33. Chapter 33
Chapter 33
Anastasia
J ake drags me along, his grip like a vice, his fingers tangled in my hair so tight it sends jolts of pain down my spine. The wounds he’s already inflicted bleed freely, warm rivulets trickling down my skin.
He takes a path no one would, one slick with mud and shadows, where the looming chill of winter settles in. My heels sink into the soft earth, caking in thick layers of filth with every stumbling step.
Stay calm.
I force myself to rationalize, to analyze every detail, every possible way out.
"I’m following you," I hiss, my voice raw, shaking. "The least you can do is ease up."
Jake laughs, the sound slicing through the cold air. His grip tightens instead.
"What’s the fun in that?" His voice slithers into my ear, smug, grating. "I know you like it rough, Ana. Can’t both brothers have a go?"
Bile rises in my throat.
Then, I see them.
My stomach drops.
Cole and Walker linger beside a blacked-out Porsche, leaning against the vehicle like this is casual, like they’re waiting for a business deal to go through. But I see it, the unmistakable bulge of guns tucked into their waistbands.
Fuck.
This is bad.
Jake yanks me forward, stumbling as I approach them. The Porsche is parked away from the school, tucked into the shadows, hidden by the sea of cars filling the lot.
"Holy fucking shit," Walker laughs, his eyes gleaming. "You actually got her away from him-"
I snap.
Swinging my leg out, I kick Walker square in the crotch, watching with satisfaction as his laughter twists into agony.
He doubles over, groaning, his face contorted in pain. Good.
A smirk tugs at my lips. I gear up for another strike-
Too slow.
"You stupid whore-"
Cole grabs me by the back of my head, his fingers tangling in my hair before slamming my face against the hood of the car.
Stars explode in my vision.
The world spins, pain crashing through me, leaving behind a dull, throbbing ache.
My cheek burns against the cold metal, my breath fogging against the surface as Cole’s weight pins me down. His grip is relentless, pressing into my neck, my lower back, keeping me trapped.
Behind me, Walker groans from the ground. "I-I should fucking cut you for that-"
"Don’t whine because a woman got the upper hand on you," Jake scoffs. "At least Cole knows how to handle her."
Handle me.
Jake’s words crawl under my skin like poison, but then, a new sensation.
His hand.
Sliding down my back. Lower.
His fingers skim the curve of my ass, and my stomach twists.
I want to scream. Vomit.
"I’m curious," Cole murmurs, his voice like rusted metal. "Is that ass of yours still nice, Ana?"
No. No, no, no-
"W-where the hell is your whore?" I snap, trying to twist away.
Cole sighs, almost bored. "If all is going to plan? Keeping Noah and Roman distracted."
Jake chuckles. "No one would expect us to take you with so many people around," he muses. "That’s the beauty of it."
I thrash, but Cole shoves me back down, my ribs aching against the car’s unforgiving frame. His fingers tug at the bottom of my dress.
"Get your fucking hands off me-"
The slam is harder this time.
Pain rockets through my skull, my vision blurring. I taste blood, metallic and thick, coating my tongue.
Jake laughs. "Might as well have a look."
Their hands move.
Tearing fabric. Tugging at the hem.
No. No, no, no.
I writhe, kick, fight, but I can’t break free.
They lift my dress.
Cold air brushes over my exposed skin.
Nothing but a thin layer of white lace separates me from them. The kind of lace Noah would have loved. The kind that was meant for him.
Not this.
"Fucking whore-" Walker snarls, his hand striking my ass so hard that the impact shudders through my body.
A yelp rips from my throat, but Cole is faster. His palm clamps over my mouth, silencing me.
"Now, now, Walker," Jake murmurs, amused. "Can’t ruin all of her."
Something in his tone makes my blood turn to ice.
Then, he shifts behind me.
His hands tighten on my hips.
His crotch presses against me, the fabric of his pants brushing against my bare skin.
I can’t breathe.
I can’t-
"I could have my way with you right now," Jake murmurs, his lips dangerously close to my ear.
My chest tightens.
"I could send Noah a photo," he muses. "Make him regret ever crossing me."
A threat. A promise.
The tears fall freely now.
I have to find a way out of this.
I have to fight.
"But," Jake laughs, the sound crawling under my skin like something vile. "Perhaps I’ll have my fun when we’re all alone."
His voice is mocking, taunting, a sick game only he is playing.
Then, just as quickly as it began, he yanks my dress back down, smoothing the fabric over my skin like he’s doing me some kind of favor.
"Give me the zip ties," he snaps.
Cole’s grip on my head eases, his fingers finally releasing their brutal hold. I gasp for air, the relief fleeting, because the moment I turn to face them, Jake is waiting.
Smiling.
Enjoying this.
Cole tosses him a pair of zip ties, and Jake grabs my wrists without hesitation, forcing them together before pulling the plastic tight. The sharp bite of the restraints digs into my skin, cutting off circulation, but his hands don’t stop there.
He searches me, fingers dragging over my body in a way that makes my stomach churn. A shudder runs through me, bile rising in my throat as his hands skim over every inch, looking for something.
Then, he stops.
"Your phone?" Jake snarls, his eyes narrowing.
I hesitate, but only for a second.
"Noah has it," I whisper, forcing the lie from my lips as smoothly as I can. "I gave it to him when I went to the bathroom."
Good.
He doesn’t know.
He hasn’t realized.
My phone is still in his pocket.
Jake watches me carefully, his head tilting slightly, waiting for a tell...a crack in my story.
Then, slowly, he grins.
"Perfect," he murmurs, his satisfaction bleeding into his tone. "Then I won’t have to worry about you getting in my way."
The zip ties dig deeper into my wrists.
My pulse pounds.
What the hell is his plan for me?
Jake swings open the passenger-side door of the Porsche, his eyes flicking to the seat like it’s some kind of prize. Like I should be grateful for the privilege of getting inside.
"Get in," he hisses.
I don’t move.
His jaw tightens. "Do it without giving me lip, and I won’t have to put a bullet in your leg to get you to cooperate."
A fresh wave of nausea rolls through me.
My stomach churns as I stare at the open door, my pulse hammering in my ears.
"What are you going to do to me?" I whisper, barely able to keep the tremor from my voice.
Jake grins. Slow and cruel.
"What am I going to do?" he echoes, taking a step closer.
Before I can react, his fingers grip my chin, forcing my head up until my eyes lock onto his. His gaze is dark, vicious, his smirk curling like smoke.
"I’m going to make my brother regret ever crossing me," he purrs. "With the one thing on this earth he truly loves."
My stomach drops.
I don’t get the chance to react before I feel Cole move behind me. His breath is warm against my skin, his lips grazing my ear.
"Where is your teacher now, Anastasia?" he taunts.
A chill runs down my spine.
I suck in a breath, steeling myself, keeping my voice steady.
"Noah will find you."
Jake tilts his head, amused. "Maybe," he allows.
Then his smirk darkens.
"But by then, it will be too late for you."
And before I can fight, before I can scream, before I can run, they shove me inside the car.
The door slams shut.
And the world outside disappears.