Chapter 44
Ice-cold water drenched Nessa’s head and torso. She jerked awake, eyes peeling open sluggishly. Her vision was hazy around the edges, most of her surroundings out of focus. She blinked as a dark mass loomed over her, and then Tony’s smug smile filled her vision.
Nessa flinched, pushing herself backward to get away from him. She swayed, the tips of her shoes scraping the floor. Metal rattled above her, the sound as confusing as it was alarming.
What—
Blearily, Nessa looked away from Tony and up toward the ceiling. Her neck was in absolute agony from the injection site of that damned needle. What had they given her? A sedative? Her head throbbed fiercely, but she barely registered the pain as a wave of fear crashed through her.
Her arms were suspended above her head, bound together at the wrists by a thick rope. Metal chains worked through her bindings and then upwards, wrapping around a large support beam that connected from one end of the building to another. Her body was pulled taut, her legs dangling beneath her.
She looked back down; her gaze skittering over the soaked clothes clinging to her cold skin, and to the wooden floor covered in hay and old trash. Her ankles were tied together with another rope, leaving her completely incapacitated.
A shiver of apprehension rippled down her spine. The chains clanked together ominously at each slight movement, only adding fuel to her growing distress.
Where was she? She couldn’t get out of this on her own. She couldn’t even move! Her stomach lurched.
Nessa tried to stretch her body, to fully plant her feet on the ground, but she was too short. She couldn’t find purchase, and her body swayed again, the chains grinding together overhead.
“I hope you don’t mind your accommodations, Vanessa,” Tony began, his oily voice immediately making her feel dirty as it slithered over her skin. He grabbed her chin, forcing her head back upwards until their eyes met.
His touch felt like acid; burning and foul, and something she’d never wanted to experience again.
She couldn’t even stomach the sight of him, so she looked away, her eyes darting everywhere else, hoping to find a way out of this mess.
They were in a rundown building with several stalls on either side of her—were they inside a barn?
Three men stood nonchalantly at the closed, large barn door. Another ten, at least, fanned out around the building, maybe even more behind her. All appeared equally disinterested in her dilemma.
It looked like his entire crew was here. Why would he bring so many men with him just for her? She wasn’t some sort of assassin, nor was she dangerous without a gun.
If only she could get to one …
Her vision was still distorted from the drug they’d given her, but from what she could see, none of his crew standing close by were holding their weapons. She spotted several holstered at their sides or tucked into the waistband of their slacks.
Apparently, they’d assessed her threat level at zero.
“Since you have a penchant for running away from me,” Tony added, his tone growing harsh with reprimand, “I thought it best to ensure you didn’t leave our meeting early.” He tugged on the chain for emphasis.
Yeah, like he planned on letting Nessa leave at all.
He was going to kill her—he wouldn’t have brought her to some old barn, probably in the middle of nowhere. But if he’d just wanted her dead, he wouldn’t have taken her to another location to do it. He could have just shot her in the shop.
He was going to torture her first.
The last few minutes in her teahouse rushed to the surface of her mind, and with it, bile rose in her throat.
Nessa’s heart clenched painfully in her chest, the image of Jasper covered in blood and collapsing face down on the ground replaying like a horror movie in her head.
How many times had he gotten shot? At least four, though it had all happened so fast, she couldn’t be sure.
He’d lost so much blood, too. Could shifters handle the severity of wounds like that? Or was he …?
Nessa pushed the last thought aside, refusing to believe that her mate’s brother, her brother, had died. He had to be okay.
Please, let him be okay, she thought desperately.
If Jasper didn’t make it, she was to blame. It didn’t matter that she hadn’t shot him. She was the reason Tony and his men had shown up. The reason they’d attacked.
Poor Jasper had been collateral damage, all because he’d stood between her and these monsters.
And now he was possibly dead in her teahouse, and Murphy was oblivious to everything that had occurred. He’d show up to take her home in a few hours and stumble upon a nightmare.
He had no idea she was missing. No idea that Tony had shown up and wreaked havoc on their lives in a matter of minutes. And even if he pieced it together, how could he ever find her? Her mate wouldn’t be able to save her; not from this.
How could he, when he didn’t know what had happened?
Nessa was on her own, and she knew, she knew her mate would never forgive himself when he found out what happened here.
