Severed: A Dark Romance (The Taken Series Book 1)

by Dani René

  Sounds echo when the keys enter the keyhole to the door which allows them to enter the basement where I’ve lived for four years. I flinch when I hear their footfalls, heavy and ominous. Two sets. I can still count the way I was taught. In this hell, I try to keep my mind busy, but it’s difficult when there’s nothing to offer stimulus.

  “The little one is awake.” His voice comes from the other side of the cell before he appears at the bars. I scoot up the bed, pulling my knees to my chest, wrapping my arms around my calves. It’s pointless hiding. He’s already seen me naked, but each time he comes here, I try to conceal myself. All I’m wearing is a pair of white cotton panties they’ve allowed me to cover up with. I’m not allowed a blanket. There’s one pillow, which feels like it’s made of stone.

  “She’s been quiet this evening, sir,” the man who feeds me says. He’s bulky, with dark skin, which reminds me of coffee. His eyes are black, penetrating. Pools of tar which hypnotize me. The man who took me stares at me for a moment. He’s taken me to lavish parties, allowed me to eat the most decadent meals, but as soon as the lights go down, he drags me kicking and screaming to this pit and leaves me alone in the dark like a dog that’s being punished.

  “Hello, little one,” William smirks. His eyes are the color of onyx. An abyss of treachery and torment shimmer as they pierce me. “Are you talking today?” he asks. I should answer. If I don’t, I’ll be punished. I know this, but I can’t. My throat burns with the agony of knowing he can hurt me so much more than he already has. Even so, I don’t reply.

  His eyes roam over me for a moment, taking in my appearance. My red hair is long because he prefers it that way, so he can tug at it. His fist clenches around the locks, pulling my head up and toward him. I don’t know why I’m still here, still alive. I honestly have no idea.

  “Not talking tonight?” he questions. His head tips to the side as he regards me with a satisfied smirk. Perhaps if I play the broken doll, he’ll let me go. But I know it’s wishful thinking. The thing about it is, I’ve seen his face. I know what he looks like, and he knows the first thing I’d do as soon as he let me go is talk to the police.

  “What do you want to do with her, sir?” Coffee says. His voice is a deep rumble, reminding me of thunder rolling through the sky, alerting everyone a storm is on the way.

  “Let’s see if she wants to tell me anything today,” the man with eyes the color of onyx tells Coffee. “I think it’s time we got her to open up about all those secrets in her pretty little head. Perhaps if it wasn’t so pretty, she’d tell us more. Wouldn’t you, little one?” Each day, they ask me a series of questions that I don’t know the answer to. With each incorrect answer, they shock me with the electric Taser. Either that, or if he’s here, he hurts me in other violent, immoral ways.

  “I . . .” My voice is croaky as I try to respond. My throat burns when I clear it, as if there’s sandpaper moving back and forth over my vocal cords. “I really don’t know.” I hate that I sound weak. Like a stupid little girl. I suppose I am. Young and stupid. That’s why he likes me. He enjoys hurting me because he knows he shouldn’t.

  His hair is graying at the sides, hinting at his age. An older man with a penchant for girls young enough to be his daughter. I know for a fact he's got tightly packed muscle under the suit he wears. A businessman with a darkness he hides from his clients, but his friends are well-versed in his sick desires.

  “I think there’s so much more you know. All we have to do is unlock it. Reveal everything I need to know and then you can go home. Doesn’t that sound nice?” His sneer sends fear racing through me. It’s never going to stop.

  Most men are power hungry. They’ll stop at nothing to be gods. They have a penchant for taking what's not theirs to take. I know this because the man before me, the one who was once a stranger with the black eyes, stole everything from me until I had nothing left to give.

  “Do what you must.” My words aren’t angry; they’re defeated. I’m broken. There’s nothing more left inside me, and it scares me. I feel as if I’ll never be whole again. A phone vibrates and sings somewhere on one of the men, and my heart leaps into my throat. But as much as I’d like to scream for help, if I do, I’ll be dead before whoever is on the other line arrives.

