by Laura Lee
“Uh... this is nice and all, but wasn’t Kingston supposed to meet us here?”
He pulls his phone out of his pocket and runs his thumbs over the screen. “Have a seat, babe. He was grabbing your cake and some drinks. He’ll be right down.”
I take a seat and pat the bench beside me. “I won’t bite.”
“Nah, I’ve done my job. I don’t really wanna be here when your boy arrives. I’m gonna head back to the boathouse, although I’m much more of a doer than a watcher.” He wags his eyebrows.
I shake my head. “Ugh, I didn’t need to know that.”
Bentley shrugs. “Quite frankly, I need the distraction.”
I quirk my head to the side. “From what?”
“From the fact that I lost the girl.” He gives me a sad smile.
My mouth forms into an O when I decode his words. “Bent—”
“Naw, baby, don’t do that. It’s all good.” He leans down and places a kiss on my cheek before taking a few steps backward. “I’ll smoke a little more, drink a little more, and get lost in a pussy or three at the boathouse. I’ll be just fine.”
I’m still a little in shock from seeing this serious side of Bentley. I can’t think of anything to say, so I just sit there like an idiot watching him walk away. A few minutes later, I’m still alone, getting more creeped out with each passing second. Why the hell Kingston thought leaving me in the woods by myself in the middle of the night was a good idea, I’ll never know. That asshole better get here fast, or I’m walking back.
An owl hoots from somewhere above, adding to the ominous feeling in my gut. Where in the hell is he? I whip my head around when I hear a twig snapping behind me, followed by the crunching of shoes on the fallen leaves. Fucking finally!
I turn, expecting to see Kingston, but instead, I see two men wearing dark ski masks, coming right toward me. Oh, fuck.
I jump off the bench and immediately start running. Two masked dudes scream trouble. I’m not giving them a chance to bury my body out here. I can hear them behind me, but I’m not chancing looking back. I hate being so exposed, so I dart into the woods and pray the trees will provide some sort of camouflage.
“Oh, sweetheart, we like it when they run,” a deep voice taunts behind me. “It makes catching our prey much more satisfying.”
The other one laughs, the sound of their amusement chilling me to the bones. Who are these twisted fucks? And seriously, where the hell is Kingston? I almost trip in my flip-flops so I kick them off, running barefoot now. The sticks covering the forest floor scrape my skin, but I barely feel the pain because I’m too terrified to think of anything but escape.
“Help!” I scream. “Somebody fucking help me!”
I know we’re far away from any houses, but I have to try getting someone’s attention.
“We like it when they scream, too,” the same man calls out. “But save your breath. There’s no one out here to save you.”
Shit. Fuck. Shit.
My eyes dart left and right, trying to decide which direction to go. I can feel them closing in on me, so I pump my legs harder and veer back toward the shore. Running straight along a path has to be better than going in circles. Just as I reach the mushy soil running along the water, I scream out in agony as I’m pulled back by my hair and slammed into the ground. My face is smashed into the mud as a heavy body covers mine from behind.
“Get off me!” I struggle as hard as I can, but he’s so much bigger and heavier than me.
The asshole tightens his grip on my hair and pulls. “Fucking hold still, bitch.”
I try kneeing him in the balls as rough hands flip me over, but he predicts the move and blocks me.
“Fucking hold her feet!” the guy yells.
His partner grabs ahold of my ankles and secures me in place. The wind is knocked out of me as the other guy presses his knees to my chest and slams his meaty palm over my mouth. I see a flash of silver right before I feel the tip of a sharp blade at my throat.
“Now listen up, you cunt,” he seethes. “This is how it’s gonna go. You’re going to stop trying to maim us and you’re going to open those pretty legs of yours. If you try screaming for help again” —he presses the blade in farther— “I’ll slit your fucking throat. If you take it like a good girl until we’re done with you, you get to live. Understand?”
I fight against the panic brewing inside of me. I need to somehow keep a clear head and figure a way out of this.
Tears are pouring down my face as I nod my head as much as he’ll allow.
The man removes the knife from my throat, trailing it between my breasts. “Are you going to be quiet if I remove my hand?”
I nod again.
I look up at the sky as the knife moves farther, focusing on the stars instead of the horror of my reality. I cry out when he grabs my breast roughly, pulling so hard it feels like he’s trying to rip it off my body.
“Oh yeah, these are some real nice titties. Pretty little things, just like the rest of you. I wonder if they taste as good as they feel.”
I whimper as I feel the cold blade against my shoulder before he cuts through one, then the other strap of my dress. He pushes the material out of the way and yanks my bra cups down, exposing my bare breasts. He rolls my nipples between his thumbs and forefingers before dipping his head and sucking one into his mouth. Bile rises in my throat but I hold it back, knowing if I vomited all over this guy, he’d be even rougher.
“Mmm, sweet as candy. I wonder how your pussy tastes.” He bunches the lower half of my dress up.
