My sobs come thick and fast, and I’m glad my tear ducts still work, because I won’t lie back and pretend this is fun.
“But it can’t be all fun and games,” he adds, his hands wandering lower on my body as he sits up straighter. “You have an important job to do. You will act as my spokesperson in all elite matters, voting as I instruct. In public, you will be the perfect elite princess.” He grips my chin roughly again. “You will not do anything to embarrass me. You represent the Montgomery name now, and that comes with responsibilities. We are descendants from one of the Rydeville founding fathers.”
His hands roam my body, touching me all over, and nausea swims up my throat.
“My contact will touch base with you when you return to the US, and your training will begin immediately.” His tongue darts out, licking the salty tears dribbling over my lips and down my chin, and he pins me with that monstrous grin again. “In case of confusion, that also means you will spread your legs for him whenever he desires it. You will let him use your body any way he sees fit. And should he need you to pleasure any other elite male, you will do so willingly and give them the ride of their lives.”
“You’re insane,” I slur. “I will never do that! And I won’t help you hurt Jackson or Abby.”
Fuck acting obedient.
He’s rendered me powerless, and after he’s raped me, I will not walk out of here intact. I can’t survive this again. I know I can’t. My head spins, and my fighting spirit peters out.
I need to die.
Want to die.
It’s the only escape from this hell.
Perhaps, if I antagonize him enough, he’ll snap and strangle me. Or dump my uncooperative body in the ocean.
He slaps me harder this time, and a feeble scream escapes my mouth. “Listen here, you ungrateful little cunt.” He cups my pussy. “This belongs to me. You belong to me. In every sense of the word. And you will do what I say, because if you don’t, this time, there won’t be anyone there to save Kayleigh.”
All the blood drains from my useless body. “What? No!”
“This is the part where you thank me,” he drawls, sliding his hand underneath my suit and palming my bare pussy.
I stare at him, horror and disgust and a million other thoughts fighting for space in my head.
He barks out a laugh as he slides two fingers inside me, pumping them roughly.
I sob as my hazy mind struggles to decipher his meaning while my body protests the unwanted intrusion.
“You didn’t honestly think Aaron’s death was an accident, did you?” My eyes pop wide, and he chuckles again as he rubs my clit with his thumb. “I know he fucked you for years. Took your precious virginity.” His tone mocks me. “At least he helped break you in.” Removing his fingers, he pushes them into his mouth, sucking loudly.
I heave, my stomach lurching violently, getting ready to expel my breakfast.
“Hmm. So sweet,” he murmurs as his eyes glint with wicked intent. His hands return to my breasts, and he pulls the top of my suit down, exposing my bare chest. He tweaks my nipples with his fingers, hurting me, and I sob. “Where were we? Ah, yes. Aaron. Let’s finish our discussion so we can get the party started.”
His devilish eyes devour me, and I’m such a fool I didn’t see the truth before now. I’ve been so blind. So stupid. So naïve. I should have trusted my friends and told them about him or at least let them know where I was going and why. I have no one to blame for the mess I’m in but myself.
“Aaron should never have touched what belonged to me, but I decided to excuse him for his earlier actions. After all, you are quite the little slut, aren’t you, Vanessa?” He pinches my nipples, and I cry out. “You’ll be punished for fucking Lauder, Anderson, and Hunt. But we’ll get to that in due course. Aaron signed his own death warrant when he broke into your apartment and attempted to enjoy you again. How fucking dare he!” He swipes his hand out, sending his wine flying. Glass shatters, raining down on the upper deck as the glass and the bottle break into smithereens upon impact. “He’d been warned to stay away from you, but he just couldn’t help himself.”
“What did you do?” I slur. My head is swimming, and my eyelids are growing heavy.
“Bribed one of his whores into drugging his whiskey. Then, I had my guy follow him home, waiting for the perfect place to run him off the road.”
“Silver Honda,” I murmur, piecing it together.
“Top marks for observational skills, darling.” He leans down, sucking my nipple into his mouth, and more silent tears roll down my face.
