Chapter Six
Brit
“You've been lazing around a bit,” my father's voice came out of nowhere. “It's time to spice things up a little.”
Sitting bolt upright on the bed, I placed my hands on either side of me. My skin went cold as his words sank in. Melody had been telling the truth about the cameras and the speakers. Why hadn’t I believed her?
Wait, spice things up? What was my father going to do? For all the years I'd been loyal to my dad, he'd tested me, intent on proving that I was worthy of being his heir. I'd fought hard to show him that I would be capable. I just knew, in my bones, that I was destined to lead our family. Didn’t I?
“Go to the main living area,” my father ordered, “Both of you.”
Tucking my hair behind my ears, I climbed obediently off the bed.
My father had an obligation when it came to the rituals, that's what he'd always told me. I’d grown up half guessing at what happened, but I’d known that they were to help those who needed cleansing.
I wasn't sure how the rituals would look when I took over.
The idea of them sent my head into a spin.
I thought I wanted change but every time my father did something to punish me, I fell back in line, remembering his teachings.
“Hurry up, Brittney.” His voice sent a shudder through me as I pulled on my shoes and headed out of the bedroom door.
It had been a few hours since I'd seen Fly. Hiding in the bedroom was my only defense and I would stick to it. I couldn't hang around with him, knowing that he might snap at any moment. And yet, a warm fuzzy feeling spoke to me when I thought about the way he hadn't hurt me. Yet.
Entering the hallway, I hugged myself as I made my way downstairs to the living area. Fly was there, pacing the rug in front of the window.
“What does he want?” Fly barked at me, his forehead creased. “I've had enough of these games.”
“The games have only just started,” my father's voice rung out.
“And here's another one for you. Brit, you have a two-minute head start. I want you to run from Fly. Fly has to give chase, and if he catches you, he gets the chance to knock some time off his stay here by doing anything he wants to you.”
My insides churned as I stared at Fly, who actually grinned. My father was making us play cat and mouse for his own enjoyment. How could he do that to his daughter?
“I can't get away,” I exclaimed, “How is that fair?”
Fly flicked his eyebrows at me and I glared, crossing my arms over my chest.
“He only has three minutes to find you,” Chad said, an excited catch in his voice, “and if you evade him, you get to ask me anything you like.”
“I get a question?” I shouted, heat firing through my veins. “A fucking question?”
A bleep sounded over the intercom and I froze, my eyes widening.
“Time to start running, Brit.” My father was clearly bubbling with enthusiasm.
I glanced at Fly, who bared his teeth in a frightening grin. He was a sicko for playing along with my father's game.
Ten seconds.
The robotic sinister voice spurred me into action and I turned, heading straight out of the living area towards the stairs.
There were a couple of corridors upstairs that would lead me away from Fly, I just had to tread carefully.
The countdown was quick as I reached the top and looked over the banister, checking to see if Fly had moved out of the front room.
He was still inside. Would he defy my father and leave me alone?
“Coming,” he called as the bleep came again, “ready or not.”
Shit, I’d wasted time looking for him. Heart pounding, I surged down the main corridor, looking for a door with a lock. His heavy footsteps sounded on the stairs behind me and I stifled a cry, shooting to the back of the hallway and turning the corner.
Another corridor ran the length of the back of the house and I hurried to the right, trying to keep my footsteps light on the wooden floor. I slipped into one of the bedrooms, just as a sound echoed behind me.
Breathing hard, I edged the door closed, cursing inwardly when it creaked revealing a bare lock. Damn.
I spun and searched the room, spotting the thick wooden double bed with tall legs. If I got under the bed, there was a chance I could hide until the time ran out. Surely, it would be soon?
Moving as quietly as I could, I got down onto my front on the musty rug and slipped under the bed, facing the door so I could see Fly go past.
His footsteps sounded and I gasped in air, holding it as I waited for him to move on.
He did. Phew. I released my breath, only to hold it again when his footsteps stopped.
The sound of blood rushing in my ears drowned out any other noise…
until he returned to my door, pushing it slowly.
The creak sent a chill down my spine and I resisted the urge to cry out.
How had he moved so fast with an injured leg?
His scuffed black boots shuffled to the side of the bed. I tried to breathe silently and froze, squeezing my eyes shut. He stood still for several seconds before his boots turned away. Good, he was– a hand wrapped around my ankle and tugged hard, dragging me out from under the bed.
I squealed and covered my head, looking up at my captor. He smirked, his jawline tightening. His t-shirt clung to the muscles of his torso and a faint sheen of perspiration lined his collarbone and neck.
“Found you.”
The simplicity of his words sent a chill over my skin.
“Good job, Nate,” Chad said over the hidden speakers. “You can now do anything you want to my daughter.”
Scowling at me as I pushed up onto my elbows, he crossed his arms over his chest. I stared him down, ready to get up to my feet and fight.
“No, he can't,” I said, loudly so my father could hear. “I'm not some toy to be played with.”
Fly crouched low over me, his presence forcing me to lean back until I lay down again. Wait, what was I doing? Practically saying take me! I jumped up, forcing him to stand. He laughed as he grabbed the top of my arms and spun me, pinning me against the wall with his body.
“Get off me!” I exclaimed, trying to get my hands between us to push him.
He put his hands on either side of my head on the wall, leaning close to stare into my eyes. I swallowed as his masculine scent slipped up my nose and his hard stomach muscles grazed against my soft belly.
“Anything?” Fly called, glancing upwards.
I heaved in a breath as I shook my head, glaring at him. “Don't you dare!”
“Anything,” Chad said back, his voice tight.
I shuddered, my eyes widening when Fly lowered his head and whispered in my ear. “And you think that what he does is perfectly normal?”
His breath on my ear sent tingles down my neck and I bucked against him, trying to dislodge his bulk. My body was heightened with adrenaline and he groaned, just for a second, before lifting his head to give me a cold stare.
“If you dare to touch me against my will,” I yelled, “I will kill you.”
He chuckled and shook his head, brushing the tip of his nose against mine. We both stopped dead. An electric shock had shot through me and I couldn't move, too afraid of what my body would do.
“What are you waiting for?” Chad sounded pissed. “Do something to her and you'll knock two weeks off your confinement. If you don't, there'll be consequences… for her.”
Inhaling, Fly gave me a sardonic look, his eyes grazing my breasts. I tried not to breathe, working with all my will to keep my tears at bay. I was completely defenseless and the intensity was too much, especially when his hard cock pressed into my stomach.
“Fine!” Fly called.
I went rigid as he lowered his head, planting a soft kiss under my earlobe. “I'm not him,” he said low in his throat. “I don't force hundreds of women to fuck me. But, if it's the only way to get out of here, I might have to take you.”
Pushing away, Fly turned and left me, standing against the wall, my heart beating hard. I watched his strong shoulders as he disappeared, as my father cursed loudly over the intercom. He would pay for not doing more. He would pay and so would I.