spine.
Either they’d had a complete change of ethics...or they’d been caught. By the police? By a disgruntled client?
Either way, my encrypted internet would protect my location, but I wouldn’t take any chances.
Doing a search on their email address, I deleted every single trace of communication.
My supermarket of endless goddesses had seemingly shut down.
Now, where would I hunt?
Chapter Fifteen
FOR THE FIRST TIME since arriving, I ate breakfast in a different location to the room-delivered feast on my deck.
As dawn sent eager fingers of light through the sky, I gave up the pretence of sleep and headed for a long shower. I shared the cascading water with two frogs, courting each other on the rocks, catching doomed flies and the odd mosquito with their sticky tongues.
While I shampooed and conditioned, I did my best not to think about Sully. To wonder what he did last night. To try to find him this morning and spend more time with him.
Simple time.
I wanted simple.
I wanted to be two people talking about mundane, normal things...if that’s even possible.
After I rinsed, I stepped from the shower and turned my back on my reflection. I flatly ignored the purple slashes on my throat from a scarf pulled far too tight, and I didn’t bother drying my hair, preferring to leave it loose and long, draped down the back of a simple cotton maxi dress.
No jewellery, no make-up, just me.
Vulnerable but also strong.
Naïve to have fallen for a man I should despise but willing to accept the consequences. Brave enough to embrace the war wounds of disgruntled goddesses to move forward with my life.
The island had a hush about it as I stepped from my villa and padded barefoot toward the Divinity building. The wariness of another attack kept me on my toes as I peered suspiciously into bushes and flinched when Skittles arrived from the golden sky, chirping in welcome and landing weightlessly on my shoulder.
Her presence might be minuscule, but knowing I had a friend who had my back made my steps stride bolder and my skittishness fade. The girls who’d tried to kill me had been released...I hope.
Sully had said he would, and I didn’t see him as a man to break a promise.
I’m safe.
I rolled my eyes as I left the pathway and climbed the decking covered steps of Divinity.
Safe?
How strange that I considered myself safe when women had been kicked off the island—the very same island where men came to fuck drugged goddesses. Not only had my morals leaped off a cliff of comprehension, but it seemed my concept of health and safety had too.
Ah, well.
What difference would it make to my situation if I remained fixated on escape and continued to refuse my feelings toward Sully? It would only make me frustrated, sad, and angry. I couldn’t even lie and say my seduction of Sully was to gain my ultimate release, because the thought of leaving now...that hurt almost as much as the thought of what I’d been bought for.
Skittles tweeted and nibbled at my earlobe as I entered the shadowy dining villa and inhaled the scents of fresh baguettes, almond croissants, and all the fresh fruit Sully’s gardens could produce.
A staff member appeared from swinging doors leading to the kitchens. “Morning, Goddess Jinx. Are you okay helping yourself to the buffet on offer, or would you rather the chef cook you something? Mie goreng, perhaps? Loaded with baby sweet corn, fried spinach, and bamboo shoots?” Her gaze landed on Skittles preening herself on my shoulder, before finding my eyes again.
I smiled. “That actually sounds lovely. Thanks.”
She nodded. “You’re welcome. Please, sit wherever you like. I’ll bring it to you soon.” With another grin, she disappeared back into the kitchen, leaving me to pour a glass of freshly squeezed watermelon juice from the icy carafe on the sideboard.
No other goddesses had appeared yet, granting the odd sensation that I was the only one on this island.
Taking my glass outside, I chose a table on the deck next to a tiny lily pond and a large black umbrella. The sun had already added warmth to the world around me, ensuring shade was needed from getting burned.
Serenity comforted me as I nursed my drink, wincing with each swallow from the strangulation bruising, watching the island wake up, hearing birdsong tumble from treetops and enjoying the humid breeze rustling glossy leaves of hibiscus and heliconia.
Life seemed brighter today, more vibrant. Was that from the near-death experience, or knowing Sully might, possibly, hopefully, tragically love me?
It was far too soon to admit such insanity.
Far too quick to trust.
So why couldn’t I stop the hot ball of infatuation in my heart? Why couldn’t I stop my gaze from trailing down the path, hoping he’d appear to share breakfast with me?
Because you’re an idiot.
But I’d come to terms with that.
By the time my breakfast had been cooked and delivered, I’d relaxed into eating alone. Skittles hadn’t budged from my shoulder, and I shared tiny morsels of veggies with her, not caring that I ended up with spinach slime on my shoulder from her messy eating.
The aloneness was nice.
Not even Jealousy appeared.
I had so much to tell her: the strangulation attempt, Sully’s laugh, and my decision to fight for us, but it seemed no one was a dawn bird on this island...all preferring to be night owls instead.
* * * * *
“Jinx!”
I spun around on the path, expecting to see Jealousy arriving for breakfast.
Only, it wasn’t Jealousy.
Another girl who’d been with Calico and her crew when Sully had cornered me at Divinity and given me the diamond, skipped to a stop in front of me. Chestnut curls and a splattering of freckles on her button nose said her skin would turn into a piece of goddess jerky if she didn’t live in a bottle of sun cream lotion permanently in this sort of weather.
Her rake thin frame had a certain sexiness about it. A model type of wraithness that looked both elegant and breakable.
What was her name? Jewel?
“Hey.” She smiled. Her green eyes were clear of any maliciousness that’d been there when Calico had been leader of the entourage. “Do you want company to eat? I’m starving.” She leaned closer. “I was in Euphoria last night in a throuple fantasy. Let’s just say, elixir has kicked my ass.” She winked.
I didn’t trust her friendliness, but I wouldn’t openly state that. I shrugged with a smile. “Sorry, I just finished. I was going to have a swim before the sun got too intense.”
Skittles cackled and chirped in my ear, not liking that she had to share me with a new human. With a huff, she took off, vanishing into the palm trees.
