by J. L. Drake
“No.” I stand. “I want to go back to the States where I can live a real life that’s mine.” He smiles slightly. I’m guessing that’s the answer he was looking for.
“You’ll never get that while Denton is alive.”
I feel bold. “Then let’s deal with that problem.” His eyes pop open. “Look, Tim, I’ve been through some real shit before. I’ve never killed anyone, but I know good trumps evil. You said it yourself, Denton is pure evil. Let’s try to make this world just a little bit better by taking him out of it.”
He stands there towering over me, studying me, thinking for a few long moments. I start to second guess if I can trust this guy. Oh, shit, maybe this is a test!
“It can’t happen right away,” he finally says, putting his hands on his hips. “It’ll be too obvious.”
“How long are you thinking?”
“A few months.”
“Two weeks max is all I can do.”
He makes a face. “A month.”
“Two weeks.”
“Three.”
I let out a long, shaky breath, mulling over my options. I could try to escape, but if he punishes like Tim says he does, I know I’ll break. “Okay, under one condition.” Oh, god, what am I agreeing to?
“What’s that?”
Cole
Cole clicks his radio, signaling to Blackstone that they are close to the drop-off spot. They’re five minutes out when a call comes through on the satellite phone. He glances at his father, who shakes his head. No one should be calling unless something’s happened. Everyone is silent; only the rev of the Land Rover engine can be heard.
“Mike?” Cole answers quietly.
“You’re not going to believe this, Logan, but…go ahead.”
“Cole?” Her voice smacks his stomach into a somersault and lodges it right into his throat.
“Savannah? Where are you?” He has a ton of questions, but he stops himself.
“Hi.” He can tell she’s fighting tears.
“Hi, baby,” he gets out. “Where are you?”
“I’m somewhere in TJ. Some farm with a Louisiana-looking home. Cole, his name is Denton.”
“The American’s?” he asks, still shocked to hear her voice.
“Yes. Luka’s dead. The American killed him. I don’t know where Douglas and Lynn are. I’m here at The American’s house, and there are other girls here. Five others.” She races on, “The American brainwashes them. He says he wants to sleep with me tonight, but…” Cole clenches his jaw so hard he’s sure he cracked a tooth. “Tim is his muscle, and he’s going to help me.”
“Hold on.” Cole is trying to take in her words, but she’s talking a mile a minute. “Who’s Tim?”
“The American’s bodyguard. He said he doesn’t want to help Denton anymore. Cole, he’s going to help me get rid of him. It will take three weeks, then Tim will help me get back home.”
Cole glances at his father and shakes his head. “Savi, I need you to listen to me. Are you near a window?”
“There’s nothing for miles, Cole. Umm, Depex…the-the security key code to get through the driveway gates is, ahh, 55725.”
Cole scribbles her information on his arm. “Okay, calm down, slow down. How long did you drive for?”
“I don’t know. Tim gave me Tylenol for the pain, so I slept most of the way.”
Cole lets out a long breath. “Baby, that wasn’t Tylenol. He drugged you so you didn’t know where he was taking you.”
“No, Cole, Tim is going to help me.”
“Why did you have to take Tylenol?” Cole asks, ignoring her last comment. Silence. “Savannah?”
“My family all turned on me. That’s why The American killed Luka. I think my ribs are fractured. Physically, I’m okay, but until Tim offered to help me, I think I was mentally slipping.”
Cole closes his eyes, wanting to take her pain away. “We’re about to cross the border. I’m coming for you, baby. I will make sure of it.” He hears her starting to cry and jams his fist into the dashboard, cracking it. John pulls the Land Rover over, getting out with the others and giving him a moment alone with her.
“I have this tiny,” she hiccups, trying to find her voice, “razor blade tucked into my bra. I thought about using it.”
Cole’s heart misses a beat. Leaning forward and catching himself, he pleads with her. “Please, Savannah, hold on for me, I need you. If you can take anything away from this phone call, take this. I’m coming for you. I’m in love with you. You know that! We’re going to be okay. I just need you to hang on. You need to make me another Fritter.”
