19. Penelope
Penelope
Blood. Vast shades of red were smeared around my wrists, my forearms, my hands, and even on the sheet below.
Some wounds had stopped bleeding and were dry while others still oozed crimson.
I thought when I’d first started jerking against the fancy cuffs that the wetness would help me slip free.
I was wrong. Now, I was running out of time to try to look for a way to escape before Vaughn returned.
If he returned.
I wasn’t sure how many hours had passed. More than a day?
Time blurred together, and all I knew was that my bladder had reached capacity hours ago. I was covered in piss. In blood. And my voice was gone from screaming.
The words from the man on the phone terrorized me. They left me panicked. Vaughn’s world had become real in those moments of hearing about the killing of the woman who was pregnant with twins. Dead. They were all dead… because of rules?
Where was this world that bartered on life and death?
Vaughn had mentioned neighbors. Were they people we knew?
He had said once I knew the truth, things would never be the same.
And he was right. I wasn’t the same—I was traumatized.
It made my parents and John’s death snap into my heart like a rubber band.
Had I condoned their killing? Had I truly felt nothing?
I did now. Or had. I’d felt so many things.
Too many. But as the hours passed and my reality closed in around me…
nothing again. I was numb. Fear moved me, but it was no longer a fear I could feel.
It was one ingrained. One that left me fighting like a robot on autopilot as my brain scrambled through the horrifying truth.
Who was I?
Who was Vaughn?
What should I do?
“Come. ON!”
I jerked wildly, flattening my feet on the headboard and bowing my back as I put my weight into trying to slide free.
The pain from the jagged edge of the cuffs was unbearable, and my raspy, hollowed voice once again screamed out as I twisted against the gold.
Sobs shook me. A loud bang had me tilting my head back.
Stomping footsteps raced down the stairs as I spun around on the bed. I couldn’t stop from crying. Vaughn got to the end of the stairs, jolting to a stop as he stared at me through the mask. For seconds he didn’t move.
“Oh, Penelope, I’m so sorry.”
He headed forward, but my head shook with my madness.
“Don’t. Get away from me. Help! Someone help me!”
More hesitation.
“Penelope, stop. I got caught up, please.”
“Help! Someone!”
“Penelope!”
His roar had me crying harder. His shoulders sagged, and he came over, shaking his head as he looked down at me.
“Fuck. Dammit. You—”
He was already moving in, reaching over to unlock the cuffs and set me free. I didn’t think the moment I was unrestrained. I went for his throat, slicing across and immediately bringing my fist to connect with his nose.
Vaughn coughed and let out a deep sound, snatching me up by my waist.
“I said I was sorry.”
“Let me go.”
“No way in hell. Hold still.”
I wiggled against his hip, trying to find placement on the ground with my toes or hands. My ribs were screaming, but the pain joined into the aching and throbbing everywhere else on my body.
“I can’t believe what you’ve done. There’s blood everywhere. Cool off so we can communicate civilly.”
He swung me around, placing me on my feet long enough to wrap his hand around my throat and submerge me under the cold shower spray.
I gasped, choking as I fought for air. It didn’t matter that I tried to pivot one way or the other.
Vaughn kept me rooted without squeezing or adding pressure.
He kept my hair in the water, keeping his face angled down in the direction of mine so he could watch me.
I didn’t miss the red seeping into the white part of the skeleton mask around his nose.
“I hope it hurts.”
“Not as much as it’s going to hurt you.”
“All those months of talking to you—God.” My lip trembled.
“How stupid can someone be? How could I have not put the pieces together? A stranger calls, the ultimate evil, and what do I do? I befriend him! I opened myself—to what? To sea slaves,” I barely got out.
“I’m guessing those aren’t the only ones in this secret world.
Murder. Masters. This is what you’re bringing me into, Vaughn? ”
“…Yes.”
I slammed my fist into his chest, crying out as my knees buckled from the pain. I would have crumbled had it not been for his hold.
“I can’t believe—I …hate you. What are you training me for? Am I one of these slaves, too? Your shield so some other Master doesn’t try to kill you?”
“Not my slave.”
“Then, what. Surely not—Not as something more. Like… Like your—”
My eyes widened but words wouldn’t come.
“Penelope… I warned you. I said love. I told you—”
“You told me nothing. Besides, you wanted me to feel that. You—”
He let out a deep breath, grabbing my wrist with his free hand. I tried to break the hold but failed. A low curse left him.
“These will scar.”
“You act like I care. They can join the rest from everyone else who hurt me.”
“Stop it.” Authority was in his tone as he shook me. “Stop. Accept.”
I swung at him again, but he easily blocked it from connecting.
“Accepting is the only way. I… I’m not letting you go. Ever. I’ve decided. You can do this.”
“But I don’t want to. Did you ever factor that into your decision? I don’t want this, Vaughn.”
“You want me. You did before you knew. You’d take me crazy over—?”
“Evil? Yes!”
“You don’t understand. You won’t until you live this.”
I jerked in his hold, an answer without a single word.
“Fine. You want to fight?”
Vaughn reached down, pulling the button in his jeans free. His zipper slid open, and I grabbed his wrists beginning to panic as he pushed his pants down.
“What are you doing?”
“I’m going to give you a reason to fight while trying to convince you not to.”