I don’t think I can take much more of this. I feel like I’m going to pass out.
“C’mon, man.” The other guy stands up and starts pacing nervously. “This isn’t what we’re getting paid for.”
What?! A scream curses inside my head when I feel the blade slicing through the strings on my panties. Asshole number one pulls the material away and leers down between my legs.
“Shut the fuck up,” he says. “Do you see this gorgeous little pussy?” He runs the handle of the blade over my mound, slowly dragging it lower. “She’s freshly waxed and everything. It’s like she was waiting for us. Our employer will understand.”
“Who’s your employer?” I bite out. I figure if I’m going to endure what’s about to happen, I might as well get information so I can kill the fucker responsible for this afterward.
“Did I say you could talk?” Asshole One tsks.
The handle of the blade presses into my clit before going lower again, stopping at my entrance. Oh, God, this is really happening. I’m about to be raped with a knife in the middle of nowhere by some psycho. Violence rages inside of me, demanding I fight back, giving me the adrenaline spike I need to make it out of this relatively unharmed.
I buck my body, catching my attacker by surprise. The blade flies out of his hand onto the ground beside me.
“You’re going to pay for that!” he screams right before punching me in the face.
Spots dance across my vision as I dive for the knife. I’m sure the alcohol and weed I’ve consumed tonight aren’t helping. My attacker and I grapple while the other guy keeps pacing, mumbling something to himself.
I get to my feet as my fingers wrap around the handle, raising the knife threateningly. “Stay away from me! My boyfriend is going to be here any second, you prick!”
Kingston’s not exactly my boyfriend, but that’s not important right now. Asshole One distances himself, but he doesn’t look nearly as bothered by the fact that I’m now wielding the weapon as he should be.
He gives me a smarmy smile. “Oh, you stupid, stupid girl. No one’s coming for you. Who do you think led the lamb to the slaughter?” The guy laughs as he sees doubt creeping in. “That’s right, sweetheart. Your precious boyfriend doesn’t give a shit about you. Neither do his friends. Sweet talking you out of your panties was all part of the plan. Now, you’re at our mercy.”
My hand starts shaking. No, he’s bluffing. He has to be bluffin
g. But why isn’t Kingston here yet, I wonder?
“You’re lying!” I scream, although there’s no conviction behind my words.
He holds his arms out to his side. “Am I? You don’t sound too sure.”
My hand is shaking violently now. I scream when he lunges for me, tackling me back to the ground. He’s twisting and squeezing my hand painfully, trying to get the knife but I refuse to let go. That is, until I hear a snap and excruciating pain forces me to release my grip.
He straddles me, raining blow after blow against my face. My eyes are filled with tears, making my vision blurry. One eye is so swollen, I can barely keep it open. The pain from my injuries are so intense, I’m drifting in and out of consciousness.
I keep fighting and screaming though, knowing it’s my only hope. This man is too enraged and nothing is going to stop him unless he’s incapacitated. I manage to land a solid blow to his nuts, causing him to bellow out in pain. The smile quickly dies on my bloodied and cracked lips when it feels like I’m being stabbed with a white-hot poker. Instinctively, I reach down with my broken hand and feel blood oozing out of my stomach.
My gaze locks on my attacker as I choke on the hot, metallic liquid rising up my throat. I turn my head, vomiting blood.
“Oh, shit, man!” the other guy yells. “You stabbed her! You fucking stabbed her! We need to get the hell out of here!”
The bastard stands up. “Look what you did, you dumb bitch. You could’ve just spread your legs and this would’ve never happened.” He gives me a swift kick to the stomach to punctuate his statement before both men flee.
I double over, clutching my wound, trying to stay alert, but I’m not very successful at it. I’m not sure how long I lay there in my tattered dress. It could be minutes. It could be hours. My mind races as my battered body accepts its fate.
It’s funny the things you think of when you’re dying. Like, I wonder what kind of birthday cake Ainsley got? I was hoping for chocolate, maybe with a raspberry filling... although, I suppose it doesn’t matter anymore. Or... it’d be really cool if I was walking on the beach right now, feeling the ocean tickle my toes as the waves crash against the shore. I bet some local going out for a jog will find my body. Haven’t you ever noticed that? Runners always find the dead bodies. I can see the headlines now:
Teenager Stabbed to Death in Quaint, Mountain Town
It’ll shake up this community temporarily, but before you know it, I’ll just be that poor girl who died by the water’s edge. Goosebumps scatter across my flesh as a chill courses through my body. Damn, it’s cold up here. Of course, the one time I actually wear a dress, I get stuck out in the wilderness.
What really pisses me off—and yes, I have every right to be pissed as I lie here bleeding out—is that I can’t stop thinking about the fact the people responsible for this will get away with it. They’ll graduate high school, go off to college, eventually get married and pop out pretentious little babies, never looking back. Never knowing what it’s like to have consequences for their actions. These people will always live in a world where you can solve any problem, get away with any vile act, by throwing a little money around.