“Yes, Colonel.” Her voice suddenly changes. Someone must have come into the room.
“Is there someone there?”
“Yes.”
“Tim?”
“Yes.”
“Just stay put. I’m coming for you. I need you to repeat after me. "Nos encontramos mañana enfrente de la marketa con la puerta roja a las tres de la tarde." She does, making it sound like she speaks Spanish fluently. “Perfect job. Okay, don’t say a word about any of us.”
“All right,” she sniffs, making him want to cry himself. “Colonel?”
“Yes, baby?”
“The snowflake…that’s what I’m holding on to.” The line goes dead.
“You got a hit, Mike?” he asks, knowing Mike is still listening and taking down all the information Savannah rambled off.
“Burner phone. I’ve already started the search on the security system. I’ll be in touch.”
Cole drops the phone on his lap, needing a moment to comprehend everything that just happened. His heart aches thinking about her last words. The night he bought the snowflake necklace for her was the night they both declared their love for one another. It’s good to know that even after all she has been through, especially after seeing that photo, she still loves him.
His father is the first to get into the Land Rover. “Tell me, is our girl all right?”
Cole wipes his eyes. He hadn’t even realized they were watering while he talked to her. “We’ll see.”
Daniel reaches over and gives his son’s shoulder a tight squeeze. “This is what we do, and we’re damn good at it. Have a little faith.”
“Yeah.” He blows out a breath to release some of the tension while the rest of the guys pile in, and as John starts the engine, Cole says, “Change in plans, boys.”
Savannah
Tim slips the burner phone into his pocket and nods toward the bathroom.
“He’ll be expecting you to be clean.” He makes a sorry face. “We can’t have him wondering why I didn’t do my job.”
I look down, feeling a wave of nausea run through me. Can I really trust this man? I wonder what Cole made me repeat. I know better than to ask questions when we are not alone. Tim picks out a short dress and leaves, saying I need to be downstairs in one hour for The American’s arrival.
I quickly shower, taking every so often to control my meltdowns, dress in the ridiculously short red dress, slip on what can only be described as stripper stilettos, and head downstairs. Every step makes my stomach knot tighter, makes me want to run out the front door and across the border to freedom at any cost.
A little old man, a staff member, gives me a small nod and points to where I’m supposed to go. I wonder if he knows I’m being held here against my will. I’m sure he does.
I enter a massive dining area and find myself stared down by five very scary girls who look like they’re out for blood. I have no doubt that I just stepped into a new rendition of The Hunger Games. I take the open seat next to a blonde girl who snickers when I settle in.
The redhead with the bad dye job across from me makes a show of looking me over. Her drawn-on eyebrows are raised as she shoots daggers at me. Not knowing what to do with myself, I reach for my napkin and place it on my lap.
“Esta gringa thinks she has manners.” Eyebrows snickers, making the rest of the girls laugh except the blonde girl next to me.
<
br /> “Her name is Savannah,” The American—Denton—says, his voice sucking every ounce of strength I have left out of me. “You can learn something from her, Tracy.” He leans in and runs the back of his fingers down my cheek. I freeze, paralyzed in fear.
Tracy, a.k.a. Eyebrows, points her fork at me. “Shit, Denton, she doesn’t even want you.” She looks over at him, flashing a toothy smile. “You want me to show you how much I want you?” She opens her mouth and flicks her tongue. Yuck.
“Enough, Tracy, or I’ll send you upstairs again.” Tracy’s face drops at The American’s words.
Dinner is served, and they all start to eat. I stare at the plate, feeling like I want to vomit.
“Every girl has to eat, Savannah.” The American rests his hand on mine. I quickly pull it out from under his, not wanting any kind of contact with him. “Are you going to fight me every step of the way, my love?”
“I’m not your love.”
“In time, you will be,” he says, sounding very matter of fact.