  “Yes.” His gruff voice sounds even more foreboding when he answers. While he listens to the caller with intrigue etched on his face, he watches me. Taunting me, waiting for me to try and act brave. But I’m not. Even though escaping is the only thing on my mind, I know it’s futile. “I’ll have my men bring her up. I think that would be splendid. Tonight, at nine is perfect. We’ll have dinner, and you’re welcome to try your luck with the stupid little toy.”

  When he hangs up, he meets my gaze. The darkness only makes him look more ominous. He reminds me of the monsters that starred in my childhood nightmares.

  “Looks like you’ve hit the jackpot, little one. Tonight, you’ll go to your new home. I’m sorry you can’t see your precious daddy, but perhaps one day when you’re both dead, rotting in hell, you’ll meet again.”

  “Fuck you!” I don’t know where my voice comes from, but the mention of my father only spurs me on. I’ve been silent for a long while. It’s been two weeks since I spoke to him like this. Each time I’ve been questioned, it’s been by Coffee.

  His dark eyes seem to light up at my words. “Open your goddamn mouth,” he hisses at me. I know what I’ve done. I’ve angered him, and there’s only one way he handles that. Once the door is shut, he smirks down at me evilly. His eyes glower with rage.

  His hands fist my red tresses in a violent grip. The hold so tight I cry out in pain. I must look like a forgotten toy on the side of the road. He shoves his zipper down and pulls out his flaccid dick. It’s not small by any means. You’d think an asshole like this would be, but no, even soft he’s able to choke me. He drops me on the floor, against the cold concrete wall. My head slams into the stone so hard I see stars.

  “I said, open your fucking mouth,” he grunts, and I do. There’s nothing I can say to stop this. As soon as my lips part, his cock slams into my mouth. I feel it jolt and thicken as he assaults my face. Back and forth, until moments later, he’s rock-hard.

  The tip hits the back of my throat, sliding farther, and I’m sure they can see the shape of it in my throat. He grunts and groans above me, one hand holding onto my hair, the other bracing himself against the wall. His hips piston into me painfully as he fucks my throat, and I feel it, the bile rising. I try to push him away, but I can’t. He’s too strong.

  He grips my nose closed and forces his cock so far down my throat I retch violently. My stomach convulses. I see stars. It’s dark, but the white pinpricks that dance behind my eyelids taunt me. The burning liquid, which was the meagre lunch I was fed only four hours ago, falls from my mouth and drenches my bare skin.

  Tears stream down my cheeks, and I fall limp against the wall.

  “You filthy bitch,” he barks at me. Pulling his cock from my mouth, he jerks himself while he insults me. “You love being fucked, don’t you? Little slut.” His words are painful, vile, and degrading. “Stupid bitch likes me using her holes.” I know why he’s doing this. He can’t get off without being an evil piece of shit. Then I feel the jets of hot semen painting my broken body. I curl up as he turns to walk out of the cell. “Clean her up for tonight.”

  It’s the last thing I remember as I pass out.

  6

  Drake

  As soon as I hang up from the call with Thanos, I smile up at River. After what Harper told us, I knew there was only one thing I could do, and that’s buy her sister from the man who stole her from me. The plan is set in motion. We’re scheduled to meet with William for a dinner, and he confirmed what we already knew — he’s holding the girl there.

  Soon, I’ll gut the fucker, and Caia will be safe with her sister. And me. The thought leaps into my mind unbidden. Do I really want to keep her for myself? Will she even want me? No, it’s stupid to
think she’ll choose to stay with me. My father hurt her far beyond repair, and I stood by and watched it happen. The only thing I can do once I’ve freed her is to let her go. To allow her to live the life she missed out on.

  “It’s all set up?” River questions.

  Nodding, I pick up the tumbler and swallow the liquid. “Yes. We’ll get her out of there and then we’ll give both girls new identities. Set that up and get the passports ready.”

  My best friend nods. “Sure, that’s the easy part. If Thanos’s guards—”

  “I’ll kill the lot of them.” I’m adamant my plan won’t fail. William Thanos will never see the light of day again; I’ll ensure that. And those assholes that follow him around like puppies will meet their maker as well.

