Chapter 27
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
BLAIR
As my eyes flutter open, the harsh light pierces through the haze of my consciousness and penetrates my vision. My head is pounding, and my body throbs in pain. I feel like I've been through war, and in some ways I have. Shoved into the aftermath of a battlefield, both physically and emotionally drained. I'm vaguely aware of the plush softness of the mattress underneath me, no smell of piss or blood. Nothing like my previous hell.
Attempting to rub the sleep from my eyes, I’m immediately met with resistance. “ What the fuck…” I croak out, my voice hoarse and strained. Yanking on my arm, panic skirts down my spine as I notice my wrist is shackled. I’m unable to move. “ No , fuck! No , no, this can't be happening!” My breathing begins to come in short pants as panic starts to worm its way around my throat like a noose. I keep jerking on my arm trying to break free from my restraints.
I attempt to slow my racing heart, I focus on my immediate su rroundings, straining to piece together my situation and figure out where the hell I am. Sitting up, I draw my legs towards me, a sharp pain coursing through my abdomen, reminding me of the horrors I endured earlier. Or was it last night? Time blurs into a cloudy void, leaving me disoriented. Despite the ache in my heart at the memories that threaten to engulf me, now is not the time for mourning.
Casting my gaze around the room, I take in the luxurious decor that surrounds me. The walls are adorned in a somber shade of dark gray, and the four-poster bed frame I’m tied to sits in the middle of the room. Its imposing presence dominates the space with a chilling reminder of my captivity. There’s black, sleek end tables on either side of the bed. To my right, is a large bay window. I assume we’re on the first floor which should make for an easier escape, however, I have a strong feeling they wouldn’t make it so easy. I’m determined to find a way out.
To the left of the window, a black leather chaise lounge rests with a fluffy cream throw blanket meticulously folded over its back. Despite the room's ample space, its emptiness casts an eerie atmosphere. The limited furniture hints at the possibility that I may not be the first unfortunate soul to be tethered to this bed.
Leaning as close as my restraints allow, I inspect the post on the left side of the bed, squinting through bruised eyelids. Tiny divots and marks litter across the surface, evidence of past struggles. Gasping , I strain to examine the other post, where matching divots run down the sides, aligning perfectly with the cuffs that are currently wrapped around them and my wrists .
Fuck . How many scared young men and women have been here? How long was it until they gave up the idea of getting out and getting home to their families? Though hope flickers within me still, reality sets in. If I can’t figure something out soon, I’m completely and utterly fucked. I refuse to die in this desolate place, at the mercy of some old, disgusting pervert.
I don’t care how far I am from Blackwood . I will find a way back. Surely there are neighbors or a nearby establishment that can offer assistance—anything to help me get home. They bought the wrong bitch.
My head snaps toward the door, eyes widening as it creaks open. A man strides in, and my initial confusion gives way to a surge of alarm. Impeccably dressed in a sleek suit, his hair styled to perfection, and his face clean-shaven, he exudes an air of authority. The scent of his expensive cologne fills the room, assaulting my senses and intensifying the feeling of impending danger. Despite any outward charm or semblance of attractiveness, the darkness lurking within him is unmistakable, emanating from his eyes like shards of ice.
A wolf is still a wolf, even in sheep's clothing.
I don't dare avert my gaze from him as he saunters into the room. Silence hangs heavy in the air, broken only by the sound of my racing heartbeat. Like a statue, I remain frozen, clinging to the useless hope of becoming invisible. His piercing gaze rakes over my body, the devilish grin makes my skin burn.
“ Hello there, baby girl.” He purrs with a sinister smile, triggering a surge of bile to rise in my throat. “ My name is Lorenzo , and I'll be taking such good care of you. It's a shame they delivered you with all these bruises, though. Typically , I take pleasu re in painting my canvases myself.” He adds, his words dripping with malice as he brushes an imaginary speck of dust from his suit.
My blood runs cold as reality starts to sink in. He paid millions to have me bound to this bed. He paid to own me, to have control over my very existence. I will never be free again. My body is no longer my own, a prisoner to his depraved desires.
