27. Ember #2
“We’re not going to die in here,” I announce, stretching myself out the best I can. “When they return, stay quiet and behind me. I’ll handle it.”
“You can’t take them, Ember!”
Little does she know, fighting was my punishment instead of disgusting parties.
With some careful manoeuvring, I manage to position myself in a crouch. My feet are tucked beneath my butt, allowing me to spring up at a moment’s notice. I’m flexing my knuckles to alleviate the tingles when a loud bang echoes from elsewhere.
More shouting. Another bang. The voices spar in a passionate torrent. I don’t know who is outside the door to this room, but it doesn’t sound like a particularly happy conversation.
“Stay back,” I warn her.
“Ember… Please. We should just go with them.”
“Forget it. You’re going home.”
More crashing escalates my heart rate. I’m counting my inhales and exhales to hold my nerve when thudding footsteps near, drawing closer to us. With a final look at Axel, I focus on the door that hides our captors.
CRASH.
It slams back against the wall loud enough to make Gracie cower in the corner of our cage. I don’t flinch. The heavy-set, finely dressed stature of none other than Antonio Gael doesn’t deserve to enjoy that sight.
His razor-sharp, yellowing eyes crawl over my skin like fire ants, taking in the details that have changed. He smiles thinly, adjusting the thick gold signet ring that encircles his pinkie finger.
“You look well, 768.”
“Senor Gael.” I keep my reply short and clipped.
“I had wondered what it would feel like to look into those traitorous eyes again.” He steps into the room, forehead wrinkling. “You’ve caused great pain to my business these past few months.”
“I like to think so.”
“Quite.”
Gael spares Axel a disinterested look, too occupied with studying me like I’m a piece of regurgitated meat that now turns his stomach.
“I imagined how I’d take you over my knee and crack your spine myself. Or have my men hold you down while I slice that back open with my whip again. Perhaps I’d even cut your wicked tongue free and make you eat it for daring to humiliate me. Really, the possibilities are endless.”
Behind me, Gracie bursts into tears.
“I hear this one went for a pretty penny.” Gael motions towards her.
“Didn’t fancy expanding your own collection?”
“Jealous, 768?” He sneers. “Nobody could ever fill your shoes.”
“Jealousy is the furthest thing from what I feel.”
“No need to be bitter. We’ll be home together soon enough.”
Horror stabs through me, carving a gaping chasm. “What happened to wanting revenge?”
“Ah,” he hums. “That was before I laid eyes on you. Now I’m feeling more remorseful. After a period of correction for your recent behaviour, I’m sure we can find a new role for you.”
I’ll crack my skull against these bars and join Axel on death’s door before taking whatever job offer Gael’s conjuring up. From the sick, happy leer on his face, it won’t involve the fighting pits this time.
“777 here is leaving with her master to parts unknown now that you’ve brought the authorities to his door. So say your goodbyes. We’ll be leaving too once I’ve paid that belligerent bounty hunter.”
“I’m not going anywhere with you.”
“My dear friend, Nolan, gave me permission to sample his plaything if you dared to question me. So by all means, protest. I’ll make you watch as I take poor little Gracie for a ride.”
“Don’t leave me again.” Gracie grabs my wrist, still weeping. “Please, Ember.”
“I rather think she wants it. Don’t you?” Gael grins at us.
Frustration threatens to suffocate me, knowing that the odds of breaking his neck from behind these bars are nil. It’s been six years, but I still find myself in the same conundrum. I have no choice but to play along to get him within reach.
“Leave her alone. I’ll come.”
“No!” Gracie wails panickily.
Still I ignore her, cutting off all emotion.
“Ah.” His smile fades. “Disappointing.”
“What happens to Axel? He needs to go to a hospital.”
“That isn’t my concern. The Hunter can do what he pleases with his kill.”
Pulling a sheath of keys from his suit pocket, Gael searches for the wrought gold one then bends down to unlock the cage. He holds a silvery brow up in invitation. No handcuffs. The threat against Gracie is enough.
“Let me say goodbye,” I blurt, rising to exit the cage. “To him.”
“You’ve grown soft. We’ll be having none of that.”
“Please… I’ll come quietly. Whatever you want. Just let me say goodbye one last time.”
Keeping my arms and fists relaxed at my sides, I stop in front of him with the same obedience that his trainer beat into me. It isn’t hard to find that mental prison. Stuff myself inside of it. Bite my tongue. All the things that once kept me alive.
Gael slides a finger along my jaw, tilting my head up to peer down at me with those calculating eyes. Malice writhes in the pale yellow hue, unveiling the devil who hides behind his handsome mask.