  “I know you will. I don’t doubt you, but I want to be there,” River tells me. When I meet his gaze, I know why he wants to be there. The man we’re about to take down stole a lot from us.

  The day my father died, I knew River felt a sense of peace. I could see it in his eyes. The past will soon be behind us, a distant memory, and I’ll ensure my best friend gets his vengeance.

  “We’ll go together,” I tell him.

  Tonight, I’ll ensure one of his greatest enemies meets a horrible death. It may not be the last one on the list that River and I plan to take down. But it will certainly not stop us from exacting justice.

  When I reach the last name on my list, I don’t know what I’ll do. Perhaps take a vacation. Maybe I’ll find peace in knowing they’re all dead and buried. And maybe, just maybe, I’ll find a way to move on.

  Thanos sounded excited when I spoke to him about the girl he’s got hold up in a cell. He thinks I’m meeting him for her. Perhaps I am. It’s been years since I laid eyes on the pretty girl. Years since I’ve wanted her, needed her to the point of being paralyzed with desire.

  For a long time, I thought of myself as her savior. The sad thing is, she’s been there far longer than I care to think about. I know why he took her. She’s beautiful, or at least, from what I remember, she was pure and beautiful. Even though she was bleeding out on me, I knew I’d want her for the rest of my godforsaken life.

  However, what intrigues me is why Thanos wanted her. Why he kept her for all this time, and he hasn’t yet killed her or worse. There were many girls who passed through our organization, but none of them ever grabbed his attention. I know he runs his own underground shithole, but I doubt it’s anything like my father’s.

  Four years.

  Long, lonely years.

  It never stopped them before. But Caia Amoretto was stronger than the others. The thought causes bile to rise in my throat because I know what strong girls suffer. Shaking my head, I swallow my hatred down. Keeping a level head is the only thing I need to do.

  Thanos is convinced I’ll be there to put money on the table to take her away, but I’ll be there to ensure he bleeds out all over his designer suit.

  I make my way to the bedroom, grab my suit jacket, and shrug it on. A glance in the mirror reflects my raven-colored hair, blue eyes, and the cigarette hanging from my mouth.

  “I’ll give you fifteen minutes from the moment you enter his house to the second me and the team sweep the dungeon and rooms,” River says. I glance up, and I see it in his eyes. The emotion he holds for me. Each time I head out on a job, he’s beside me. And as much as I don’t want him to care for me, he does.

  It’s unwarranted. He knows it as well as I do, but that doesn’t stop him from showing it, feeling it. I don’t blame him, but I can’t offer it in return. Not right now.

  “Is the room set up for her when we get back?” He nods in response. “I have no idea of her state of mind. Four years is a long time, and that asshole is a vile piece of work,” I tell him, and the recognition flickers in his green gaze.

  “Are you talking about us or her?”

  Turning to him, I find myself speechless for a moment. Thanos was one of the first clients my father introduced us to. River and I had to show him what we were capable of. Needless to say, it’s a memory I don’t often revisit.

  “Drake, River, come in here,” Father calls to us. He’s meeting with one of his newest clients, and I should’ve hidden in my room with my best friend, but stupidly, I didn’t think he’d want us here for the contract signing.

  “Yes, Father.” I offer a smile, but it’s fake, like so many things in this house.

  “This is one of my newest partners,” Malcolm smirks. “He’s just invested fifteen million for two products.”

  I know what that means. Those products will soon be brought in to the dungeons below and tortured.

  “I’d like you to show him how well you’re doing within the organization.” My father’s expression is one of no nonsense. I can’t refuse him. If I do, he’ll hurt River. I think he knows about my feelings for my best friend. And that’s a dangerous thing.

  “I . . . I’m not sure . . .”

  The thunderous expression stills my mouth. My words fail in the moment my father rises and stalks toward me. His hand grips my throat, shoving me to my knees. He leans in, sneering as he hisses, “This is your future. I trust you’ll behave, Drake.”

  Spittle flies from his mouth. I nod slowly. My heart thudding wildly in my chest, it’s beating a rhythm of agony and fear. A song I’ve heard far too many times.