He unbuttons his suit jacket and shrugs it off, then strides over to the leather chaise and lays it atop the throw blanket. Loosening his tie and rolling up his sleeves, his gaze locks on to mine. A predatory smirk tugs at the corners of his mouth and he licks his lips, savoring the fear reflected in my eyes.
“ There was quite a bidding war for you, young lady. A priceless beauty like yourself, it's no wonder there was such interest. You’ve brought a considerable sum to your school and to certain individuals.” He explains, his voice laced with a sense of ownership. “ I was more than willing to make a substantial donation in your name. In fact, I even heard that one of the bidders lost his shit and had it out with the boss when I made my final bid,” he continues, casually strolling toward the foot of the bed. “ Word has it, he resorted to extreme measures, even violence, in his desperation to acquire you.” My heart skips a beat.
Could he be referring to Emmett ?
Sighing , he halts a few feet away and proceeds to unbuckle his belt, sliding it out of the loops of his dress pants. I swallow the bile back down, not wanting to piss him off two minutes after meeting him. “ I would’ve paid any price to possess you. There’s just something about you, baby girl. The moment I laid eyes o n you, I knew I’d make you mine,” he declares, his words dripping with possessiveness. Despite my inner disgust, I understand the importance of playing along, at least for now.
The men associated with Blackwood have a serious problem of asserting their dominance over women. But if there’s even the slightest chance of escape, I must bide my time and earn his trust. I cannot afford to provoke his wrath, not yet.
“ It's a shame you know,” he prompts, waiting for me to speak but I don't respond. I have nothing to say to a man who paid for me, who plans on using and hurting me. A whirling shadow comes my way and I’m disoriented.
The pain registers in my cheek before I realize what happened. He just fucking slapped me. I try to pull my hand up to cup my face but I’m reminded of the cuffs secured to my wrists.
“ You will respond when I speak to you, you worthless girl. You are nothing more than a warm hole, something to be used by me. Whenever , wherever, and however I shall choose. Do I make myself clear? Don’t fucking disrespect me by thinking you have a choice here.” He shouts, spit flying out of his mouth and landing on my upper lip.
Choosing my battles wisely is the only way I'll make it out of here alive, and I've decided this is not a battle I want to pick. I lower my head, away from his piercing dark eyes, and speak.
“ Yes , I understand,” I say, almost in a whisper. My voice is scarce, my throat is sore from screaming and my mind is tired. I don’t want to give in, but it’s the only way I’ll get out.
“ As I was saying, it's a shame they killed your child.” My eyebrows ra ise, maybe his heart is still in there after all? Maybe I'll be able to negotiate my way out. This means that-
My thoughts are interrupted when he speaks again, crushing all hopes that just grew. “ I would've had such fun with them too. Truly , such a sad case.” He didn't feel bad for me. He sympathized with the fact he wouldn’t be able to have as much fun because I was his only toy and didn’t come with any accessories.
My already splintering heart cracks a little more. It takes me a minute to process what he just said. My eyes widen and before I spit out, “ You are absolutely disgusting.”
He chuckles and narrows his eyes at me. “ You have no idea, baby girl. I wouldn’t have minded purchasing you, already impregnated. Less work for me. But I can always do the job myself.” His lips spread into a sinister grin.
Bile instantly fills my mouth once more and I can’t keep it down this time. I try to lean over and vomit off of the bed but my wrists limit my movements, causing some to land on the bed and myself. “ You disgusting girl.” He spits out through gritted teeth.
He shoves his hand in his pants pocket. Pulling an object out, and quickly pressing it to my throat. The sharpness of the blade is a familiar one. My mind quickly wanders to the night of the Halloween party, when Blackwood seemed exciting. When Emmett was the one pressing a knife to my throat, awakening parts of me that were stuck in a deep slumber. Lorenzo holding the knife makes me wish he would glide it across my neck and end this nightmare for me, but of course, that’d be too easy and would mean less fun for him.
