The memory of how he felt between my legs came to mind, but I pushed it back. “I guess. Wasn’t much of a conversation. He said I’m going up for auction in a week.”
She frowned. “I’m so sorry, girl.”
“What’s his deal?”
She shrugged. “I don’t know. We normally don’t see him. Tanner does a lot of the training. I– ” her voice cut off at the sound of voices coming from the hallway. Dinnertime was over already? We’d just gotten our meal trays. There was no way time went by that quickly.
We all reluctantly, but with haste placed our trays at the fronts of the cells and took our positions on our cots. The click of the lock disengaging rang through the room and the door swung open to display Tanner, followed by Jazz and then the blonde guard - Connor.
Tanner walked into the room and to the center. “Slaves! I need your attention please.”
I lifted my eyes and met Becca’s stare. I could tell she had the same thought, “What in the fuck is going on?” Tanner wasn’t one for making speeches.
“Now!” The anger was so evident in his voice we all cringed in unison as our eyes lifted to look at him. Once he was satisfied we were all being attentive he walked over to the severely beaten Asian girl. Opening her cell, he grabbed her arm and roughly pulled her from the cell. She was so weak she stumbled and fell to her knees at his feet. She hadn’t eaten for two days and had been using her toilet paper to wallpaper her cell – used and clean.
Grabbing her by the hair, he pulled her screaming body to the center of the room and pulled her up to her knees. “I think we need a little demonstration on how serious we are here about obedience.” He pointed at me, then Becca and went around the room until he’d pointed at us all. “You are all disposable commodities – there’s a million more young bitches where you all came from.”
I frowned as a sinking feeling came over me. I chanced a glance over at Becca again, but her eyes were glued to the Asian girl. Several of the women began to whimper; one began crying.
With one swift movement Tanner pulled a six-inch blade from the holder attached to his belt and placed it at the woman’s neck. Sensing what was coming next the Asian girl began screaming, kicking and lashing out at him, but his strength seriously overpowered her. Because of her squirming she only accomplished nicking herself with the blade several times, but she didn’t seem to notice as she continued her frantic attempted escape.
Without another word, Tanner brought the blade across her neck, slicing it open. Blood squirted from the cut and a low gurgling sound emerged from her. I was so horrified all I could do was curl my knees up to my chest as my mouth dropped wide open.
Screams of terror and wails of dismay echoed throughout the dungeon as the women’s minds began to process the horror before them. But I couldn’t move. I was still frozen, my eyes wide as the concrete floor at Tanner’s feet became covered in the sticky red substance.
Tanner smirked. “Any questions?” The sadistic bastard hadn’t even blinked an eye. Not a bit of hesitation.
Silence overtook the room except for the occasional sniff and heavy breathing as the women attempted to control their emotions.
Tanner pointed the bloody blade at me and then at Becca. “Once my men remove this useless bitch, you and you will be cleaning up the mess.” He jerked his head toward the cell filled with toilet paper. “And that, and I don’t want to see a speck of red on this floor when you’re both done. Am I clear?”
I nodded my head, assuming Becca was doing the same.
Tanner dropped the girl’s limp body to the floor, turned on his heel and exited the room followed by Jazz and Connor, leaving us alone staring in horror at the dead girl whose body was lying in an increasingly large puddle of blood. With the men gone, chaos broke out among the remaining women. Screams, cries, whimpers sounded throughout the room, all feeding into each other, intensifying the emotions.
“I don’t think I can clean that,” I whispered to Becca, doing my best to keep hold of myself. I can’t lose myself now, I just can’t. I tried not to think that it was a dead person lying on the floor looking at me with lifeless eyes.
“We don’t get the option to say no.”
Jazz and Connor returned with a black tarp, grabbed the woman and tossed her onto it, then wrapped her tight and exited, carrying her over their shoulders. With the body gone the women, myself and Becca included, begin to calm and take our spots on our cots, waiting for the Masters to return.
