Chapter Twenty-Two
(Ten Hours Ago)
Knox
I’m an idiot. I should have known better. Nick gave me the creeps the second I met him two months ago. He was in the Little’s area of the Playpen one day and asked if I would go on a date with him sometime in the future. I hadn’t been able to fully regress, not even with the other Littles, so I agreed. I had hoped that being around a Daddy Dom would help me but the only thing that happened that day was me freaking the heck out.
I wasn’t feeling any connection with the man, and he just had this weird vibe. I told him that I didn’t think our connection was strong enough for the type of relationship we wanted, and I left. He’s called several times, but I just ignored him. I haven’t heard a single thing from him in over a month, so I thought he had moved on.
I was wrong.
“Is my baby ready for a nap?”
Nick walks towards me with an adult diaper in his hands.
“I don’t regress that young,” I try not to sound as scared as I am.
“You do now,” Nick smiles. “And babies don’t talk.”
“If I can’t talk, how am I going to give my consent or tell you my safe word?” I ask desperately, backing against the wall. “It’s red, by the way.”
After we were pulled from the back of the semi, the girls were taken away while Nick tossed me into his car and brought me to what I can only assume is his apartment.
I’ve spent the better part of an hour begging to know if my friends were okay. He said that they were rescued and will be fine. I have no other choice but to believe him.
“I don’t require your consent,” Nick laughs. “Either do as I demand, or you will be punished.”
I’m the first one to admit that I’m submissive. I enjoy the power a Dom can hold over me. But only the ones that I know I can trust. Ones that won’t take advantage of that power.
Regardless of my fear of his threat, I shake my head.
“I’m not playing this sick game with you,” I mumble, not able to get my voice to sound firm. “I’m not going to do what you want.”
Nick’s face reddens and he tosses the diaper aside. Before I even register what he’s planned, he rushes forward, spins me, and slams me against the wall. I didn’t have time to turn my head and blood pours from my nose.
“I didn’t think I would get to punish you so soon, my baby,” he croons against my ear. “I’m kind of excited.”
Nick is a big man. He’s at least six foot tall and outweighs me by at least one hundred pounds. I’m helpless as he wraps his arms around me and forces me onto the dang Saint Andrew’s Cross that I’ve actively ignored since he brought me here hours ago.
“Please, don’t,” I beg, tears running down my face. “I’ll be good. I’ll do what I’m told.”
“I know you will,” Nick laughs. “But it’s too late to back out from the punishment I promised you. Your little misbehavior will all be forgotten afterward.”
I kick and fight, but no matter how hard I struggle, Nick manages to tie me face down to the cross.
“I’ll allow you to keep your pants on this time,” he tells me. “This isn’t going to be a spanking punishment, anyway. I think you need something a bit more drastic this first time so that you don’t ever think about disobeying me again.”
My body jerks as he rips my shirt, exposing my back. This can only mean one thing.
Fueled by renewed strength, I twist and turn my body trying to get loose.
“Give up,” Nick laughs. “You won’t be escaping my knots. I think ten stripes across your back will be a good start.”
“PLEASE,” I scream. “RED. RED. I DON’T CONSENT TO THIS. PLEASE, STOP.”
But it's useless. Time stretches out like forever as that ominous whip sound cuts through the air. My heart slams to a sudden stop, and my breath catches. Even though the whip comes down fast, it's as if time slows down, giving me a brief moment to brace myself.
In the blink of an eye, everything rushes back - sounds, my frantic heartbeat, and my breathing. The crack of the whip hitting my back jolts my whole being, rendering me silent in the face of the intense pain playing out in my mind. By the time the second strike hits, I can't suppress the desperate plea for Nick to stop.
At the count of six, I can't deny the warm blood trickling down my back. By ten, the edge of unconsciousness looms. Each lash feels like a barrage of whips assaulting my back. I realize Nick is wielding a cat-o'-nine-tails, a cruel instrument historically used for punishment, especially in naval settings. Made up of nine knotted cords, each adorned with small metal balls or shards, it was crafted to mete out excruciating pain - something I now know all too well.
I surrender willingly as the waiting arms of darkness open, pulling me into its embrace.
***King***
Present Time
“Are you here for the young man?”
I glance over to the woman sticking her head out of her apartment door.
“What young man?” Ghost asks.
“The one that has been screaming in there since this morning?”
She points to the apartment we are seconds from rushing into.
“Did you call the cops?” I ask.
“No. I figured someone else would. Are you here to help him?”
“Yes ma’am,” I say calmly when all I want to do is rip the old woman’s head off. “Head back into your apartment.”
“I’ve never wanted to kill an old woman as strongly as I do now,” Blaze says.
“Michael’s robot overlord said that there are only two people inside,” Viper says quietly.
“I’ll go first,” I begin. “Then be…”
Screams fill the hallway, and all thoughts of plans go out the window. Steel kicks open the door, and we all rush inside. My brothers freeze at the sight before us. If it weren’t for my extensive training and my father’s voice in my head telling me to show no weakness, I would have as well.
Knox is tied to some sort of X-shaped wooden device. He’s face down with his arms and legs tied to each section. He’s completely naked apart from a diaper and his back is covered in marks from the damn whip Nick Thornfield is welding.
Not giving Nick the opportunity to register that we’re here, I rush forward and have the man face down on the floor with his hands secured behind his back.
“You’ve made a terrible mistake,” I whisper in his ear as I lean forward with one knee on his spine.
“Ouch, man. That hurts.”
“I hope it doesn’t hurt too much,” Ghost says. “This is just foreplay to King. I can’t wait for you to experience his type of kink.”
Nick starts screaming which only causes my sick mind to jump with joy.
“Pops and Michael are on their way to collect him,” Ghost says. “I’ll make sure he doesn’t move. You go help them get Knox off that damn thing.”
Ghost steps forward and places his foot on the back of Nick’s neck.
“Little one,” Steel mutters softly. “It’s alright. We’re here.”
The silence coming from Knox is worrisome. He doesn’t even whimper when Steel lifts him into his arms.
“Hold him steady,” Doc says.
Even after all these years, I find it fascinating when one of Venom’s Alters takes control.
“He’ll be okay,” Doc says after checking him over. “Let’s get him to the hospital right away though. Some of these lashes have been on here for a few hours. I want to get some antibiotics in him before an infection sets in. Seems like I’m always sending one of you to the hospital for an antibiotic treatment these days.”
“I’ll wait here for Pops and Michael,” Ghost says. “You guys get back to your women.”
Not waiting a second longer, I follow Steel, Blaze, Viper, and Venom out of the apartment and back to the hospital.