by A. A. Dark
Violent visions flickered through the background howling. The old me was dying in the presence of familiarity. I could hear her as I peeked over my arm to see the giant still standing there. His towering build wasn’t my focus. It was the fresh claw marks I held to. Two parts of me were transitioning—two people taking up space inside me. Innocent Layla was dying, giving birth to a bitter, scorned slave who didn’t know failure. Who had never given up on anything she put her mind to. They twisted together, morphing to understand the ways of this new world. To plot the death of the rapist and murderer I’d been cast to.
A smirk flashed as the giant stepped back. A thought had the scar to the right of his eye twitching. Whatever he was going over in his mind wasn’t good. I knew that as his lips widened even more into a grin and he pointed. He’d come again, I was sure of it.
“Layla. God, Layla.”
Aamir’s voice cracked through his cry. I heard it, but I didn’t turn to face my brother until the giant disappeared around the corner. Even then, I couldn’t meet Aamir’s eyes.
“There’s so much blood. He didn’t…he better not have…”
He couldn’t finish, and I couldn’t answer. I wasn’t crying anymore, but his heartbreaking tone made me want to begin all over again. It stuck through my newly forming armor, trying to drag me back down to face what I had just been through. But I couldn’t go there. Not yet.
“Please, talk to me. Look at me.”
“There’s nothing to talk about.”
A pull on my hand slid me forward, and I cried out as my body locked in pain. My legs scissored and the slickness trailed the entire inside of my limbs. Even my ankles were slick as I drew into the fetal position and inched my way back to lay my head in Jessa’s lap.
“Shit, he did. He fucking raped—” Aamir’s sobs overpowered his words. Loud clicks from the lock slammed against the metal as he repeatedly kicked into the door of the cage. Commotion sounded at the far side of the room, and I felt the heavy footsteps before I saw the colossal build burst into view. Frantically, I flew up, ignoring the burning as I dove against the bars and jerked at my brother.
But it was too late.
“You want out, boy? You look’n for a fight?”
“No. No, he’s not!”
My voice was drowned out by Aamir’s threats. The room was beginning to spin through my fear. Without a doubt in my mind, if my brother was released, the monster would kill him. I couldn’t be here alone. I couldn’t lose him.
“Let me out of this cage, you ugly fuck. Open the door!”
“No! No,” I said, shaking my head. “He doesn’t want out. Chain me in the room. Take me back. Do whatever you want, just don’t hurt him.”
The giant paused in his advance of Aamir, locking his evil eyes on mine.
“Layla, no!”
A laugh echoed around the space just before he bent down, unlocking my cage. My brother was crying again, trying to wrap his arms around me through the bars. Fingers got caught at the ends of my hair, and Aamir fisted his hand to try to keep me in.
“It’ll be okay,” I stressed. “Promise me you won’t try anything, or this will be for nothing. He’ll kill you.”
“This kills me. Don’t go. I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinking. I’m so sorry. Don’t—”
My leg was pulled so hard, I flew free of Aamir’s hold, sliding into the wood at the giant’s feet. I did break then. Tears streamed down my cheeks while I mouthed, “Work.” Knowing what I was going back to scared me, but if it would save my brother, I didn’t care. Without Aamir, Jessa and I didn’t stand a chance. He was the only one who could be on the deck, and we needed him to figure out a way to set us free.
Chapter 12
Everleigh
“Your actions are reckless and endangering. Not only to you, but the ones who follow your lead. You flirt with this idea that your actions have no consequences. I feel as though from a professional standpoint, you ignore my advice at every turn. I told you going back to your home would make things worse, and I think they have. This man, this Bram who plays a significant role in your past, he is not your friend, Mrs. Harper. He’s not someone you can trust with yourself or the lives of your people. You have told me how unstable he can be. Yes, he was wronged by your late husband, but to believe he would pardon what you’re doing is not only going to get you caught, it is going to get you killed.”
“Perhaps.” I clasped my hands in my lap, sitting straighter on the leather sofa as my doctor poured her concerns out over my behavior. I knew she meant well, but she had never spent a day in Whitlock. She didn’t know the real goings-on within the fortress or that it even existed. Although she was a master of the human mind, she also didn’t know Bram or how far the stretches of love and hate could go.
“Perhaps? That’s all you have to say?”
“I’m afraid so. You told me not to go, and I went anyway. I know things could have gone horribly wrong. They didn’t. My plan was well thought out. Everything was executed perfectly. I was lucky.”
“To say the least. What if someone would have discovered you breaking into his home?”
“Our home,” I corrected.
She paused. “Yes. But what if something bad would have happened to you or one of the men who followed you inside?”
My lips pressed together as I kept my composure. Dr. Tori had a point, and I should have let her win so I could go on my merry way, but I couldn’t shake the need to argue her overstepping her bounds. I’d originally brought her in to help with the nightmares...the hallucinations that had plagued me. The glimpses of Bram were gone now, but I wasn’t sure the nightmares would ever go away.
“My men know the risks. It’s why I pay them so generously.”
“Risks?” She grew quiet, shifting. “Is human life worth risking at all?”