When they returned they were carrying mops, buckets of hot water and a load of sponges and cleaners. Once the supplies were tossed onto the floor next to the mess, Jazz unlocked my cell and motioned for me to exit, followed by Becca.
“Get to work!” Jazz gave me a push at the small of my back and I stumbled forward, tripping and falling into the still-warm tacky liquid. The emotions became too much and a wail erupted from me, a sound so foreign I was left wondering where the God-awful sound came from as I scrambled to get away from the horrifying mess.
Becca fell to her knees beside me and handed me a damp sponge, then proceeded to begin the cleanup.
“Hurry up! Stupid bitch.”
A jab of pain rocked through me as the toe of Jazz’s steel-toed boot came in contact with my side. I screamed out again, falling forward, once again into the bloody mess.
“Shut up you fucking whore –”
I cringed waiting for another blow, but it didn’t come. Looking up, I saw Connor had grabbed Jazz and had him backed against the far wall; they were in a heated argument, neither one paying any mind to me or Becca. My eyes immediately moved to the open door – to freedom! I hesitated. If I got caught then I may end up like the poor Asian girl – or worse. But then again, this may be my only opportunity to escape.
A rush of adrenaline surged through my veins and I leapt to my feet and began running for the open door. I was out before either of them even realized I’d gone. The thought that I left Becca behind nagged at the back of my mind, but as I reached the staircase and began to ascend I promised I’d come back for her, I’d come back for them all.
Halfway up the stairs I heard hollers of alarm in the dungeon below me, followed by the rapid thump of boots. Knowing they were in pursuit only added to my drive to get away. At the top of the staircase I was torn. Left or right? Knowing The Boss was to the left I rushed to the right, praying the hallway would lead me to an exit of some sort.
I rounded the corner and eyes widened in terror as I attempted to skid to a stop, but the forward motion and sudden attempt to stop and turn only made me tumble to the floor at Lance’s and The Boss’s feet.
“What in the fuck!” The Boss’s voice boomed out as the sound of Jazz and Connor’s footsteps rounded the corner and stepped up behind me. I was surrounded.
“Fucking bitch!” A hand wrapped around my forearm and I was roughly pulled to my feet. Panting hard, I didn’t struggle – there was no point. It was over and I’d lost. Connor spun me around and raised his hand, intent in striking me in the face.
I blew my one and only chance of escaping. I didn’t even bother to hold back the tears that began to run down my cheeks. Closing my eyes, I waited for the impending blow, but it never came and the hand on my forearm released me.
“Get your fucking hands off my slave!”
Opening my tear-filled eyes I saw Lance had placed himself between me and Connor. Glancing behind me, my eyes caught the gaze of The Boss. To my surprise he did nothing about my blatant disrespect of looking him in the eye, instead he crossed his arms over his chest and shifted his gaze to his son with Connor, as if waiting to see where the conflict was going to go.
For a brief moment I contemplated attempting to run past The Boss but knew it would be a futile effort. If anything it would get me into more trouble than I was already in. I turned back to Lance and Connor as the men stared each other down, as if sizing up the competition.
Fury flared in the blonde man’s eyes as he glared at Lance. “She tried to escape. S
he needs to be punished.”
“She’s mine and I say what she’s punished for. Back away from her before I make you regret you didn’t.” Being at his back I couldn’t see his face, but I could see the rage vibrating in every muscle of Lance’s body as he prepared himself to make good on his threat on Connor.
Connor looked from The Boss to me and back to Lance. With a grunt of frustration he backed down. “Fine.” Connor looked up and over my shoulder to The Boss. “I apologize Sir, we’ll finish attending to the clean-up.”
“See that you do.”
Closing my eyes, I silently said a prayer of thanks. I may be caught, but at least I wasn’t being handed over to Connor.
Once the two men were out of sight Lance spun around to glare at me. Immediately I fell to my knees, head bowed. “I’m sorry Master.”
“See that she’s dealt with, son, or I’ll allow Connor to do it for you.”