“Stop.”
He grabbed his shirt, pulling it over his head, only to switch hands on my neck and remove the long sleeve.
His nude body had me shaking my head, and I didn’t stand a chance as he jerked and broke the strap on the soaked hospital gown, slinging it off.
The next was my panties. I screamed, trying my best to keep them on, but they ripped through his jerks.
“Don’t do this. V, please. Vaughn.”
He moaned, letting the hand on my neck slide to the back as he drew my body into his.
“I want to kiss you. Take my mask off, Penelope.”
I froze, feeling temptation twist with a yearning I couldn’t even process. The voice. The months of wanting him—and now to see him finally after all of this? The danger and atrocious acts melted from my mind as if they were nothing. As if they didn’t exist in the moment at all.
“W-What?”
“You wanted truth. No mask—no lies. Take it off.”
Curiosity fought against a million flaring emotions as I stared up.
Before I could think, desperation had me grabbing the bottom of the mask and pulling it up and off.
Blood was smeared under his nose and on his chin.
The powerful jaw, the thin nose and hazel eyes.
I remembered them. They were more green than brown…
My eyes rose to the black, slightly curly hair.
My breath got caught in my throat and a sound left me.
“The red dress.”
“I was right about it. It was stunning on you.”
He licked his lips, pulling me in until my breasts were pressed into the bottom of his chest.
“… I…”
“I told you I was ugly.”
The shock wouldn’t allow me to speak. The room was spinning with corpses and consequences. His identity shouldn’t have mattered. His looks shouldn’t have swayed morality. But they did.
“Say something, Penelope.”
“…I don’t know what to say.”
“Then, don’t speak.” He lowered, pressing his lips gently into mine.
My body immediately softened, only for me to stiffen and flatten my hands on his shoulders.
The pressure I added had his head drawing back.
Still, I couldn’t stop staring into his face.
He was everything I’d always dreamed of when I was trapped with my parents.
A secret rescuer. A savior. He wasn’t just attractive, he was beautiful.
It was in a rugged, dangerous way, and I knew I was in trouble.
Already, I could feel my mind trying to justify and accept what my life was meant to become.
Slaves? Murder? Death?
For him?
“One kiss. Just one.”
I soaked in his features, his eyes… his lips.
“All I want is you, Penelope. I can’t fucking think—live—Jesus. I can’t—Kiss me.”
Fingers dug into my hip. He was lowering again, leading me at the same time. My stare shot up to his, and a decision wouldn’t come. Only action. Our lips connected, and past and future waged their own war, stealing me as I melted into his tightening hold.
Vaughn’s tongue plunged into my mouth, and I was suddenly wrapping my arms around his neck, pulling him in so hard, my arms locked into place.
He lifted me, spinning me for the wall as I wrapped my legs around him.
Sounds were pouring from both of us. I couldn’t begin to decipher the change taking over me.
A part of myself took the forefront, and I felt myself split in two.
One part of me was tugging at Vaughn’s hair, moving against his body as if she was running out of time.
The other part knew it wasn’t me. Somewhere deep down, it was obvious.
It was… him. I was mirroring his frantic energy.
“I know how this looks. I know how bad it is, but I swear, I’ll make it worth it.” His tongue pushed back in to duel with mine, and he sucked against the tip. “I’ll keep you safe. No one will hurt you. And I can make you happy. I know I can.”
He dove for my neck, sucking against the sensitive skin.
My entire body was a tuning fork of need.
Pressure pushed against my entrance, and I welcomed the foreign sensation.
The urgency for something I couldn’t even put into words had me pushing down.
But stinging registered on my wrists, bringing my eyes open.
The damage was a stark reminder. Somehow, I managed to get control as clarity forced its way through.
“Wait. Wait, please.”
Vaughn made a sound, nodding. He turned off the shower, grabbing towels.
He put me down, wrapping one around his waist as he patted me down.
He was back to examining my wounds. He wouldn’t stop assessing me as he led me to the table.
Where I should have been trying to cover myself, I couldn’t.
I was too busy looking at him—studying him.
I couldn’t stop all the questions bombarding me over right and wrong.
The moment didn’t seem real.
I was moving through a puzzle of life and death and pieces were missing.
Staying with this man would kill me. The realization was fact. Leaving him was my only chance. But I’d never escape by fighting him. And whether I wanted to or not, there was risk staying. I’d fall even more. Especially now.
Vaughn bandaged up my arms, reluctantly letting my hand go when he finished.
I found myself stepping back away from him.
The action had his lids narrowing with a spike of sadness.
They followed me to the sink as I began to brush my teeth.
The damn questions plagued me, and I couldn’t stop stealing glances in the mirror as he leaned against the table, watching.
His brow crinkled and he headed for the bed, pulling the blankets off.
Vaughn headed for his jeans, and I felt my body come to life again at his nearness.
He pulled out his phone and the keys, and I watched as he headed back, picking up the blankets and disappearing up the stairs.
Only when the door shut behind him, did a shuddering breath leave me.
Gasps came fast through the spike of adrenaline and fear, and I was sure I was going to be sick. Shock. Terror. Love. Suffocating, sick love.
What did I do?
Who could I trust?
I knew I couldn’t trust Vaughn, but at this point, could I even trust myself?