25
EMERSYN
Well, that was—interesting.
I watched the men until they disappeared into the guardhouse. The short one gave me the creeps with the way he stared, but the others I wasn’t sure about. I looked down at the nearly empty water bottle in my hand and thought back to the interactions with the other two.
The one who’d backed me into the tree was the literal definition of tall, dark and deadly with black hair, slightly long on top in neatly laid waves.
His sharp jaw had a dusting of facial hair and his brow was perpetually crinkled in a frown as though he didn’t like being here one fucking bit.
At the time I’d been convinced he was going to force me into something, so when he didn’t, I was shocked.
Even more so when he didn’t even leer at me as I stood in front of him completely naked.
His eyes hadn’t drifted from my face once.
The other man was almost the opposite in every way.
His brown hair was pulled back in a bun with a few strands loose like he couldn’t have been bothered to make sure he’d gotten them all.
He had more of a beard, and whiskey-colored eyes that twinkled in a way that made me think he smiled easily and often.
A few tattoos peeked out around his tactical gear and disappeared beneath his gloves.
I would have bet money he had them all over his hands.
I didn’t know if they were the ones from last night, but they both seemed equally appalled to learn my food had been drugged.
I scoffed at the thought of how affronted the dark-haired one had been when he’d learned someone had touched me.
It could’ve been an act, but he didn't look like he was joking. At all. He didn’t really look like he knew how.
As the hours passed by, the Menagerie felt untouched by the storm outside.
It was lit by warm, glowing light fixtures throughout, and the dirt paths were lined with additional strips of LEDs.
It would have been a magical place if not for the dark undertones of what lurked in the enclosures.
Through the patter of rain on the glass, I heard the occasional feminine sounds of distress from off in the depths of the place.
I tuned it out as best I could, there was nothing I could do for them.
I dozed with my head in my arms, legs drawn up.
I drank the rest of the second water bottle and when it wasn’t drugged either, I became convinced that the two men were up to something.
I just didn’t know what or why, but everything always came at a cost. So, what was theirs?
I spent a ridiculous amount of time lost in thought about it.
The electronic click of the lock woke me from a nap, and I looked up to see the dark-haired one step through. He had another two water bottles and a cluster of packets with him. I stayed where I was and watched him approach.
He set everything down. “We’re about to head off shift soon,” he said gruffly.
He didn’t look happy about it at all, but then again, I wasn’t sure if he ever had a different look other than pissed off.
I picked at the grass and pretended to ignore him, even though there was no way I could ignore this man’s presence.
He oozed authority so viscerally that I found it hard to breathe properly.
“Should be enough here until we’re back on.”
He hesitated, but when I stayed silent he left without a backward glance. I inspected everything carefully before I decided on something labeled electrolytes. I stashed the rest away in a crevice in the rocks. The packet was gross, but I sucked it down anyway and drank half of the water.
A short while later, I heard a tap on the bars. It was the brown-haired one this time. Again, I didn’t move, but as soon as I glanced his way, he grinned and unlocked the gate. He stepped inside and tossed an article of clothing at my feet.
“Here.”
I looked at the pile of dark fabric and then up at him questioningly.
“It’s a hoodie,” he said. “Couldn’t find a blanket, but thought this would be better anyway—although I’ll probably get in trouble.” He winked and didn’t look at all disturbed by that idea.
My throat closed at the gesture, but I ignored it and quickly yanked the sweatshirt on.
It was better than being naked. I tugged the hood close around my face.
It was warm, cozy and—oh fuck—smelled like a very delicious male cologne.
I wondered if it was what this one smelled like.
I looked up and just caught the tail end of a look that told me he’d seen every bit of my reaction.
He ran a hand over his face, the look long gone, replaced with cocky amusement.
“Check the pocket.”
I slowly slid my hand into the main front pocket and felt something small. I pulled it out and in my hand was a mini Three Musketeers bar. That weird feeling latched onto my throat again—
Why the fuck was he being so nice?
It was weird and extremely offputting. I frowned down at the chocolate as I turned it over in my hands.