“It worked like a charm,” he says, straightening up again. “Aaron crashed into the tree, and his neck broke instantly. He was dead within minutes. It was the perfect murder. No one even suspected foul play with the level of alcohol and narcotics in his system.” He fondles my breast with one hand, using his other hand to push down the front of his shorts, freeing his gross erection. He moans as he strokes his cock, kneading my breast with demanding fingers. “You don’t seem upset.”
“Because I’m not. I hated that prick.”
“Me too.” He winks, as if we’re coconspirators in this. “You don’t need to worry about him. I took care of it. I despise loose ends.” He picks up his pace, pumping his shaft faster.
“You’re disgusting,” I slur, watching him jerk himself off with growing revulsion and potent fear.
“I’ll take that as a compliment, darling. And I’m done with this conversation. You are going to do as I say, Vanessa, because I make Aaron Breen look like Prince Charming. If you disobey me, if you deny me, deny any of the elite, I will take Kayleigh, and I will ruin her far worse than you’ve been ruined. Trust me, it will make what happened to you look like a fairy tale.”
Tears stream down my face as I acknowledge he’s won. I don’t care about my life, but I care about hers. I will do whatever he wants if it’s the only way I can protect my little sister and keep her away from this sick bastard and his pervert friends.
“Do we have an understanding?” he asks. I nod. “Good girl.” He thrusts his cock against my crotch, and only the thin layer of my swimsuit separates us.
I’m going to puke. Preferably all over him.
“I knew you could be obedient with the right incentive.” He climbs off me. “So, this is what’s going to happen next. I’m going to take you downstairs to my bed and fuck every hole in your gorgeous, young body until you bleed. Tomorrow, after you’ve recovered, we will sit down and run through the plan. The following day, you’ll be returned to the US. You can’t be gone too long, or those meddling offspring you’re friends with will start to suspect something.”
He pulls his shorts up, adjusting his hard-on. Lifting me up, he throws me over his shoulder. “Sound good?” he asks, laughing when I don’t reply. He slaps my ass, laughing louder, and the sound is pure evil. “I thought so.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
Jackson
“STEADY,” HUNT WHISPERS, grabbing my arm like he’s done a hundred times in the past five minutes. I know we need to time this perfectly so that sick pervert doesn’t murder Nessa, but it’s killing me hiding down here while he’s up there hurting the woman I love. The three of us tread water as we lurk at the rear of the lower level of Montgomery’s luxury yacht—the only way on and off this boat—waiting for the right opportunity to strike. Anderson looks at me, and his expression conveys everything I need to know. He understands my frustration, acknowledges we’re doing this the right way, reassuring me we’ll save my girl.
Montgomery appears at the top of the stairs, and I stop breathing. Nessa is flung over his shoulder, her limbs flopping like limp noodles. He’s grinning like he’s the king of the world, and I can’t wait to wipe that condescending smirk off his face. His loud voice carried over the breeze, so we heard every word he said. I have never felt more helpless—forced to stand by while he did and said disgusting things to her. These past few minutes have aged me. That bastard destroyed my sister, and hel
l will freeze over before I let him destroy Nessa.
Thank fuck, the time for action has arrived, because I’m consumed with dark rage, and it needs an outlet now. Years of pent-up frustration and fury whip through me, and I’m struggling to keep a leash on it. I wanted to charge up there and ride to the rescue the second we got here, but the guys held me back. He would’ve heard us coming and reacted accordingly. Despite the plans he has in mind, Montgomery wouldn’t lose any sleep over killing Nessa in front of me, purely to goad me, to watch me unravel.
Waiting him out was the right course of action even if it tested my self-control. This way, we have the element of surprise. And with three against one, he doesn’t stand a chance. That’ll serve the arrogant prick right for leaving his bodyguards at the marina. No doubt, it was a calculated move to get Nessa alone so he could sate his twisted desire.
When Montgomery’s foot hits the last step, I get ready. Anderson passes me the Glock he had strapped to his thigh, mouthing that the safety is off. The instant Montgomery turns right, heading through the lower level, I haul myself up onto the boat, rip the door open, and charge toward him with Anderson and Hunt at my back.
The asshole is so fixated on what he’s going to do to my girl he doesn’t react until it’s too late. As he turns around, I press the gun into the side of his skull. “Hand Nessa to Anderson.”
