I rewatch the videos, everything from over two months ago. Nothing. The home camera doesn’t show Brianna or El or Sophia together. Regret ripples through me, I toss the laptop on the sofa. I should have put cameras in all the rooms instead of El’s alone, it made sense back then to do only hers. Propping the laptop on my lap, I rewind the video, pausing when a scene with El rushing into the bathroom comes up.  The timestamp on the lower part of the screen shows the video is less than a month ago, I almost skip it until I see it’s not the same from the night she fucked herself with a dildo. Anger stirs inside me, I exhale. El stops in front of the mirror, for a few minutes, she stands there, looking lost and scared. I tense when she moves to sit on the toilet seat. Burying her face in her palms, she bursts into tears. What happened? Her trembling shoulders, matted hair and red eyes pull slightly at my heartstrings when she sits up to wipe the snot running down her

Disgust flashes across Sophia’s flawless face, she steps over Amber and lowers herself on the sofa next to mine. The music fades to the background, my knuckles caress Mel’s cheek absentmindedly. With the lights on, I note the emotions flickering in Sophia’s eyes, how she sits stiff and upright against the couch. “Care to join us?” I ask, tone tinged with mockery. Mel doesn’t stop sucking me off when my grip slacks, her eyes are hooded as she takes my manhood to the back of her throat and I stroke her jaw, rearrange her messy hair so it frames her face. Such a good girl. Amber is still behind her, eyes lowered to the floor. Lust clouds my brain, I feel a certain high from having Mel’s mouth wrapped around my length, delaying my body’s response to Sophia’s appearance. I register my initial anger towards her but my brain is too muddled for me to act on it. For now, I let it be. “A finger,

“Long time, no see, Mister Stark,” Ava says once I’m seated across from her. Her greeting rubs me the wrong way, my head whips to her face and my fingers dig into the armrest. She realises her mistake when I don’t return her sheepish grin, her smile fades. “My bad, Brandon. Long time no see, Mister Brandon.” “Yeah.” I can go on to give a silly excuse for missing the appointments but I keep mute.  Ava lets us sit in silence for a bit as if she’s giving me a chance to gather my thoughts. My eyes roam the place, taking in the details I missed the last time. The low centre table holds nothing except for a Rubik’s cube and a pencil. Since I’m not comfortable with her taking notes, she might use her recorder. My eyes flit to the walls. There are four framed pictures hanging from the wall, each poster displaying a quote that emphasizes kindness to oneself and the big importance of forgiveness—forgiving yourself and others.  I snort, Ava levels me a cautiou

My eyelids flutter open to white ceiling and dim lights. I squint at the bulb while patting the soft surface I am sprawled on. This is not my office. Everything comes rushing back, images spill over me. El. Our argument. The blackout. My gaze returns to the ceiling, the walls become familiar. I am in my room. Where are my girls? An acute pain slices through my skull when I attempt to get out of the bed, I relax on the headboard till it subsides. A frown takes over my lips when I glance at my outfit, I am still in my work clothes. The door pushes open, Sophia walks in with another lady I instantly recognise as the second family doctor. Doctor Joy. I throw a leg over the bed, pushing myself until I am slouched over the edge. The house is too quiet, the girls should be here, chewing my ears off with questions. Every nerve in my body screams for me to check on them but my limbs have turned to jelly, walking will be hell. I haven’t felt this weak in years.

Giggles spill from her lips, she straightens up. “No. Not today, not ever.” My heart breaks, I could have cried but my fingers sink into my scalp. “I am not one of those sluts you run to when you are bored.”The throbbing in my groin intensifies, I frown at the stubborn woman looming over me. What the fuck is El talking about? Except for that day, I have been faithful, more faithful than she will ever be. Breathing through my mouth, I tug on my beards and murmur, “What are you saying? There’s only you.” “Brandon, just go to sleep.” Her dismissal irritates me, I sit up with my spine stiffer than a pen. I am not a kid. “No. I want to kiss you, I want to fuck you, El. I need food, rest and sex. Sex. It has been too long.” Horniness must have tripped a switch in my brain because I am full on ranting now. I need a release and she’s the only one who can satisfy me. “Elna, just th