“Say goodbye, 768. You will never be permitted to look at or speak to another soul again. If I decide to let you out of my bedroom in the next ten years, it will be to source a replacement when I grow tired of ripping you open each night.”
Real fear snakes through me, almost causing my act to falter.
“Do you understand?”
“Yes,” I confirm.
“Yes, what?”
“Yes… Senor Gael.”
“Good. Make it quick.”
He keeps a keen eye on me while unlocking Axel’s cage. I deliberately don’t look at Gracie, a curled-up, crying wreck left behind in our cell. My whole focus is on getting to Axel.
Gael lingers in the doorway while I limp inside, crouching down to rest a hand over his heart. The beating is present but uneven. A quick peek under his ruined shirt reveals blood spots soaking the bandage wound around his abdomen.
“Axel.” I carefully touch his cheek. “Wake up, Ax.”
Not a peep.
“You were right. We should’ve all stayed together. In the future, I promise to keep my mouth shut and never question your decision making.”
The smile I long for doesn’t appear.
“Gunnar could’ve let you die. I don’t know why he saved your life, but I’m thankful. I thought I’d lost you, and I couldn’t bear to see a world without you in it, Axel Slaughter.”
Lowering my head, I press it into his clavicle, needing to hear his breathing for just a moment longer. My hand inches over his still-sticky shirt, brushing across bandaging and cold skin. Feeling around his waistband, I press the slight bump in the fabric.
Bingo.
“Ax, if I don’t survive this… save her. Save Gracie.”
Leaving the man I love behind devastates a part of me that won’t ever click back into place. Pain swims through every brain cell, causing my eyes to sear. I avoid looking at Gael while he re-locks the cage then spares Gracie one last look.
“Until next time, 777.”
“Ember!” Her wails pierce my heart. “Stop! No!”
I keep my teeth clenched to hold myself back. Tears flood my cheeks at the look of complete devastation on her face, sending me catapulting back into the past. Only this time, I’m choosing to walk away.
“Go ahead, 768.” Gael gestures for me to lead. “I’ll be right behind you.”
I’m unsurprised by the feel of a cold barrel nudging into my lower back. His trust only extends so far. Leaving the room filled with the sound of Gracie’s screams shatters me, making each step unbearable.
On the other side of the door, I almost laugh at what awaits. We’re in a closed restaurant. If I had to guess, Nolan had the cages installed in some kind of storage room. We emerge from behind a wooden bar into the main serving floor.
Only one chair is occupied. A single, solitary shadow. Even with his brown hair and lack of tattoos, my broken heart splits into another dozen pieces. Gunnar looks far too much like the lifeless body I left behind.
“Where is Nolan?” Gael barks.
Shrugging, Gunnar rises to stand. “Gone.”
“What?” He jerks in shock. “Gone where?”
“I don’t know.”
“What does that mean, Hunter? Explain yourself.”
“He left. I didn’t care to ask where he was going.”
In a string of colourful Spanish, Gael shoves me forward with his gun. “I don’t have time to waste. Your payment is downstairs. Leave the girl for Nolan to deal with when he returns.”
Two glowing, sunshine-bright eyes find mine. Flickering with life. Grief. A hint of regret. It’s like watching a tide sweep in to erase the shoreline and each disturbed grain of sand. Wiping at his drawn face, Gunnar physically shoves the feelings down to reveal a stoic expression.
“Your brother’s going to die,” I announce, holding his stare. “Why did you bother to save him? To prolong his agony? Or did you realise how it would feel to watch him die?”
His Adam’s apple bobs without a word.
“You can’t do it, Gunnar. You won’t kill him.”
“Enough, 768.” Gael pushes me harder. “We’re out of time.”
“His mother told him to run, but he didn’t do it!” I shout in desperation. “He told us the truth and agreed to meet you. Axel never gave up on you, and you’re a fucking coward for giving up on him!”
“Move!” Gael roars.
“Fuck you!” I yell back.
Blistering pain explodes in the back of my head where Gael loses patience, smacking the butt of his gun into my skull. I trip and stumble, collapsing against one of the empty tables.
“Enough!” Gael stomps his foot in an uncontrollable fit. “Come quietly or unconscious. Your choice.”
“Do what you’d like to me, Gael. I won’t ever follow orders again. I won’t be quiet. You can whip every last bit of unmarked skin I have left, and I still won’t bow to you!”
Feet kick my legs out, sending me plummeting to the cheap, scratchy carpet. I kick against Gael’s weight sinking on top of me, one hand capturing my hair while the other flips me over to slap me in the face.
“You disobedient puta ! Stop fighting me!”
“You taught me to fight!”
“Then I’ll pluck those memories from your brain with my bare fingers and start fresh!”