Chapter 53
Chapter Fifty-Three
My eyes are itching, and I try to rub them. The simple movement jolts my wrist as the metal digs in. Opening my eyes, I stare at the ceiling; the same watermark on the roof I have stared at for years sits right above me. Only now it is bigger. Mold lines the spot, creeping into the corner crevice.
Breathing suddenly becomes difficult as I tilt my head, tugging on my restraints, my eyes zeroing in on the closet door I used to hide in. The room smells stale, the air pungent as I suck in a panicked wheeze for a breath. My worst nightmares come back to haunt me when I find myself in my old room.
Lifting my head, I look toward the door, which is wide open, my ankles also restrained.
I kick my legs to see if there is any weakness at the end of the bed; the headboard is still sturdy.
Yet, I can still see where years of trying to break out of cuffs have torn into the metal, chipping away the paint.
Memories flash before my eyes, all those nights trapped in the dark with my shadow monster. He is no longer a faceless man but a demon. One I have been fighting my entire life, one that’s always lurked and watched.
Turning my head, I try to twist and turn my hand to pull it through the cuff, the metal digging in painfully when a hand grips mine. Tank comes into the room silently.
"Bet this brings back memories, doll," he says, his hand moving from my wrist to my elbow.
“I hoped it wouldn't come to this, but you just had to run off with my brother. Never mind. Once he is out of the picture, we can be together again," he says, sitting on the bed beside me.
I move closer to the wall, and he growls.
"I have never hurt you. Are you trying to hurt my feelings?" he asks before gripping my hips and tugging me back over so I am resting beside him. His hand moves to my stomach, and he pushes my blouse up. His skin is overly hot as he caresses my stomach.
I squirm, wanting away from his touch. He clicks his tongue before leaning over me, dropping his face in my neck and inhaling.
"You smell like my brother," he growls.
His other hand moves to my breast and palms it roughly, making me whimper before he starts undoing the buttons one by one, revealing my bra.
My lip quivers when he dips his face, licking a line between the valley of my breasts.
He sucks on my skin just above my bra, and I fight the urge to cringe away from him.
"Ah, tastes so sweet. It was torture waiting for you. Your father was strict on the wait-until-she-is-of-age crap, and unfortunately, I can't break a deal. I could look but not touch. Not to worry, I can touch all I like now," he says.
What does he mean? What does my father have to do with this?
He pushes his thumb between my eyes, smoothing out the line. "You look confused," he says, smiling menacingly.
"See, your father and I had a deal, and then he tried to break it by selling you off," he growls.
My heart beats faster at his words. Tank clicks his tongue disapprovingly.
"As if I would let you be sold to anyone but me," he smiles sadistically.
He dips his face closer to mine, and I turn my head, quickly blurting out the first thing that comes to mind, not wanting his lips anywhere near me.
"What deal did my father make?"
He growls before gripping my chin and turning my face toward him.
"One he didn't intend to keep. I gave him the means to set up his empire in return for his firstborn daughter, and lucky for me by one minute, that was you.
Your sister repulsed me. Annoying thing as a child, always complaining.
Though you were quiet, submissive to life, perfect for me," he says before turning thoughtful.
"But then you disappeared before I could come to claim you, and my bastard of a brother locked me in this stupid skin suit.
I spent years locked up. Turns out this body was a wanted man.
Years I shared a cell with your stupid brother.
What were the chances of that?" he growls, his fist clenching the bed linen and the muscle in his jaw protruding.
“I was beginning to think he had a thing for me, always in and out, always requesting to be placed in my cell.”
"However, it made it easier when I finally got out. It wasn't nice being confined to this body with no power, but it has grown on me. Your brother, not so much. Couldn't wait to kill him."
"You killed my brother?" I ask, my lip quivering at the thought.
Brian has done some shitty stuff and is horrible, but I don't think he deserves death.
"No, no, not yet," he says, getting up.
He walks to the closet, opens the doors, and I gasp when I see my brother tied to a chair inside.
A huge gaping wound on his head is dripping blood on his flannelette shirt, his jeans soaked with his blood; a rag is taped over his mouth, and his head hangs forward.
However, that isn't the most disturbing thing in the closet. It is the skeleton.
"He was in love with your sister, so figured he should spend his last moments with her. I think someone forgot to tell him incest was frowned upon," he laughs, walking over and plucking the skull off his lap.
He puts it on his hand and makes a snapping noise, gnashing the skeleton teeth together. My heart races in my chest, and tears brim in my eyes at what he is doing to my sister’s skeleton.
"So with that, I thought you would like to do the honors of ridding this world of him," he says before looking over at me. He tosses the skull back in Brian's lap and shuts the door.
"Shh, shh, doll. Why are you crying? Don't be upset. I am here now. We can finally be together. I got you back. Lucky for me, I have nothing but time, and now you. If you can't kill him, I can do it for you," he purrs, stroking my face while his hand grabs my breast, fondling it.
I swallow, and he dips his head, kissing my lips before stuffing his tongue in my mouth.
I try my hardest to remain still and not thrash; I don't want to piss him off, and I need to convince him to let me out of the cuffs if I stand any chance at escape.
But then what of my brother? Could I leave him behind?
I don't think I could despite everything he has done.
Tank pulls away and smiles at me. "Once I get rid of my brother, we can go home. I won't let anyone take you from me again."
This man is utterly bonkers if he thinks I want to be with him. He is clearly unhinged.
"First things first, I will get rid of your brother. Hopefully, by that time, Latham or one of his merry men would have located you, then get rid of them, and we are home free; I have a nice little place tucked away for us, don't you worry," he says, getting up off the bed.
He moves toward the closet, and my eyes widen when he opens the door before reaching his hand in to grab Brian.
"I'll do it," I blurt, and his hand stops.
Tank peers over at me. "I don't mind it, doll. I know he is your brother; I will only make him scream a little, I promise."
"No, I… I want to do it," I tell him while trying to slow my heart.
"Are you sure?"
I nod. "Yes, but I don't… I don't know how. Will you show me?" I ask him, and he smiles brightly.
"Anything for you, doll. I have just the thing," he says, walking out of the room.
I watch him go before looking at my brother.
"Brian!" I whisper.
"Brian!" I try again but get no response when Tanks comes back in. He has a knife in his hand.
"Now, you won't try to run, will you?" he asks, and I shake my head, my eyes on the knife he is carrying.