I waited until I could no longer hear footsteps before lifting my eyes and cringed. His eyes were scorching into me, his lips a firm line, rage etched in his expression.
“I’m sorry. The door was open and I – I had to try.”
“Stand up, let me look at you.”
Doing as told I began to rise to my feet and winced as a jolt of pain jabbed in my side right where Jazz had kicked me. I’d been so pumped full of adrenaline that I hadn’t even felt it until now.
Lance closed the distance between us and crouched before me, his fingers running along my side. “What happened to you?” His lips formed a scowl, as his eyes worked their way up my torso to meet my eyes. “Why are you covered in blood? Did he cut you?”
“No. I – I slipped and fell in the blood when I started to clean the floor. Jazz got mad and kicked me when I tried to get up.”
“Motherfucker.” He grabbed my arm above the elbow firmly, but not so tight as to hurt. “I’ll deal with him later. We need to get you cleaned up for our session.” He hustled me back downstairs and in the direction of the doctor’s office, but we veered off before we reached the office and into a shower room, which contained three shower heads. He closed and locked the door behind us.
“Why did they do it?”
“Do what?” He stepped up to me and I lifted my chin as he undid my collar.
“Why did they kill her?”
“Because she wouldn’t submit. No matter what we tried she wouldn’t submit completely and was on the verge of insanity. There’s a point where slaves like her go from defiant to becoming fully submissive, that’s ideally what we’re aiming for. However, in some instances instead of them turning submissive they have a break. Generally the ones with the strongest will have the greater chance of having a psychotic break since we have to push harder to make them submit. Once they have a mental break they’re useless to us. We don’t sell damaged goods and she was too damaged physically and mentally to be sold for a price worthwhile keeping her so she needed to be disposed of.”
A shudder rocked through me. His explanation was said so coldly, as if he were talking about a lame animal that was being taken behind the barn and put down for its own good. Was that how he saw us? Just animals. Human cattle. So was I like some pet to him, like a favourite dog.
“I told you yesterday not to try and run.”
“I had to try.”
He sighed, raking a hand through his hair. “The compound is buried deep into a wooded area. The perimeter of the house is surrounded by a twelve-foot electrified fence. Even if by some miracle you made it out the front door or out a window you’d have never have made it off the property.” He pointed to my leg. “Not to mention you’re wearing the tracking device.”
Capturing my chin in his hand, he lifted my face so our gazes locked. “There is no escaping here, Gwen.”
I could see in his eyes he wasn’t lying. There was no escape. I was trapped and at his mercy.
Chapter 6
Gwen
I wasn’t sure what came over me, but the realization that there truly wasn’t an escape hit me like a ton of bricks and I fell to my knees at his feet, sobbing. When I’d arrived here I swore I’d never allow them to see me cry, I wouldn’t give them the satisfaction, but as the faces of my family flashed into my mind, the thought that I’d never see them again was way too much. I’d never feel my mother’s warm embrace. I’d never go out behind the garage and shoot hoops with my father. I’d never find true love, or get married, or have children or have the life I’d always dreamed for myself.
It. Was. All. Gone.
It wasn’t until my arms were wrapped around his neck and my face was buried in the crook between his shoulder and neck that I realized he’d knelt in front of me and had pulled me into his arms. I gripped onto the back of his t-shirt and continued to sob, gasping for breath between each bout.
I don’t know how long went by with me clinging tight to him. He may be a monster, but at that moment the comfort of a monster was better than nothing. When the tears stopped and I was finally able to pull away from him, his grey t-shirt was drenched with my tears and blood was smeared over the front and shoulders.
I looked up into his eyes and saw compassion, the compassion I’d seen that first day in his father’s office. “Are you okay to stand?”
I took a deep breath in and slowly released it. “Yes, Master.”
“I told you yesterday, when we’re alone you can call me Lance.”
“Lance.”
He smiled and nodded.
Taking my arm, Lance helped me to my feet and led me over to the shower heads. Turning on one he fiddled with it until he found an acceptable temperature and then steered me under the flow of cascading water.