“ I should let you sit in your filth a little while longer, but I’ll let you prove to me what a good little whore you can be. You’ll clean it up.” He comments as he takes the knife and slices down what’s left of my shirt, leaving me bare to his devilish gaze.
I wince, shutting my eyes at the proximity of the blade. My chest rises and falls as I try to breathe through my spiking anxiety. I lean back until my spine hits the headboard and there’s nowhere else for me to hide.
He hums, placing his hand at the top of my torso. Goosebumps litter my skin, disgusted by his touch as he glides his fingers down between my breasts, pausing when his hand lands over my stomach.
Bits of vomit cling to Lorenzo’s hand and he shakes his head. Bringing his hand to my mouth, he smears the bile across my lips, the smell infiltrating my nose and threatening to trigger more. I gag but force myself to swallow it down. Lorenzo chuckles and anger pulses through my veins. My rage radiates off of my face, the inner heat making beads of sweat form on my hairline.
He leans in close and opens his mouth to say something. I cut him off when he’s inches away from my face and spit at him. The residue of my vomit lands on his face and he already looks more attractive. I begin to thrash and buck my body, bringing my legs up in a weak attempt to get him away from me.
Lorenzo backs up from the bed and drags the back of his hand down his face, cleaning the vomit off of him. “ I didn’t want to immobilize you completely, pet. But I will, should you choose to keep up this troublesome behavior.” He calmly remarks. His calm is almost scarier than when he acted out his anger.
I yank the cuffs around my wrists, making new indents along with the others on the post, but it does nothing to help my situation. Lorenzo walks over to the nightstand on the left side of the bed and opens the top drawer. I strain my neck, trying to look past the post to see what he's doing. Pulling out more cuffs, he slams the drawer closed and strides over to my feet.
He’s making good on his word. Fuck . I begin to kick more and this time, I add my screams.
“ Someone fucking help me! Help me, please! My name is Blair Stirling , help me!” I shout, my raspy voice filling the room.
Lorenzo laughs heartily and shakes his head. “ Stupid bitch. No one can hear you. We’re miles away from civilization. You . Are . Mine .”
He grips my left ankle and begins to hook the cuff around it. I manage a kick to his chest, it does nothing to waiver his strong build. I kick again, this time with my free leg, missing his head by a fucking hair. Once the cuff is secured around the post, he moves to my other leg and begins the same process.
Tears form in my eyes but I blink them back. He will not break me. I am not his. I do not belong to him. Emmett’s voice pops into my head and I hear him calling me his. My heart swells, then shatters with the thought of never being able to hear his voice again.
I admit defeat for now. I’m terrified of Lorenzo and what he has planned for me. Panic overtakes my body. It’s becoming ha rd to breathe and my teeth are buzzing. My head begins to spin and I feel lightheaded.
Lorenzo places his calloused hand on my neck and gives it a rough squeeze. He bends down so his mouth is in line with my ear and whispers, “ I’ll be back later and then the real fun will begin.”
Sliding his hand down to my breast, he lingers there for a moment. I cringe at his touch, unable to hide the desperation I have for him to leave the room. He takes my nipple between his fingers and pinches. He continues to squeeze harder and harder until I yelp out in distress. He chuckles as he glides his hand down my body, then slips his hand under my shorts, cupping my pussy. He groans and grabs his cock with his free hand. I think I'm going to be sick again.
He looks down at me with a sinister smile and licks his lips. Pulling his hand out from my pants, he turns on his heels and struts out the door, slamming it behind him. I hear the faint click of a lock and my heart drops to my stomach.
A tear escapes, the fear for the arrival of “later” leaves me with no hope of getting out of here. I lay my head back and close my eyes. The smell of vomit finally registers as my body's defenses come down now that the danger has left. More tears begin to fall and I lose control of them. I no longer have the strength to hold them back.
Thoughts of Emmett flood my brain. I imagine his reaction to him finding out we were pregnant. Would he have been happy? Does he even want a family? I know he talked about getting me pregnant but was that because he wanted kids or to keep me tied to him forever? The unknowns fill my head and leave me wit h more heartache, the only certainty being I’ll never get the answers I’m looking for.