Chapter 23
Perpetual Motion
Zoe
I woke up completely and utterly confused.
At first, I was trying to decipher how the fuck I got back in my bed, my hair is dry, and I feel clean.
Like I’ve taken a shower. Little memory pockets pop up at the front of my brain, showing me vague scenes of Brandon carrying me to my bathroom and holding me in the bath as he washed me, but I was barely awake for any of it.
Then I rolled over in my bed to find four men standing over me.
“Jesus,” I grumble in a raspy sleep filled voice, “Were you all just watching me sleep?”
Nobody answers, of course. I sit up to also find myself clothed but not in my clothes. I’m wearing a t-shirt that is swallowing me whole and judging by the triumphant look on Brandon’s face, it’s his.
Finally, the fog lifted from my brain, and I realized that Max, Dean, and Teddy are back which means Darren is here as well.
“Is he in the basement?”
“He is,” says Dean. “He’s not completely conscious yet, and we had to use a little more force than we initially expected.” He explained, but there was no remorse in his tone.
“Let’s go wake him up then.” I jump out of bed only to land on jelly bones that don’t cooperate, and I tumble to the ground.
Brandon snickers but rounds to help me back to my feet, “Didn’t know I fucked you so well, Princess.
” His smirk is devious and his eyes glimmer with mischief.
I blanche, not knowing exactly how the others will react to me actually having sex with one of them.
Fooling around with Teddy is one thing, but I wasn’t anticipating having this conversation.
The logical part of my brain must have left the building when all my resolve shriveled away, and I let Brandon take me in the pool—three times.
But to my surprise nobody reacts, not verbally anyway.
Dean keeps a blank face, as always. The unethical things that I would do to this man to make him let go, are shocking.
I truly thought giving into my urges would make me want all of them a little less, but it has done the complete opposite.
I get this revelation when I take all of them in.
Max is looking at me as if I’ve done something completely expected, but at the same time seeming a little impressed. Teddy looks pleased and eager, and Brandon looks like he just won a contest I wasn’t aware was being held.
Oh-kay, so I guess they are okay with it.
But does this mean I can still get the special attention Teddy likes to give me or will it be exclusively just with Brandon now?
Does this mean the other two expect me to sleep with them also?
I don’t think Dean would be interested, but Max may be.
I’m not sure what I’ve changed in the dynamic, if I have changed anything at all.
“Her brain is breaking.” Dean says matter-of-factly. I scoff, but I don’t disagree. He’s kind of right.
Sighing, Max finally speaks, “Harpy, we don’t care that you’ve fucked Brandon. We don’t care that you get off with Teddy too. We won't let you get in between us, so whatever happens is truly up to you.”
“Okay.” Is all I say, because I’m convinced this man can read my mind. He smirks, and it only solidifies my theory—Max is a mind reader.
“And yes, Darren is in the basement. Teddy has him already for you in a strappado.”
Cocking my head back and blinking quickly, I look at Teddy, “Where the fuck did you get a strappado?”
“I called in a favor and had one delivered before we got back, little devil.” The smile he gives me is mouthwatering.
The evil in his eyes is alive, and burning, he is excited.
I look down at his body and see that he is incredibly excited judging by the rock-hard erection I see straining his jeans.
Whether it’s because he is looking forward to the torture, or because we Max mentioned us fooling around, I’m unsure.
Honestly, there is a very high possibility it’s both.
“A strappado is perfect.” I compliment, finally getting even footing and being able to stand on my own.
A strappado is an old form of punishment or torture in which the victim, with arms bound behind, is raised from the ground by a rope fastened to the wrists, abruptly released, then arrested with a painful jerk just before reaching the ground.
The fact that Teddy was able to “call in a favor” and get one here so quickly is astounding, and impressive on its own.
I’m not shocked he knows what one is, but I am a little shocked he knows someone that can build one.
I file that tidbit of information away to remember, since I used to build my own devices like the garrote…
I suppose joining the Karmas comes with its perks.