We were supposed to have more time. I just wanted to be with him. To have a real chance at happiness.
Oh, Murphy … Tears filled Nessa’s already blurred vision, and she choked on a strangled breath of despair.
The last time she’d seen him, she’d been so upset. Withdrawn. And now she would never see him again.
She’d never get to feel his arms around her or his lips on hers ever again.
She’d never get to talk to him, to tell him she loved him and that he’d made her so happy in just a few short weeks.
She’d never get to tell him that he’d made her want to take risks and really, truly live. That she’d wanted to have babies with him. That she wanted everything.
A single tear slid down her cheek, a river of them on the verge of flooding down her face.
Tony dropped his hand from her chin, only to backhand her a second later. Stars exploded across Nessa’s vision, and she cried out at the white-hot pain lancing across her face.
“What have I told you about ignoring me, Vanessa?” Tony hissed, grabbing her neck and squeezing. Her airway constricted, the breath leaving her in a rush as she struggled against her bindings, uselessly trying to escape his hold.
The chains clinked loudly in the room, amplifying the furious pounding of her heart as it beat in her ears.
“Apologize, Vanessa,” Tony snapped, getting in her face. He licked the side of her cheek where another tear had fallen and groaned. “I’ve always enjoyed the taste of your fear.” His fingers tightened around her neck. “Now do as you’re told before I lose my temper.”
“I’m … sorry,” she whispered hoarsely, her throat on fire as the words passed her lips.
And she was sorry.
Sorry she hadn’t killed him in his sleep all those years ago.
Sorry she hadn’t given Murphy her blessing to fly to Chicago and kill him for her.
If she’d been more cold-hearted, more vengeful, this all could have been avoided.
Jasper would be fine, still pestering her about snacks.
Her only concern would be Dante and the implications his impending doom would have on her and Murphy’s relationship.
She’d known they’d work through it together, though, but now she’d never get that opportunity.
Laughing, Tony released her, stepping back.
Nessa gasped for air, her lower lip trembling as she fought against the terror threatening to swallow her whole.
“I’m sorry about killing your boy toy,” he taunted, earning a few laughs from the men in the room. “I’m sure you didn’t enjoy watching him die, but he should have known better than to touch what’s mine.”
Through the pain, Nessa did a double-take. He thought Jasper was her boyfriend? Did that mean he hadn’t looked into her life? He didn’t know about her relationship with Murphy? She let out a small sigh of relief.
“Fuck you, Tony,” Nessa blurted out, her tone full of venom. She snapped her mouth shut, afraid of what he’d do to her for the insult. He’d never liked her cursing, and especially not at him. He’d beaten her badly over it before.
Tony sobered, a harsh, wrathful glint shining in his eyes. “I saw that little love bite he left on your neck, you goddamn slut. You let just anyone fuck you like that or was he special?”
Nessa’s hands clenched, overwhelmed by the need to cover her mating mark from his gaze. He didn’t deserve to see it, to even discuss it with her.
“Best sex of my life,” Nessa replied proudly, antagonizing him despite her better judgment. She was so tired of being afraid. She was sick to her gut of always letting Tony win every time. If she was going to die here, she refused to do so as a coward. “He could have given you some pointers.”
Tony stomped toward her, lifted his hand, and struck her again. Her top lip split from the force of the blow, warm blood rushing to the surface and dripping down her face. She cried out, the movement only opening her wound further, making it worse.
“Sounds like you want to fuck, Vanessa. I’ll enjoy reminding you of just how rough it can get,” Tony warned, lifting his hand to hit her again.
She flinched instinctively, both at his words and his hand. He smiled in satisfaction.
“Now that we’ve got that settled …” Tony reached around her head, grabbing a fistful of her hair. He ripped her head back and bellowed, “Where the fuck is my money?”
“I don’t have it,” she answered through the ache in her throat where he’d bruised it, feeling the strangest urge to grin when his eyes narrowed with rage, his lips twisting into a severe frown.
He was going to kill her, but he wouldn’t get a single cent back. Was it worth her life? Absolutely not. But depriving him of what he wanted … that was the only vengeance she could get now.
“You don’t have it,” he repeated through clenched teeth, his tone full of disbelief. “You stole three million dollars from me, you traitorous bitch, and you don’t have it?”
“I spent it all,” she bragged. “Every last cent.”