“I guess it would depend on the circumstance. In mine, yes, I believe it is.”
She waited for me to continue, but I didn’t. Although I liked Dr. Tori when we weren’t in these sessions, I didn’t trust her—I didn’t trust anyone. All she knew was the confetti world I threw at her. It was full of holes and colorful half-truths. I paid her to stay close by my side, but I feared she was putting things together more than she should, and I didn’t like that.
“Can I ask you something, Dr. Tori?”
“Of course.”
“Do you believe I’m a bad person?”
“Bad?” At her standing and walking to stare out the window, I held in my smile. “Not bad, just reckless at times. Your innocence and fear when I first met you were surprising. There were many things you didn’t know, which I felt were odd. But that’s gone now. You’ve almost seemed to blossom before my very eyes. Into what, I’m not sure. The change that’s happened frightens me sometimes. You have secrets you haven’t told me about. I can hear you talking and crying out in your sleep. What is the White Room, Everleigh? Why do you call out numbers when you dream? You often say eleven, as if you’re speaking to someone. Is eleven a person?”
Luke, my main guard, came through the front door, throwing me a look. He was in his standard dark suit and his brown hair was cut short. Hazel eyes took in the room, even though he headed toward me. I stood, turning back to Dr. Tori, giving her a smile.
“Business. If you’ll excuse us, Dr. Tori.”
The moment I turned back to Luke, the smile melted. The click of her heels echoed through and disappeared farther down the hall. He didn’t speak until he was sure she was out of range.
“The scout still remains in Athens. He’s down by the resort’s pool again. What would you like us to do? Is it time?”
“No. Not yet. Our dear doctor has been holding back. She knows too much. Get rid of her.”
“At once, Mistress.”
Luke disappeared as I let out a ragged breath. I walked over, grabbing my phone, not sure who I was going to contact. Every day dragged on into an endless array of confusion and loneliness. I could see the sights. I could get out of these wal
ls and try to find something entertaining to do if I wanted. But even that didn’t appeal. I had men to watch over me, but I’d never be able to relax enough to enjoy myself.
The beginnings of a yelp sounded in the distance and died out just as fast. I let out a sigh, collapsing to the sofa and clicking my messages to Scout Five. Scouts. I never would have thought. Bram wasn’t wasting any resources trying to find me. Was he still here? No...he wouldn’t be. He’d run back to protect his fortress and was probably seething over the fact that I’d breached his world and didn’t get caught. Was he watching the recordings? Dissecting every little move I’d made? Did he see what I took from his room?
I lowered the phone, resting my head back as footsteps moved and left through the front door. It wasn’t long before they returned.
“It’s done. Mistress Harper?”
“Yes?”
The moment Luke came around the side of the sofa, I lifted, watching his closed-off expression. The man was a mystery to me despite knowing everything about his life. He’d been with me from the beginning, replacing my main protector when Jackson almost got us caught. There wasn’t much Luke missed, and he gave me space, which I liked even more.
“I meant to speak with you earlier, but you were in your session. I looked into the ship the twins were put on. I’m afraid it’s not good.”
“Not good how? I thought you said it would take them to the island and they’d fly out to Whitlock.”
“Correct. And they will, but...I’m afraid this ship isn’t a normal ship. I reached out to a few of my connections. It’s a slave ship. The workers, they’re mostly boys either taken or signed on and held against their will for work on the fishing vessel. The condition of the twins won’t be good. The man who supervises, Quinton Rambor—they call him Ram—his past is riddled with run-ins with the law. Rape, attempted murder, numerous domestic occurrences.”
“You think he’ll hurt my twins?”
He gave a stiff shake. “I don’t think. I know.”
My teeth clenched through the anger. “How long do they have until they get to this island?”
“The last I checked, another week, give or take.”
“I should have never let that damn scout put them onboard. But I can’t keep them here with us either. They’re young, unlike Kelly. They’d run and cause all sorts of trouble.”
Luke reached into his pocket, withdrawing his cell. “You can’t save them all, Mistress.” His eyes went from me to the screen as his fingers moved. “But I may be able to get their location. We could interject and help that way.”
“And then what?”
Luke bit his bottom lip, something I’d never seen him do before.
“This island they’re headed to. I know of it. My brother...he runs it.”
I shot to my feet, unable to stop myself. “I beg your pardon?”
“We’re not on speaking terms, but if I asked him to take care of it, I think he might. At a cost, of course.”
“Your brother is a Master? The Main Master of a slave island? The same brother who in your records is dead? Or do you have another I don’t know of?”
“The dead one. How he became what he is, I may never know. It’s a long story, but we served together in the same branch of the military. We were best friends. He was on a tour overseas when I heard they came under attack and he lost his life. I buried my brother and thought he was dead for years.” He squeezed the phone harder. “How he ended up on this island is a mystery. I wouldn’t have even known had I not crossed paths with him from my last employer. He wasn’t a good man and had a lot of shady connections. We only went to the island once, and I only saw my brother when we first arrived. But it was him, and later, with some…persuasion, I managed to come by his number from your former husband. That’s how I met West Harper and why I was able to land the job working for him. But my brother, he’s not the same person he used to be. Not even close.”
