Chapter 21
21
CHARLOTTE
R owan stood in front of the hooded man who was strapped to a table by his arms, much like the table I’d been strapped to myself. Seeing it brought back the memories of my captivity and torture, fueling my own rage.
“What did you do to her?” Rowan asked, and the man wasted no time in answering.
He seemed to be unafraid of Rowan, and his arrogance was infuriating. I was about ready to jump in myself. I hadn’t tried or wanted to torture someone since Richard, but for this reason without hesitation I would, because I remember him, and everything he did to me. I planned on making him face the same pain that I endured, if not worse.
And he laughed. “Oh, man. You have no idea. There are no words to describe the sort of joy it brought me to be with Charlotte.”
As he spoke, I could see his member grow stiff through his boxers and my cheeks flushed in embarrassment and shame. I refused to look at Rowan’s face right now.
“I took her in every way I could, over and over again. But oh man, the cries that came from her as I fucked her face. And let me tell you, watching Lacey rape her was such a treat, too, made the whore squirt. She wanted more, so she got it. But we all know that there's no pleasure without a bit of pain, am I right? Look, if you’re going to kill me that’s fine. But at least let me have her one last time. I’d like to go out as I come.”
I kept my eyes trained on the floor. How could he do this? Sit here and listen to these stories and how these men used me, then it hit me. While motivation was the main driver, he was making them confess. I could guarantee he had a camera somewhere in case he was ever incriminated for these murders. Rowan was clever.
His voice was sultry and filled with need, as though he couldn’t get enough. I could tell by Rowan’s stance that he was getting angry, too, and he stepped up to the table.
“Wait,” I said, holding up my hand.
Roe backed off and gave me the lead. I raised my mask as he lowered his and approached the table, gently pulling the hood off the man’s face.
“My face will be the last thing you see,” I said in a monotone voice.
“Charlotte, you’re a good fuck. It’s a shame you’re wasting it on a lowlife like Rowan. Let me free and I’ll show you how a real man fucks. Don’t you remember our time together, baby?”? he said, lifting his hips off the table. I smiled at him and held his gaze.
“Rowan, spread his legs and tie him down.” I ordered.
The man bit his lip, and I could imagine that he thought he was about to get laid.
“He wants a good time, it's only fair we give it to him.”
I gave him a seductive look and bit my own lip as I ran my hands over his hard chest, feeling the goosebumps I left as my hand traveled over his body.
He moaned his approval as I dipped my hand lower, pulling his dick through the hole in his boxers.
“Look at your princess, Rowan” he growled. “Jacking me off like a good little whore.”
“Charlotte, watch yourself,” Rowan warned sharply, but I ignored him and continued.
I stroked along his erection, letting it rest warmly against my palm. In the blink of an eye, I pulled a knife out of my pocket and flicked it open before slashing roughly at the base of his length. It didn't slice through easily, but that was okay because I hoped it hurt more, I wanted it too. Blood spurted out of the fresh wound as I used sheer strength to rip it off the rest of the way, and I could feel it tear just by holding it. As I worked, the man screamed and arched his back.
“Bitch!” he spat at me. I shrugged with a low chuckle as I shuffled along the table’s edge to show him his own member that I held in my hand.
As he opened his mouth to scream, I shoved it in and pushed it down his throat with all my might.
“Choke on it,” I whispered as his own blood smeared across his chin. “Like. You. Made. Me.” My words were laced with revenge.
I turned from the table and scoured the floor with my gaze, looking for anything I could find . It's not enough . Humming, I located a rusty pipe about two feet in length and picked it up. Turning it this way and that, I admired it and felt bad for it at the same time for what I was about to do. Not for him, I felt bad for the rusty pipe. Returning to the table, I yanked his boxers down as he choked and gagged for breath around his own dick.
“Sorry I can’t hear you, try speaking up a little.”
I readied myself and placed the end of the pole against his asshole, and pushed in slowly.
“This is going to hurt,” I warned, shoving the pipe into his ass as far as I could. And when I couldn’t get it to go any further, I used both hands and all my body weight to slam it further into him. I fucked him hard with it, dragging it out before forcing it back in, until he was a bloody mess, and I was satisfied.
He couldn’t scream, but I imagined he would have if he didn’t have a cock in his mouth. And I could see the quiver of his anus as it took the intrusion. He was crying, at least, and for that I was successful. Rowan ripped his own mask off his face as I picked up the knife I’d discarded in my search for the pipe.
“Fucking christ, Lottie! That's enough,” Roe screamed my way.
I slammed the knife into the man’s chest, feeling bone and muscle give way to my rage before retreating and stabbing him repeatedly, I plunged my knife deep into his body as I stared at him. His blood painted me, and I could see the life leave him agonizingly, but still I continued, unable to stop. It was satisfying and I screamed it out against every crunch of bone. I didn’t want it to end. I wanted more. Vaguely, I heard Rowan calling my name, but I couldn’t shake the trance-like state I was in. I felt this man’s blood on my face and spilling onto my chest; I felt powerful.