“What’s wrong?” He asked. “I’ve never seen someone look at chocolate with such a sad face.”
I scowled at him. “What’s the catch?”
He tilted his head, brow furrowed in confusion. “The catch?”
It took him a few seconds, but my meaning seemed to click because his eyes hardened and there was a flash of anger that sent a chill down my spine as his entire demeanor shifted. His jaw clenched and I steeled myself for whatever he was going to do.
He stepped closer and I froze, but he only reached out and closed my hand around the chocolate. He held my closed fist gently between both of his gloved hands. When he spoke, his voice was even and measured—like he had to try very hard to keep his emotions in check.
“There will never be any stipulations attached to anything I give you. Understand?”
My lips thinned. I didn’t believe him, but something in his eyes made me want to.
They were like honey or whiskey, more gold than brown.
He seemed to be trying to study as much of my face as possible, like he would run out of time.
There was an earnestness about him that was urgently attempting to gain my trust, and for a brief moment I wondered what that would be like to give in—damn, he was good.
My unease returned and I pulled my hand away. He didn’t protest, only smiled one last small smile before he turned and left. I wouldn’t be fooled. I didn’t care what he said or did, he was just doing all this because he wanted something. I just had to find out what it was.
Later that night, another bowl of oatmeal and a cup of water arrived on a tray.
It was delivered by the short, leering guard from earlier.
He took one look at my sweatshirt-covered body and scowled, pissed off he couldn’t see anything revealing.
There was a moment where he seemed to debate something sinister, but thankfully he dropped the tray by the gate and left.
I tucked the fabric tighter over my legs and burrowed deeper into the hood.
I’d learned to live with being naked in front of men who stared, but being cozy in an oversized sweatshirt was infinitely better.
I thought briefly about whether or not to eat the food, but I still had my stash of protein bars and another water bottle.
I definitely didn’t want to chance being helpless if I got another visit from the men who’d assaulted me the night before, so I stared at the tray in disgust and didn’t touch anything.
Instead, I ate a protein bar and shortly after, I drifted off to sleep, enclosed in the warm fabric that smelled like spiced whiskey and tobacco, with a hint of something sweet.
However, just as I feared, the shadows came again. I woke up as I was being dragged across the ground. I thrashed in their grip and landed a punch to a face I could barely make out in the gloom.
“Fuck,” The voice hissed. “Grab her hands.”
I twisted and lunged at the one with a grip on my ankle. He gave a yelp of surprise as we went down in a heap. I punched him solidly in the nose and felt the crunch before I sensed his partner closing in from behind. An arm wrapped around my neck and dragged me backward.
“Fuck! I thought you said she was drugged!”
The man pulled my wrists behind my back. I yelped as he succeeded, and went limp to avoid a broken arm. The man pushed me onto my stomach and dug his knee into my neck. The other shadow approached and I could smell the blood from his nose.
“She hasn’t been eating her food,” he said.
“Could have warned me beforehand!”
A hand grasped my ankle and I kicked out and landed a solid heel to his jaw. He fell back and cursed viciously.
The one on top chuckled. “Dude, just fuck her already, this is already a blood bath—”
“Fuck off,” he snarled. “You have her?”
The sweatshirt was yanked above my ass, and I heard the sound of a zipper.
I attempted to move out from under him, but he pushed my arms up and I resigned myself to the fact I could either let them do whatever they were going to do, or break my arm in an attempt to stop them.
I’d decided a broken arm just wasn’t worth it when I caught a blur of movement near the gate.
Two more shadows advanced into the enclosure.
There was a grunt and the sound of a fist as it impacted flesh.
The pressure on my neck and arm disappeared abruptly.
The man between my legs yelped and his curse was cut off as he was dragged into the heavier shadows.
The sounds of violence were muted as hands were held over mouths and fists punched flesh.
I scrambled to my feet and backed into the bars where there was at least some light coming from the pathway.
Two shapes materialized nearby as one slammed my assaulter against the wall of the enclosure and growled low in the man’s ear.
“Get the fuck out.”