My body sinks into the ground, the smell of mud and copper assaulting my senses. I really should get help, but moving isn’t exactly an option. Screaming isn’t one either—I’ve already tried that and all I have to show for it is a raw throat. My head lolls to the side, eyes falling to the glassy surface of the lake as the fingers on my non-broken hand flutter over my abdomen, unsuccessfully trying to staunch the flow of sticky blood.
As I stare unblinkingly at the full moon reflecting off the lake’s surface, I realize the irony of my situation. I’m no stranger to violence—I’ve spent most of my life surrounded by it. When you’re impoverished, or craving your next fix, you’d be surprised what people will do when desperation sinks in. That’s why my mother taught me to be vigilant, to take precautions. I took her lessons to heart and managed to survive over seventeen years without incident.
It fucking figures that when I actually do become a victim of violence, it’s in a place drenched in wealth.
I suppose that’s what I get for trusting a liar.
The last thought I have before losing consciousness is that I’m going to make them pay. If I get out of this alive, I will make every last one of them pay for what they’ve done. And if I don’t make it... if this is the end for me... I’ll haunt those motherfuckers from the grave.
TO BE CONTINUED IN book two of the Windsor Academy series, RUTHLESS KINGS. Expected release: Summer 2020.
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WINDSOR ACADEMY PLAYLIST
ALSO AVAILABLE BY LAURA LEE
STANDALONE NOVELS
♥ Beautifully Broken
♥ Happy New You
Dealing With Love Series (Interconnected standalones)
♥ Deal Breakers (#1 Devyn & Riley’s story)
♥ Deal Takers (#2 Rainey & Brody’s story)
♥ Deal Makers (#3 Charlotte and Drew’s story)
Bedding the Billionaire Series (Interconnected standalones)
♥ Public Relations
♥ Sweet Temptations
♥ Billionaire Bosshole
Windsor Academy Series (Each installment must be read in order)
♥ Wicked Liars
♥ Ruthless Kings (Summer 2020)
♥ Fallen Heirs (Fall 2020)
Pixie Dust Chronicles (Each installment must be read in order)
♥ Pixie Dust
♥ Vampires, Warlocks, & Exes ~ Oh My!
♥ My Fairy Lady (Novella)
♥ Finding Faerie
♥ Elemental Magicks
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
LAURA LEE IS THE USA Today bestselling author of steamy and sometimes ridiculously funny romance. She won her first writing contest at the ripe old age of nine, earning a trip to the state capital to showcase her manuscript. Thankfully for her, those early works will never see the light of day again!
Laura lives in the Pacific Northwest with her wonderful husband, two beautiful children, and three of the most poorly behaved cats in existence. She likes her fruit smoothies filled with rum, her cupboards stocked with Cadbury's chocolate, and her music turned up loud. When she's not chasing the kids around, writing, or watching HGTV, she's reading anything she can get her hands on. She's a sucker for spicy romances, especially those that can make her laugh!
For more information about the author, check out her website at: www.LauraLeeBooks.com
You can also find her “working” on social media quite frequently.
Facebook: @LauraLeeBooks1
Instagram: @LauraLeeBooks
Twitter: @LauraLeeBooks
Book + Main: @LauraLeeBooks
Reader’s Group: Laura Lee’s Lounge
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
TO MY HUSBAND, TAD: You are my rock. Our world is in chaos right now and the one thing that never waivers is your love and support. I wouldn’t want anyone else by my side in this crazy thing we call life.
To my beautiful children: You two breathe life into me. I love you more than anything.
To my friend and fellow author, Julia Wolf: Thank you for your brainstorming genius. This book wouldn’t be out in the wild without you.
To my lovely beta, Crystal: Thank you for allowing me to pop your bully romance cherry. Your feedback, as always, was invaluable.
To all the seriously awesome bloggers & bookstagrammers in the book world: There’s a lot of scary things going on in the world right now and we could all use a little
escapism. Your tireless efforts to spread the love of reading romance helps with that. I appreciate you so much, as a reader and a writer.
To my incredible Feisty Fae, ARC team, and Loungers: Thank you for being such awesome, hilarious, wildly inappropriate, and supportive peeps. Do people even say peeps anymore?
To my editor, Ellie McLove of My Brother’s Editor: Thank you for dealing with my delays and polishing my work to make the final product so much better! You’re an absolute joy to work with.
Last but never least, to my readers: If you’ve been with me for a while, you know I like to write in several different romance subgenres. That said, this book is darker than anything I’ve written before. If you don’t normally read bully romances but took a chance on it anyway, thank you for your faith in me. If you found me through this book, welcome to the craziness that is my brain! Whichever category you fall under, I appreciate you more than words can say. You are the reason I get to do what I love for a living.