“Don’t move.”
I couldn’t if I wanted to, I was drained, physically and emotionally. The day had been too much, leaving me feeling numb inside. I watched as Lance pulled his shirt up and over his head and tossed it by the door. His bare upper body was as beautiful as I imagined it would be, all lean muscle.
Walking over to a small shelving unit in the corner by the door, Lance grabbed a cloth, liquid soap and bottle of shampoo. He took a moment to kick off his loafers before coming back over to me. Placing the cloth and soap on the ledge behind me he lathered up his hands with the shampoo before joining me under the stream of water.
“Your jeans are going to get soaked.”
A smirk spread across his lips. “Trust me, you don’t what to find out what will happen if I take them off.”
A weak laugh, more from nervousness than anything else, escaped me as my cheeks grew warm.
His smile turned sympathetic. “Turn around, Gwen. Let’s see if we can get this blood off you.”
Doing as told, I closed my eyes as he began to work the shampoo into my hair, massaging my scalp as he lathered my hair. His strong fingers massaged my scalp and felt so good that a soft moan escaped my lips and I leaned back into him.
Was this how people with Stockholm syndrome came to develop their attachment? If it was then I could easily understand how it came about, because all I wanted and needed at that moment was the feel of his body against mine. I just wanted some sort of reassurance from someone I didn’t think wanted to hurt me.
Once he was satisfied with my hair, he soaped up the washcloth and beginning with my neck began to clean and caress my flesh. Leaning back fully into him, I laid my cheek against his shoulder. As he continued to wash me, reaching my breasts, the feel of the ridge of his cock restrained behind the tight denim began to press against my bare bottom. Not caring that it was wrong and that I shouldn’t want him, I pressed back against his growing erection and was rewarded with a low feral growl from him.
Lance’s lips brushed against the side of my neck, sending a shiver through me and igniting an ache between my legs. “Please don’t, Gwen,” he whispered as he moved his lips to my temple and placed a soft kiss there.
Turning in his arms, I pressed myself flush against him, slipping my arms around his neck and urging his lips down to meet mine
. “Why not? I just need somebody right now. Why can’t it be you?”
Refusing my urging for a kiss, he pressed his forehead against mine, closing his eyes, while holding me tight to him. “We can’t do that, Gwen. I’m sorry for the situation you’re in, but my empathy for you doesn’t change anything.”
“Can’t let emotion get in the way,” I echoed what he’d said to me the previous day.
“No, I can’t.” He stepped back from me and crouched down. The feel of the washcloth on me went from sensual to mechanical, cleaning away the blood from my flesh quickly and efficiently until the water ran from pink to clear.
Once done he stood and wiped the water from his face as he turned off the shower. The droplets glistened as they glided down the hard curves of muscle. My eyes wandered down his torso to his jeans, which were completely saturated with water and clinging to his powerful thighs and revealing the massive bulge constrained within them.
My gaze lifted, roaming up his chest and to meet his. As I met his stare the need within his eyes sent a tremor through me. Stepping forward, I grabbed his belt buckle and was about to undo it when he grabbed my wrists and stopped me from further undoing his pants. “You’ve been through enough today. The training can wait until tomorrow.”
Bending down, he grabbed the collar from the floor. I took a step backward, eyeing the collar. For a brief few minutes I’d almost been able to push out of my mind where I was and I felt an equal to him, but the collar reminded me. I wasn’t human to him, just a pet.
“Lance, please.”
He closed his eyes a moment, took a deep breath in, slowly released it and when he reopened his eyes the emotion was gone and just emptiness remained. Ignoring my plea, he advanced on me, slipping the leather contraption around my neck and securing it.
“We’ve discussed this. I’ve given you more leniency than I should already.”
There was a row of leashes hanging in the cabinet where he’d gotten the washcloth. Grabbing a towel, he wrapped it around my body and then attached the leash to my collar.
Bad & Bold - A 7 Book Bad Boy Romance Collection! Page 78