Unleashed by Erica Chilson

our mothers.”
    “Do you love her?” My voice sounds small and sad. Cort hugs me closer and nuzzles my ears.
    “Yes, as a sister or a friend. There are some strange circumstances to our marriage . Think of it as Royal England and we were keeping the fortune in the family. My mother-in-law, Pearl, is Ezra’s aunt. Diane and Pearl both know about how Ezra and I feel about one another. They worried that their dynasty would be lost if neither of us ever had children, especially since it’s impossible for us if we were together. This way their fortunes are secure, Ezra would get the entire inheritance regardless of what happens.”
    “I don’t understand, wouldn’t Divina want her share? Why is it all Ezra’s?” Confusion thickly laces my voice.
    “ Divina will never have to work a day in her life, and she never has. She will want for nothing. Divina has lupus,” Cort’s voice is filled with heartache and pain. “She can’t have children, and we are thankful for every day her health holds out. Ezra is his family’s heir- the Holden family. It’s just Pearl, Diane, Divina, and Ezra. None of the ladies can bear any more children, age and disease. It was important that they protected their assets. We aren’t talking about some pocket change here. They are twins, and Diane sees all of us as her kids. She and my mother were very close. Our marriage was insurance for the future.”
    “Yeah, but Divina’s half would go to you,” I say. Cort just shrugs as if saying yeah, so? “I still don’t understand,” I say in confusion.
    “Sometimes I think we have to hit you upside the head for you to get a clue. I guess I need to spell it out. I am married , in name only, to Ezra’s cousin, to ensure the fortune stays in the family. Diane and Pearl see Ezra and me as partners. They are secure in the knowledge that their fortune is in safe hands.”
    “ I’m confused to why Divina didn’t just fall in love and get married. It feels like she is just giving her life up to Ezra, like he’s a spoiled prince or something,” I mumble, feeling the feminist in me rising up.
    “Divina’s disease is bad, Kat. There are no guarantees for her. She didn’t want to find someone and worry that they wanted her for her money. Life is too short, especially hers if she isn’t careful. This is less stressful for her.”
    “Yeah, but Divina needs to live while she has the chance. I don’t get selfless people.” I shake my head angrily.
    “Trust me , Divina lives just fine.” Cort chuckles to himself. “This is for the family. If you can’t marry the love of your life, isn’t it better to marry for the love of family?” There is sadness in Cort’s voice, and I know he wishes he could marry the love of his life. Our state allows same-sex marriages. I’m confused as to why Cort didn’t just marry Ezra in the first place.
    So I ask, “Why didn’t you just marry Ezra?”
    “I’m not gay, and Ezra isn’t, either. Not really, anyway. It wouldn’t have impacted my career, but it could possibly destroy his. Ezra is the media’s golden boy. That’s why we don’t let anyone at Restraint know who we are except the Masters and a few people who are in our lives. The rest of the members can’t know. I don’t like wearing that hood. I liked it better when the dungeon was our own personal playroom, but things change.”
    “ Restraint wasn’t always like this?”
    “No, when it first started , it was just Marcus, Dexter, and Ezra bullshitting. They opened the club, and a few years later, Marc declared the dungeon open for business. It was a good idea until the chaos started. It snowballed, and now we’re having a hard time containing it.” Cortez pulls me farther into his lap until I’m straddling his hips. “Enough talk of monsters, marriage, and mergers.” He mischievously grins.
    “I’m still not having sex with you, Cort .” I shift off his lap until I’m firmly on a sofa cushion.
    “Why not?” Cort’s