Nessa mumbles something, but her words are slurred and indecipherable. She doesn’t move. Not even a twitch, and panic bubbles up my throat. I had almost lost my mind when he confirmed he’d drugged her. My friends had to physically restrain me that time.
We don’t know what he’s poisoned her with, but if I discover it’s caused any permanent damage or it forces her into a dark spiral, I will dig his lifeless body up and kill him all over again. I grind my teeth to the molars, wanting to tear the bastard limb from limb right this fucking second, but I remind myself patience is a virtue and all good things come to those who wait. Yeah, I’m a walking cliché, but I’m barely keeping my shit together, so screw me if I’m unoriginal.
The veins in my neck and my arms throb, and my fingers twitch with the effort involved in holding myself back. I’m ready to rain hell on his perverted ass, but Nessa needs to be safely away from him before I go at this asshole.
Montgomery’s harsh laugh grates on my nerves, but I remind myself of all that’s at stake. Every second Nessa is around him, she’s in danger. I’m not letting him manipulate me or bait me into attacking him until I’m ready, because I can’t risk her getting caught in the crossfire. “Well, well, this is a surprise.” He grins like he doesn’t have a gun pressed into his head. As if we pose no threat.
Good. Let him underestimate us, like most of the elite has.
Anderson glares at Christian while lifting Nessa off him. The top of her bathing suit is undone, revealing her bare breasts as Anderson gently hands her to Hunt. Hunt is under strict instructions to stay with her while Anderson and I take our time torturing the bastard who hurt the women we love.
A red haze washes over me, and I lose all control, slamming my fist into Montgomery’s nose. A satisfying crunching sound confirms I’ve broken it, and it’s music to my ears. His head jerks back, and he roars, bringing one hand to his nose, which is now gushing blood. He grabs the top of the leather-filled circular booth with his other hand to stop himself from falling. In an unexpected move, he snatches a cup from the table, slamming it into the side of my head.
Pain rattles around my skull, and I almost drop the gun, but my fingers curl around it at the last second. Anderson throws a couple of powerful punches, pushing Montgomery back a few steps. Anderson’s next punch knocks him to the ground, and I jump on top of Montgomery, thrusting my fist into his solar plexus.
Moving his head to one side, Montgomery spits out blood on the floor, attempting to laugh. “You’re fucking pathetic. Boys pretending to be men,” he says, rearing up and swinging at Anderson.
Old dude’s got more stamina than I gave him credit for. Those elite bastards sure train them well, but no amount of skill can match the lethal fury fueling Anderson and me.
Anderson ducks, dodging Montgomery’s fist, just as I land a punch to the asshole’s ribcage. “Fuck,” he hisses through gritted teeth as the sound of bones cracking tickles my eardrums.
“Hunt,” I call over my shoulder, handing the gun to him. This will be much more satisfactory using my bare hands.
Anderson and I take turns going at him, kicking and punching him, until there isn’t one part of his body we haven’t bruised, broken, or bloodied. He gives up fighting after the first few minutes, which is a little disappointing. When he’s stopped moving, and his face is swollen beyond recognition, we stop. Anderson checks his pulse. “He’s still breathing.”
“Good.” I climb to my feet, pushing wet hair back out of my eyes. “Hunt.” I keep my eyes on Montgomery as I call out for two reasons. One, I don’t trust Montgomery not to find a second wind.
In the movies, the bad guys always get up when you think they’re down.
And, two, I can’t look at Nessa right now, because I’ll want to go to her, and I must end this first.
Anderson and I both have legit reasons to want this asshole dead, but he agreed I get the kill shot.
Hunt offers me the gun, but I shake my head. “I want the Stryker.” Concern flashes in Anderson’s eyes as he scrutinizes my face, and I can only imagine what he sees staring back at him.
Beating the bastard has barely taken the edge off my murderous rage, and putting a bullet in his skull will not sate my inner monster. Shooting the fucker would be cleaner but far too easy for a bastard like him.
Montgomery deserves to die slowly and painfully, to be gutted from the inside out like the monster he is. I owe it to my sister, to Nessa, to Abby, to Olivia and Sylvia, and all the other women he’s kidnapped, tortured, and raped over the years to ensure he suffers.
