Chapter 42
brIELLE
I don’t open my eyes. I’m not ready to accept the truth. If what I think happened is correct, then my fate is worse than death. This is the worst nightmare anyone could wake up to.
It takes a few minutes to gain the confidence to open my eyes and to get my vision clear, but once it does, I wish I’d never opened them.
Women.
At least a dozen of them, all chained up to giant hooks in the ground. Metal shackles are attached to their wrists and ankles, like they are some kind of vicious animal. I look down and find myself in the same kind of chains. I pull as hard as I can, but they don’t budge.
Where the hell am I? My stomach rolls with unease because I know exactly where I fucking am.
My ribs ache with each breath from Susie kicking me, like I did to her.
Fuck. This was the last thing I expected to happen.
Emris will find me. I know he will, but at the same time I’m not sure that’s going to happen.
He was in the car with me. They took him as well, which means two things—he’s either here or he’s dead.
And I won’t entertain the idea of him being dead.
He’s not. At any moment, he’s going to bust through those doors and rescue me.
Yeah, that’s what will happen. This is just one big nightmare and he—he... he’ll be here. I can feel my chest tightening and heaving. I can’t breathe. I can’t—
Someone grasps my hand and squeezes, pulling me back from the panic that was dragging me down.
“Hey. It’s okay. Look at me,” she talks quietly as if she’s going to spook me or maybe worried about getting in trouble. Her eyes keep darting to where the armed men are. “You’re okay. Just breathe. Ready?” She takes a breath in, and for whatever reason, I follow.
In and out.
In and out.
In and out.
Once everything settles, I look at her. Wow. She’s beautiful.
“I’m Delaney,” she says, giving me a small smile even though it doesn’t reach her eyes. Her voice is so quiet, and I wonder if it’s that way because she’s not used to talking much.
“Brielle.” I give her a small smile back as I try to keep my hands from shaking too much.
“I’m sorry you’re here, but the calmer you try to stay, the better it is.”
I’m not sure what to say, so I only nod. She releases my hand, and I let out a deep breath. It’ll all be fine. Someone will come, and this will be over soon.
My body wracks from both nerves and from how freezing this room is.
There are a few girls who are huddled together.
Some are naked, and that alone makes me terrified to know how long they’ve been here.
My eyes land on a few of them who are openly shoving needles into their arms for whatever release they need, and I won’t even pretend to understand what they must feel.
My eyes roam the room, taking everything in until my stomach turns.
This is so much worse than I could’ve imagined, and I bet this isn’t even the worst of it. I close my eyes and lean my head against the wall, but any kind of calmness I was looking for vanishes when a door opens up and a few men walk in.
All the girls try to look as small as possible, hoping they won’t be the next one these animals pick, but the three men pay no attention to them.
Nope, they step farther into the room, scanning as if looking for someone specifically.
When his eyes land on me, I know it’s me they’re here for.
Peter steps closer and lowers himself in front of me.
“Just as beautiful as I remembered,” he says, dragging his knuckles down the side of my face.
I pull away, which makes him chuckle as he stands to his full height.
“I’m so glad you’re here, Brielle. We’re all going to have such a fun time together.
” He holds his hand out, and one of the other men places a needle in his hand.
No. No. No.
Not again.
I try to move, but the chains keep me right where I’m at. My pulse races so fast, my head spins.
I can’t let them drug me again.
Peter must see the fear in my eyes because he throws his head back and laughs.
“Oh, Brielle. This isn’t for you. Calm down.” Susie makes her way through the room until she’s standing way too close to Peter.
“What took you so long?” he seethes at her, and she shies away, trying to hide the fear in her eyes.
“Sorry. The last girl fought more than I was anticipating.” Peter holds the needle up, and Susie’s eyes light up.
“This will be yours once you’re done with our girl Brielle here. Do you think you can start training her for the auction? You know how long that can take with some of them,” he says, but Susie is already nodding, all the care in the world gone as soon as she sees the drugs.
“I can do that.”
“Well, I’ll leave you to it then. I’ll be back to check on her progress.” With that, Peter turns and leaves the room, only Susie and the two men staying behind.
The first man moves toward me and grabs my wrist, but I manage to bring my foot up as high as I can with the chains and land my foot in his balls. He drops to his knees with a grunt and releases my wrists in the process.
The second man comes, and this time I’m not as lucky. He gets on top of my legs and holds me down as the other man grabs my chains and unlocks them. But now… now I don’t want to leave. I look over at Delaney, who has tears in her eyes as she watches me struggle, but there’s nothing she can do.
“Let’s go, you little bitch,” the guy I kicked in the balls says as he grips my arms and pulls me to my feet.
“No! Let me go!” I yell using every ounce of my strength, but it’s not enough. It’s not fucking enough. I can feel the tears build behind my eyes, but I won’t let them fall.
Not here.
Not in front of them.
I won’t let them break me. Not before I’ve even lived.