CHAPTER 13
LANDRY
The universe must have a vendetta against me today because Cashton Astor was on the team targeting mine. I felt so small and demeaned sitting under his scrutinizing gaze in nothing but my tiny sleep set in a fucking dog crate. My cheeks heated with embarrassment, wishing I could be anywhere but here at this moment. My heart beat wildly as he seemed to assess me, his presence sucking the air from my lungs.
“You sure look cozy.”
I wanted to slap the smug look off his face. He knew that he had me trapped, and there was nowhere for me to hide as he surveyed every inch me as if I was his next meal.
One of the other guys—The blond one with the backwards ball cap—squatted down on the side of my crate, reaching through the bars to grab a lock of my loose hair and curl it around his finger .
“Such a pretty little thing, ain’t she?” He mused, the look on his face nauseating. I slapped his hand away, backing myself as far back as I could go into the back corner and curling my legs into me. I wanted to cry. Not only was this the most humiliated I had ever felt in my life, but the inability to escape this situation had me painfully on edge and panicked. I wasn’t about to let them laugh at my tears, so I just forced myself to toughen up and shot them both murderous gazes, reminding myself that this was all a game and they couldn’t actually hurt me.
Cashton took his time looking me over for what felt like forever before he finally spoke, his voice deep and gravely.
“You guys put those scratches on her?”
“We might have thrown her around a little.” The blond guy joked, seemingly proud of himself. Cashton’s expression remained impassive, not revealing any emotion as he remained silent.
“What do you say we take her out to play?” Blondie asked, a cruel smile widening on his face as he looked towards Cashton. Cashton’s eyes never left mine, and I could only imagine he was reveling in the fear that must have passed across my gaze at those words. I silently pleaded with him, praying that he wasn’t truly evil enough to let them do anything to me.
It was impossible to read what was going on in his mind, his eyes cold and expressionless. He wouldn’t seriously let them fuck with me, right? I mean, I know that he hated me and all, but he had to have limits on what he would allow. And if not for me, for the sake of his friendship with Olivia.
“Maybe later.” He finally answered, standing up and making his way over to the double-door fridge and grabbing a bottle of Dos Equis before taking a swig. Maybe later? So he wasn’t in my corner after all. I was well and truly fucked. The blond guy stayed a moment longer, taunting me through the bars like I was some caged animal.
“Connor.” Cashton demanded, calling off blondie like he was his dog. Connor re-joined the group in the kitchen, seeming to whisper something to the dark-haired male who I had overheard being called Levi, both of them shooting a glance back over to me. A chill went down my spine, goosebumps spreading across my arms. For the first time all night, I felt safer behind these bars. Anything to keep me away from them.
They kept drinking for what seemed like the next hour, the girls both using any opportunity to get their hands all over Cashton. I don’t know why it made my stomach churn, but something about it made the blood boil inside of it. He was the last person I should crave any attention from, but there was something inside of me that had shifted the night at the lake. Or maybe I could just blame it on his arrogance as he sat out there, probably feeling like a god as I sat in the corner like a kid in timeout. He didn’t spare me a single glance, not leaving his spot leaned back against the counter the entire time.
The only sliver of attention I had gotten from Cashton was when he had come to unlock my crate, letting the girls escort me to the bathroom before locking me back in and shoving the key back into his hoodie pocket. Natalia and Jasmine, I had gathered, thankfully didn’t seem too bad. I wouldn’t call them nice by any means, but they also didn’t treat me like absolute dog shit either. They were excited about the successful abduction though, that much was clear .
Something they were cooking smelled delicious, my rumbling stomach reminding me that I had skipped lunch. As if overhearing the sound, Levi shot his gaze my way.
“Oh, I’m sorry sweetheart, we completely forgot to offer you some. The rules do state that we need to feed you, after all. Let me whip something up for ya.” He mocked, the group breaking out into chuckles with the exception of Cashton who looked unimpressed. “Let’s see, I’m sure Cashton has something around here that I could make you.” He started to look through cabinets until he found what he was looking for.
So, this was Cashton’s place then. I didn’t know he owned a penthouse in the city, but I guess I didn’t know much about him in the first place.
I watched as Levi snagged a bag of ramen noodles, boiling them for me while chattering with the rest of the group, alcohol still flowing freely and the group getting louder. With the exception of Cashton, of course, though he did still nurse his drink and join into conversation every once in a while.
I closed my eyes, starting to drift off until I heard the rattle of my cage door and looked up to find Levi placing my dinner in front of me. He locked the crate door back in place before throwing the key back to Cashton.
The entire group broke out into laughter, everybody besides Cashton looking amused as I stared down at the ramen noodles. They had served them to me in a fucking dog bowl. Tears pricked at the back of my eyes and I had to physically force my lips together to keep them from quivering.
This was the most mortified that I had ever felt in my entire life. I wanted to throw up. And to top it all off, they hadn’t even given me any damn utensils, probably hoping to watch me attempt to eat it with my hands. I curled my legs tighter into me, wrapping my arms around myself.
“You guys are assholes.” I bit out, hoping that they couldn’t hear the tremble in my voice. I felt completely and utterly defeated as I laid my forehead down on my knees, squeezing my eyes shut to keep the tears from falling.
Fuck them.
I leaned against the side of the crate touching the wall, still curled into myself as I forced my mind to tune out their voices, drifted off to sleep as I tried to keep myself from crumbling.