Hunt places the knife in my hand, holding my gaze. “Do what you need to, but don’t lose yourself.”
Anderson squeezes my shoulder. “Make him pay, brother.”
I stand over Montgomery’s body, staring at him for a few minutes. I kick at his leg repeatedly until he groans. I want to ensure he’s awake for this. “Not so powerful now, huh, Montgomery. You sick fuck.” I kneel, cutting his swim shorts away. “I killed your sick bastard of a son, and now, I’m going to kill you too.” I poke the knife into his pubes, and a strangled sound travels up his throat. “This is for my sister.” I move the knife lower, shoving the blade into his balls repeatedly before slicing his dick off. Inhuman sounds gurgle from his throat, and he coughs up blood. “This is for daring to hurt the woman I love.” I drag the knife from his pubes up through his stomach and over his chest. “This is for sexually assaulting Abby.” I run the knife horizontally across his chest, pulling it down along his right side. “And this is for the years you inflicted torture on Sylvia and Olivia.” I drag the knife up his left side.
The gargled howls leaving his mouth only spur me on. Perhaps, I should worry about the sick satisfaction mixing with adrenaline flowing through my veins, but I don’t. This asshole has had this coming to him for years. “Join your perverted son in hell, Montgomery. You will never hurt another woman again.”
Then, I lose it. Slashing at him, over and over, tearing through skin, muscle, and bone. Ripping through his legs and his arms, I savage his torso until it’s a bloody mess of butchered organs and tissue. Still, I don’t stop, bringing the knife down, again and again, venting my anger and aggression with every slice of my knife.
“Enough, Jackson.” Anderson pulls me off him. “He’s dead, man. He can’t hurt anyone anymore.”
Slowly, I emerge from my fugue state, staring at the mangled body of Christian Montgomery with detached eyes. Casting a glance at myself, I realize I’m covered in his blood. More blood pools around his body, flowing in rivulets down the floor.
I push Anderson off. “I need to clean up.”
I
don’t look at Nessa or Hunt as I walk past them out the door, taking a running leap off the end of the boat, submerging myself in the cool ocean. When my head pops up, I scrub at my skin quickly, removing all traces of that bastard’s blood and DNA from my body.
“I wouldn’t stay too long out there,” Anderson says, poking his head over the edge. “There could be sharks around.”
“There are sharks in these waters,” Hunt hollers. “I Googled it on the way here.”
I’ve zero desire to become shark nom-nom, so I haul ass back onto the boat, taking a moment to compose myself before facing Nessa.
“Here.” Anderson hands me a towel.
“Is she okay?” I whisper as I dry off.
“She’s barely coherent.” A muscle flexes in his jaw. “There are no apparent physical injuries, but we still need to get her to a doctor.”
I nod, pushing past Anderson, heading into the cabin, making a beeline for Hunt. Nessa is cradled in his arms, her eyes darting wildly around, and I wonder how much of it she was aware of. I hope I didn’t frighten her. That she isn’t scared of me.
I sit down, opening my arms, and Hunt wordlessly passes her to me. Contentment sinks bone deep as I embrace her for the first time in months, and it’s a welcome emotion because I’m feeling weirdly numb. “It’s okay, babe.” I press a kiss to her temple, peering into her eyes, trying to hold my alarm at bay when I spot her pupils darting wildly around. “You’re safe now.”
Her mouth moves, and she spews a jumble of words, but nothing that is distinguishable. Holding her closer, I shut my eyes, using the feel of her body against mine to keep me grounded.
I’ve got to make things right with her, because almost losing her today has woken me the fuck up. She means everything to me, and I’m done denying it. Done hurting both of us.
I press my mouth to her ear even though Hunt and Anderson are standing over the dead body, talking in hushed tones, not paying attention to us. “I love you, Nessa,” I whisper, hoping it registers. “And I’m going to make everything right as soon as I know you’re okay.” I kiss her temple. “Try to sleep it off, baby. I’ve got you.” I rock her in my arms until her eyes shutter closed and her breathing evens out. Placing my fingers at the pulse point on her neck, I breathe a sigh of relief at the gentle thrumming under my skin.
JACKSON Page 28