I could feel my whole body shaking, despite the warmth radiating from the fireplace behind me. I resisted the urge to shove my fist in my mouth to help keep the sobs in my throat from escaping. Instead, I neatly kept them placed on my thighs.

Despite the rug beneath my folded legs being soft and plush, my muscles ached from the length of time they had been forced into the position. I desperately wanted to stand and stretch, but Maddox's presence at the looming desk to my left prevented any such movement.

The contract and pen sat on the floor maybe an arm's reach away. Of course, I didn't intend to find out. No matter how fiercely my traitorous body reacted to Mr. Stone, there was no fucking way I would reach for that contract. The empty dotted line seemed to taunt me as the scratch of Maddox's pen, and the lick of the flames, filled the silence.

I wasn't stupid. Stone was using a power play, trying to force me to accept the fact that he had all the power in the situation. And to be fair, he basically did. One wrong move from me and I'd likely have a bullet hole in between my eyes.

Maddox had made sure I saw the gun he placed in the drawer by his gloved right hand. And the fact that I couldn't stop shaking clearly falsified any bravado I had been able to project.

So here I kneeled, naked, on the carpet of a very dangerous man's office. Considering the type of conversations I've heard over the past two hours, Maddox Stone wasn't a man who knew the meaning of the word mercy. The fact that he and whoever was coming in to converse with him took no pains to hide these conversations only increased my trembling. They had no intention of letting me go. I was pretty sure the only way I would be escaping would be in a body bag.

One thing that really got my blood boiling was the semi I had been sporting this entire time. The little visions that popped into my head of Maddox's fingers clenched in my hair, cock fucking my mouth while he sat at his desk, carrying on a meeting. Fuck, just thinking about it gave me a full hard on. And the few smirks Maddox had thrown at me, as if he knew what had inspired my shaft to stand, had just angered me further.

But I didn't say anything, just shifted a few times. I think that a stupid part of me was hoping if I behaved myself, they'd let me go. I knew it wasn't possible, but it's good to have dreams.

With the time for silent reflection, my thoughts had shifted towards Tj. Where was he? Was he safe? What would happen to him if Stone caught up to dad and him? I don't know why dad took Tj with him. Maybe dad thought a crime boss would go easier on him with a little kid on his arm.

I snorted in derision. Yeah, right. I doubted the man still had a conscience. When I looked into those emerald orbs, I sometimes had to force myself not to shiver from the cold emanating from within.

Memories of Tj laughing and smiling flashed through my mind, and I lifted my gaze to stare at the pen. Changing my gaze to Stone, I watched him place a newly scoured document on a pile, then begin typing on his laptop. As if feeling my stare, his eyes lifted from his laptop screen to once again send electricity crackling between our shared gaze. Well, it was no longer a semi I was sporting, but a full on, weeping hard on.

Fuck Maddox Stone, and what he did to my body. I'd sooner throw myself in a river than let Stone have complete control of my body. But God, if the situation was different, and he was just a guy I met at a bar, I'd let him fuck me until dawn.

Stone must have sensed my thoughts somehow, because he shifted slightly in his chair, and lust flamed to life in his eyes. I think my cock somehow became the hardest its ever been. Fuck my life.

The office door swung open again, but Maddox didn't look away. The visitor stayed by the door out of my line of sight, but I could hear him, and the words he spoke caused my heart to jump in fear.

"We have a lead on the Barns', Sir. What do you want done with them?"

Maddox held my eyes for a few more tortuous seconds, before turning. I let out a sigh of relief when the emotionless mask of a man turned away, but still felt the fear for Tj slowly seeping through me at the topic being discussed.

"Both the dad and boy?" Maddox queried disinterestedly, as if discussing the weather and not people running for their lives.

"Yes, Sir."

Stone hummed in acknowledgement and pursued his lips in thought, before swiveling to watch out the window at the unexpected beginning of a pattering of rain against the glass. He rolled his neck before speaking, still turned away.

"I'll deal with Barns', teach him not to fuck with me." a barely concealed anger simmered beneath the surface, with an edge of steel that promised inexplicable regret to any on the receiving end of this man's wrath. After a pause, Stone continued in a musing tone, "And the boy, I'm sure we'll find something for him to do to help pay off his father's debts."

I had chosen to lower my head while Stone spoke, in hope to cow the hopelessness probably shimmering in my eyes, but my head snapped up at the last sentence. Before I could stop it, a heart rending 'No!' breached my lips. Stone leaned his head back to look at me, then the contract.

I exhaled deeply. The message was clear. If I signed, the debt would all fall on me, my brother excluded. I knew this bastard had something planned for me, and I knew he knew I would cave. His excitement at winning our contest of wills was almost palpable. But I'd be damned if I let anything happen to Tj when I had the ability to prevent it.

"You'll let Tj go, if I sign." I croaked out. It wasn't a question, it was a demand.

Stone nodded once. I tightly squeezed my eyes, mentally preparing myself for what had to be done, repeating in my head 'This is for Tj'. I knew our neighbour Mrs. Brainswaith would take care of Tj, the young widow doted on the boy. And Tj knew where my cash stash was. Tj would be safe, that was all that mattered.

I huffed out a breath, forced my eyelids open, and reached for the pen.