"Lift him to his knees so I can see his face," I ordered.

Samuel planted a booted foot against Dagger's butt and gripped his shoulders from behind, jerking his upper body off the floor. He held him in place while I leaned down again to one knee so that Dagger and I were eye to eye. "Ready to be a good boy? How far you're willing to go to secure your freedom this time?"

He whimpered and dropped his head.

I grabbed his jaw and squeezed, lifting his head at the same time. He whined at the force I ...