Leaving the knife lodged in his heart, I turned to face Rowan. His face held an expression of shock, his eyes wide, and if I wasn’t mistaken, he looked scared. His hand was hovering over his cock, when he noticed me, he quickly straightened up and leaned against the wall, playing it off. I smeared the blood on my cheek and stalked toward him, smirking.
“If you’re the devil, what does that make me?”
“My wife Lottie, it makes you my fucking wife,” he groaned, tracing his finger down my neck as I swallowed thickly.? He grabbed me by the back of the neck and pulled me in for a sexy, seductive kiss. I returned it with fervor. I was exhausted and ready for sleep. Killing someone in cold blood would have its effect on me, and right now I was satisfied.
I wrapped my arm around Rowan’s torso, breathing his scent in as we snuggled together on the couch. Music played softly through the TV as we rested. I felt oddly satisfied knowing that the last man who’d hurt me was dead, and I was the one who ended it.
Guilt was creeping in on me, though. I never thought I’d be the kind of person to kill someone in cold blood, let alone torture and kill them. I’d never been a vengeful person. If someone wronged me, I’d just look the other way. But saying anything was never a thought. Somehow, I just couldn’t let go of what they did to me. It was the reason I allowed Rowan to hunt them down in the first place.
I’d given him my consent and thought it would make me feel better just knowing that they would all meet Rowan’s wrath, but I quickly discovered that it wasn’t good enough and I craved more. I craved my own satisfaction, and while it was there, I couldn’t mask my fear, reason, and morals that were now screaming at me. What have you done, you stupid girl?
“Is it supposed to feel better, Rowan?” I whispered, hoping he could shed some light on why I felt so sick.
I felt him shift under my grasp. “No, but it feels good, doesn’t it? In the moment, at least. Just let me handle things and you… take it one day at a time, okay?”
I nodded, temporarily placated by his words. “Okay.”
“I was scared of you, you know,” Rowan jested. “I’ll have to remember to keep myself in line, so I don’t fall to your hands. Fucking dick hurt watching that.”
I laughed. Leave it to Rowan to find humor in all of this. At least I knew I could be terrifying if I needed to be. That might come in handy somewhere down the line. When that would be, I wasn’t sure. But it was there if I needed it.
One of Roe’s favorite songs enveloped us with its melody and he stood, pulling me to my feet.
“Let’s dance,” he said, and he pulled me into a warm embrace as we swayed back and forth as he hummed to the beat.
I laid my head on his shoulder and let him lead me. These were the moments I lived for; quiet, intimate, loving. That was the Rowan I fell in love with. Smiling, I let him spin me before he pulled me back into his chest.
“You are the strongest woman I’ve ever met, Princess,” he said. “I love you, and I’m so sorry for not saying it enough.”
The stubble on his chin rubbed against me as he planted a warm kiss on the top of my head, and I lifted my head to return the gesture, my lips taking his in a soft, romantic kiss.
A few days later, I found myself walking side-by-side with Nicole, whom I’d barely had a moment with. I missed having normal moments with her, but I couldn’t help but feel like she’d known about Jason. How could she not know? She was still there, though, and she’d helped take care of me in those first days. She was there when I didn't trust anyone.
I was conflicted. Unsure what to think, I remained puzzled. She hadn’t made an effort to convince me one way or the other. Nicole seemed only to want to avoid the subject altogether. Yet here she was, asking me if I could join her on a walk like we used to do, and I knew what she wanted to talk about. I dreaded it. It would be the moment that either broke our friendship or fixed it, and my subconscious was leaning more toward the ending of something beautiful.
“I wanted to talk to you about Jace,” Nikki said, keeping her eyes on the path in front of us. I kept walking. “I feel like it’s my responsibility to apologize for what he did. I don’t think Roe will ever trust me again, and I’m afraid of losing you. You’ve been my best friend for my entire life, and I hope you know I’d never hurt you.”
I didn’t think Rowan was all that angry at Nikki, though. Whether or not he trusted her was a different story. He seemed to be returning to his normal self, and for that I was glad. He didn’t even seem angry at Jason anymore, and maybe I could follow suit. I didn’t need to hold a grudge against someone who didn’t directly hurt me.
“I’ve forgiven Jace for myself, but I’ll never forget what he’s done. He betrayed us, and he hurt Roe. He helped the Walkers infiltrate my home and forge a takeover. He’s a traitor, Nikki. But I want you to know that Roe will come around. You just have to prove yourself. And you should be warned that if Jace ever shows his face again, he will be dealt with accordingly. There will be no mercy,” I said coldly . It has to be this way.
Nikki nodded her head as tears came to her eyes. “I love you, Charlotte. I hope you know that I had no idea what Jace was up to. I’m one hundred percent a part of the Bennett Family, and if I’d known he was a snake I wouldn’t have allowed myself to fall for him.”
I searched her eyes and saw nothing but the truth. I could trust her and knowing that seemed to lift a dead weight off my shoulders. I felt lighter — more free— knowing that I had my best friend at my side again.