I swallowed hard, frowning as what I knew of his past sank in.
“I want to go to this island.”
“Absolutely not,” Luke rushed out. “It’s not safe. If you step foot on his soil, he may never let us leave. Let me try to talk to him. I’ll do what I can to get your twins to safety.”
“You said there was a price. Are we talking money or something else?”
Luke’s eyes lowered to the floor. “It’s hard to say. With this new Gavin, it can be anything.”
Chapter 13
Scout 5
One day. Two days. Three...four.
Each hour passed torturously. I got no more texts or calls. Bram Whitlock grew restless with the silence. We searched endlessly for slave twenty-four-six-ninety, but had no luck spotting her or her employees. I’d spent so much time in the sun, my skin emanated heat, even while inside. And I swore to myself, the moment I found Everleigh Harper, I’d only scout in the colder climates. I was over this heat. Over the brightness and fake smile I kept plastered on my face.
“We have to come up with another plan. We have to find a way to draw her out. Two more days. That’s all I can afford to stay for.”
Bram’s deep tone came through my phone, mimicking my own thoughts. We’d had enough. We were ready to end this.
“I’ll slip into places where someone could easily take me if they wanted. I’ll continue to give them every opportunity I can.”
“I know you will. It’ll be up to her to make the move. I’m just hoping she’s still here so she can.”
We both grew quiet as I walked the length of the small living area. “I wish there was a way to track down her number. If I could just talk to her again, maybe I could provoke her into making a move.”
“Provoke my slave? You must have a death wish. If we can’t get to you in time, she will kill you.”
“I know. That’s why you’re going to come in and save my ass so she doesn’t.”
Bram’s laugh was light. “Don’t worry, we will. You have nothing to worry about. If she takes you, she condemns herself. She won’t be able to touch a hair on your head before we’re there.”
“Good, because I happen to like my hair...and my face.”
“Well, get that face outside so she can see it. Call me back if anything seems suspicious or she contacts you again.”
The line went dead, and I hung up, shoving the phone in my pocket. I wasn’t wearing board shorts today. The last thing I felt like doing was laying out by the pool again. Instead, I locked my door and headed through the lobby into the busy street. The shops were crawling with tourists. I scanned the windows and random outdoor tables as I lost myself in the city. The farther I got away from the commotion, the more I realized I wasn’t alone.
Heading around the block, I kept my pace leisurely, even withdrawing Whitlock’s phone to train on a crumbling statue no bigger than my arm. As I set up the shot, my finger hovered over the button, hesitating at what appeared in the background.
Click.
I didn’t look up. I couldn’t as I scrambled into my messages and texted the picture to Bram.
“Well, well. What do we have here?”
A large arm shot out from behind me, snatching the phone from my grasp. Only then did my eyes lift to the woman approaching. She’d stood from a chair outside a café farther down, but it didn’t appear coincidental. She hadn’t paused in her approach while I’d been looking at the screen. She was smiling, and with purpose. The fact that two men were at my back only told me they’d been waiting for this. Waiting for me to walk this exact route. And it had taken me days to.
“Scout Five. We meet at last.”
Dark hair went just past her shoulders and she was more beautiful in person that I could have imagined. Her cheeks were a soft pink. She wasn’t tan. She was still almost just as pale as she’d been in the pictures.
“Slave.”
“That’s Mistress to you.”
The hit to the back of my head was so hard, my knees buckled at the force. I knew even as I was going down, it had to hav
e been the butt of a gun. I also knew Bram would be coming. He’d be here any time, just like the rest of the men.
“Let’s get him in.”
An SUV pulled up beside us. They were leading me by my biceps, and I still couldn’t quite get my bearings as they pushed me in. Warmth tickled down the back of my neck and I swayed as I blinked hard to make out the dark interior.
“You have given me more trouble than your life is worth. Do you know what my twins have been through? Do you know how they suffer?”
My mouth opened as we took off at a fast speed, but a response wasn’t there. Everleigh glared at me from the front passenger seat. One of the men on my side elbowed me, but there was nothing I could do to answer.
“I had hoped to rescue them and prevent anymore beatings or rape, but I’m afraid it’s proved impossible. They are still days from Red Island and the Master there will not answer his phone.” Blue eyes narrowed even more as she looked me up and down. “Have you ever been raped, Travis?”
“Is t-that what you plan to do?”
My voice was shaky, not sounding anywhere near as threatening as I intended.
“Oh, yes. Rape is the least of your problems. I told you before you kidnapped my slaves that if you made this choice, you’d take their place. That means you will go through all they have.”
“And after that?”
Everleigh stayed quiet as she looked down at two phones. My phone, and Whitlock’s phone. The fact that I was only realizing the weight at my back was gone was a bad sign. These men were good. They’d stripped me of my weapon and emptied my pockets without me so much as realizing. Even through my daze, I should have felt it.
“Interesting,” she said lowly, pulling out her own phone. Vibrations sounded from my personal cell and she glanced over at me, lifting the Whitlock one. “You do realize how stupid this is, don’t you?”