“You can’t love a monster,” I hiss under my breath, hearing the girls gasp.
The American closes his eyes and takes a deep breath. “You will treat me with respect, Savannah.”
“Like you have with me?” I counter, fearing my not-so-silver tongue is going to get the best of me here soon.
“Leave us,” he commands the rest of the girls. They quickly grab their plates and scurry out of the room. Eyebrows mutters something about the attic as she leaves, making the hair on my neck stand at attention.
I notice Tim giving me a tiny shake of the head. I don’t care; I won’t be here for much longer. One way or another, I will be leaving this house.
A serving guy snatches my plate from in front of me as someone else removes my fork and knife.
Denton chucks his napkin on his empty plate with a deep sigh. “I don’t tolerate name-calling. I demand respect from you.” My god, this man has some nerve. “So, what do you have to say to me?”
Don’t do it, don’t do it, don’t do it!
“You’re insane if you think you’ll get me to break like the rest of your puppets.” I get to my feet, making the chair scrape along the floor. My voice is oddly steady. “You’re forgetting, Denton, I was held captive for seven months. They didn’t break me, they only made me stronger.” That’s a lie, but he doesn’t need to know that. I tap my head and lean toward him. “Mentally and physically. So what I have to say to you, Denton the monster, is fuck you.” I say the last two words slowly and accurately.
He runs his tongue slowly along his teeth, and I can see him vibrating. Oh, I hit a nerve. But then a smile appears, and I know I won’t like what’s coming next.
“I think it might be time to show you that your life isn’t what you think it is.” He nods to Tim, who quickly exits, returning with a laptop and a file.
Okay…
Denton opens the laptop, clicks a few buttons, and then turns it to face me.
I lean forward then freeze, seeing it’s the TMZ article the woman in the elevator mentioned. My eyes trickle down to the two people kissing, and I almost lose it.
Chapter Ten
My father’s arm is wrapped around Lynn’s waist, and his tongue is stuck down her throat. He clicks a few images, showing me different angles. No matter how many times I look away and look back, I feel betrayed. He was like a father to her! She was his other daughter. How many times have I heard him say that? I wonder if Luka knew.
“Luka was involved too,” he says as if I had asked out loud. “It is said they took turns sometimes, or perhaps at the same time. Lynn was their entertainment, but it is she who is the true mastermind of this whole situation.” The American swings the computer to face him and starts typing away. “You see, Savannah, your own family wanted nothing to do with you. This threesome has been going on for years. Lynn was barely of legal age when your father approached her. Lynn has ambition. She is determined to make something of herself, so she went along.”
This is insane…I sink back into my chair.
“How-how could you know all of this?”
“I’ll get to that right after…this.” He turns the laptop around again, and I feel my feistiness fade away, leaving raw, gritty pain. “Yes, Savannah, the Colonel has been a busy man since you’ve been gone.”
“It’s…” I take a moment, gathering myself, “just a picture.” Another one to add to the pile. Deep down, I know there has to be an explanation, but he hits the arrow button, showing me another one, and the knife twists a little deeper.
“I know you and the colonel have a relationship. I saw his face when Luka mentioned your name. We tortured him for hours and got nothing, but,” he raises a finger, “when Luka mentioned you sexually, he reacted. It was a telltale sign that we found his weak spot.” He shrugs. “But now you’re gone, and men have needs.” He hits another button, showing me more. The pictures are all with the same girl. They look to be in Texas. She’s a beautiful blonde, with long legs, huge boobs, and she is sporting the skimpiest outfits. In every picture, he’s touching her in some way. The one that hurts the most is where he’s tucking her hair behind her ear, gazing at her the same way he looks at me.
“How did you get these? These could be from years ago before I met him.”
The American points to a digital sign that’s off in the background. Shit, two days ago.
“How?”