  “Or would you like me to call Dante in here?”

  “No, I can do it,” I utter swiftly. Knowing that my brother would be hurt makes me confirm that I choose my life to be snuffed before his.

  “Good boy. You and River can entertain William while I get the maid to set up lunch.” Malcolm chuckles, leaving me at the hands of the man who’s now risen from the armchair and is slowly unzipping his slacks.

  “Both of you, on your knees,” William orders, and River joins me on the carpet. The old man tugs his cock, fisting the flaccid shaft as he grips my hair, slapping me in the face with his now hardening dick. “That’s it.”

  I can’t move. His hold on me is tight. In an attempt to save my sanity, I close my eyes and picture something else. I go to a place inside my mind. An island where it’s only me, my brother, and River.

  My best friend’s fingers find mine in a show of solidarity. We’re in this together. My mouth is invaded in the next instant. The tip of William’s dick is lodged in my throat, causing my body to shudder as revulsion trails through me like a freight train.

  He continues violating my mouth until suddenly he stills. I think it’s over, but it most certainly isn’t. He saunters over to where River is kneeling and continues his assault.

  In this moment, I wish for death. I want my best friend and me to both find it, to die together and be free of this nightmare. But I know it won’t come.

  William pulls his now steel shaft from River’s mouth and makes his way back to the chair. When he settles in it, he smirks over at us, barking another order.

  “Fuck each other,” he tells us. “I want to watch you.” He points at me. “Suck him till he’s about to burst.” He gestures to River. This I can do. Can’t I? Glancing at my best friend, I notice the slight nod he offers, and I know he’d prefer me doing this than the vile asshole who’s sitting on the chair feet away. I move quickly.

  I’m about to tug my boxer briefs down when the door flies open and my brother is shoved into the room. My heart aches when I notice the pain in his eyes.

  “Ah, there we go. I requested him earlier,” Thanos offers. “On your knees. You’ll be part of my little fantasy.” The old man chuckles. “On your knees, boy. Drake, here, will be pleasuring you both.”

  My hardened gaze snaps to the old man who laughs at my mouth falling open in shock. I’m shaking my head before I realize what I’m doing. But he’s having none of it. Pulling a gun from the back of his trousers, he points it at Dante.

  “Do it, or your brother will die with his dick in your mouth.”

  The shame of what I’m forced to do, forced to act out, burns through m
e. Yes, I want my best friend, but not like this. Not being held at gunpoint. Not being here for someone’s sick pleasure. And I know my life is completely severed from anything normal again.

  “Her. We . . . we’ve been through it all, but we’re still here. Working our way through the pain. She will too. I’ll make sure of that,” I vow.

  “But how much longer are you going to hide your feelings?” he asks, and I know I deserve it. I should tell him I love him. And I do. But I can’t bring myself to admit it. Not because I don’t want to, but because the confusion that settles in my mind when I think about Caia and River makes me wonder how I can love two people equally. Is that even possible?

  “Let’s get this done, River. I’m not in the mood for this emotional shit,” I tell him as I rise and grab my black combat boots. Shoving my feet into them, I ensure they’re laced and stalk by him into the foyer.

  “Listen to me,” River says, closing the distance between us. His hand settles on my shoulder. It’s confirmation that he’s worried, but he has no need to be. I can do this. “This asshole isn’t some fly-by-night buyer. He’s trained. I’ll be in the background. The team will be too, if you need anything.”

  “When I walk out of his house drenched in blood, with the girl in my arms, that’s when I want you to worry about me.” Casting a glance over my shoulder, I offer him a smile. One that tells him I’m okay.

  He responds with one of his signature grins. It’s sincere, handsome, everything I want from River. Then he murmurs, “I’ll always worry about you.”

  “I know.” My words are harsher than I expect, but he doesn’t notice. He’s too concerned about my well-being. The first time I kissed him was like being electrocuted. I was merely a vessel, and his warmth invaded me, filled me. When I was with women, I didn’t feel that same emotion. Until Caia, and that’s what scares the shit out of me.