The American closes the computer and leans back in his chair. “Remember, Savannah, everyone has a price. Anyone can be bought.” His eyes flicker with amusement at his little comment. “It’s all about finding what they want. I’m a wealthy man, Savannah. I can make things happen.” I shake my head. My brain is spinning, desperately looking for answers. “I got to one of the colonel’s men. He was willing to do anything for me once I knew he had three kids under the age of ten, and one has high medical expenses. When I handed him a wad of cash, he practically wept.”
“Who?” The word is like acid on my tongue. Everyone’s face from the house flickers in front of me. “York?”
“Oh, please, don’t be insulting, Savannah. York was an asshole pervert who couldn’t even finish the job I ordered him to do.”
“He almost killed me!” I slam my hand down on the table.
The American waves a hand at me. “But he didn’t, just like he didn’t get the results of your blood tests online like he was supposed to. He could have done it. He was fine with hurting you, and he was fine with handing you over to me, but he was never going to give up the location of their base.”
“Then why did he flip?”
“Positions in Blackstone.” He shrugs. “York wanted more, but he said Daniel couldn’t see past his own son. The golden boy who made colonel before most made it to captain. Jealousy is a bitch.” He grins at me like his answers make me feel better or something. “So, I moved on, found someone younger, someone I can trust to do some digging. I sent the word out that York was done, and he offed himself before I could get to him. One less worry to deal with.”
“So, who is it?”
“Who do you think?” His eyes challenge me to answer, but I’m smart enough to keep my mouth shut.
“You’re bluffing.”
“Am I?” He opens a file and tosses a stack of pictures at me. They slide around the table, some falling to the floor. They’re all of Cole and the blonde woman. However, some are at different times of the day, and she’s in different outfits. Clearly, she and Cole had been spending time together and recently. “Nice to know when you’re in trouble you can count on him, hey?” He pats my arm. “Well, the colonel is clearly getting his own needs taken care of.” He pauses for a moment. “Your life has been a lie. Nothing is what it seems, but this, my love,” he leans forward and gives me a hungry gaze, “this can be something real.”
My head drops. I feel so tired I just want it all to end. Everything hurts. I wish I could slip away somewhere, anywhere, even if it means I have to create false happiness. At least
I can blissfully pretend life is good.
“Now, let me take you to bed. I can make you feel so much better.”
That does it. I come abruptly out of my stupor and glare at him. “You touch me, and I’ll cut your dick off when you’re sleeping. I will never sleep with you, so you wasted your money buying me. You can take your sick, twisted, little fantasy and shove it up your ass!”
“Oh, such a mouth. This is not like you, Savannah. You need to calm down. You have no one but me now to love you. The proof is in your past. The proof is in those pictures. Are you sure you want to threaten the person who saved you from all that? The one person who’s asking you to give him a chance? I want you to be mine.”
I stand. I’m done. This man is mad.
“I can never love a monster. How can you expect me to love you? You may think you can buy my body, but you can’t buy my soul.”
I see a flash of anger in his eyes, then he grabs my arm and drags me up the stairs to a small room in the attic, tossing me to the floor. Tim follows us and picks me up, muttering something about never speaking to The American like that. He apologizes for having to handcuff me to the wall, saying he hopes I’ll only be left here for a few hours then leaves me alone with my thoughts.
I’ve almost fallen asleep when I hear his boots, and then a flash of gold catches my eye. My stomach twists, but he just stands there staring at me like he used to do when I was in TJ. I am pleased there is only a little light that filters through the window of the attic.
His suit jacket strains against his shoulders as he leans against the doorframe. I won’t look at his face. I won’t give him that satisfaction of seeing me at my worst. I know he enjoys it too much.
“I need you to behave, Savannah.”
“And I need to not be chained to the wall,” I mutter darkly.
“Do you how long I have been watching you?”
A shiver races across my skin. I’ve been wanting to know this answer for so long now, but I’m also nervous to know the truth.
“Remember when you and Lynn were visiting friends in Texas? You had on a light blue dress with yellow heels. Your hair was swept up on one side, and you had these dangly earrings that sparkled from the streetlamps.”