“Let’s go see him then.” I begin to walk towards the door when Max puts his hand up to stop me.
“Harpy, you aren't wearing any pants.” I look down to see that he’s right. I’m also not wearing any underwear, but my only advantage is that this shirt is long enough that my vagina isn’t exposed to all four of them right now.
“Right. Give me a moment to get dressed, and I can meet you down there. Have your phone ready for music, tonight is going to be fun.” I exit with a wink, and I purposely sway my hips a little extra; knowing it’ll keep their eyes on me a little longer as I enter my bathroom.
About ten minutes later I’m dressed in a new outfit, well, kind of.
I kept Brandon’s shirt on, but I put a tank top underneath in case things get bloody- I like this shirt, and I want to keep it safe for the time being.
I slipped on some spandex shorts so I can be agile in case I move more than I expect.
And as a precaution I grabbed my knee pads.
Nobody ever tells you how often you get on your knees during torture and I’m not bruising mine tonight.
The basement is completely silent when I walk through the door. The scene in front of me takes a second for me to pick apart.
Teddy has a completely naked Darren already in a standing position with his hands strapped behind his back.
What catches my attention is that there is a metal contraption around Darren’s dick, that would look like a regular chastity cage, but I notice what looks like a probe entering his urethra. But I’ll get to that in a moment.
I look to see Dean and Brandon leaned back against the far wall that has all of Teddy’s tools hanging from it, both of them sharpening a different type of weapon.
Dean is wearing an actual expression on his face, fury.
He's mad, and it is such an incredible sight that a smile curls at the corners of my lips. He is so focused on the hatchet he’s grinding he doesn’t notice me staring, but of course, Brandon does.
Brandon is holding a machete, but he has his signature bat leaned up against his leg. I may need to borrow that bat, when he catches me looking at it, he tsks his tongue at me with a shake of his head.
Then I look at Max, who is sitting in a rocking chair, his phone in his hand.
He’s sipping on a glass of whiskey just staring at Darren.
Which wouldn’t be too out of the ordinary but he’s puffing on a cigar with such a cold look on his face I can’t help but stare at him for a moment.
Just when I think he’s just relaxing, he leans forward and puts his cigar out into Darren’s thigh, completely searing the skin.
I slowly approach Darren, making sure he can hear the click of my shoes.
He finally looks up to see it’s me and a sinister smirk contorts his face to reveal the true monster that he really is.
His monster looks different from mine and Teddy’s.
Mine and Teddy’s monsters were born out of necessity, but Darren’s was just born with him.
“Hello Darren, how’s it hangin’?” I ask, completely aware the joke wouldn’t land in a room with this much tension. Taking him in completely, I now see that he is already riddled with bruising and a few gashes are littered across his skin. “I see my men have started without me.”
“I wasn’t sure you remembered me, princess. I’m flattered.” The use of that nickname rolling off his tongue makes something in my stomach curdle. Before I can do anything about it, Brandon has swung his bat directly into Darren's diaphragm, releasing an ‘oomph’.
“Her name,” Brandon snarls, “is The Sparrow.”
This revelation earns us a surprised look from Darren, but he wipes it quickly, and I just smile sweetly at him.
“You have managed to stay quite hidden all these years, Darren. And I have to say, hiding right under our noses is pretty impressive, stupid, but impressive.” I click my tongue and circle around him to get a view of the intricate device Teddy had delivered.
“We can make this quick if you’d like, but that’s all up to you.” I say once I’m back in front of him.
“Fuck you.” He spits on the ground in front of my feet, I only look at it, but Brandon takes the bat to Darren’s shoulder blades this time.
“I hear your ex-military, so this will be fun getting you to break. I just have a few simple questions, and your kids will stay safe.”
Now I have his attention. “You won't touch my kids, the Karma’s never hurt innocents.”
“Maybe they don’t, but you don’t know just how much liars piss me off.” I lie through my teeth, knowing damn well I won't hurt his children. It sickens me that a man with children is dealing with the skin trade, so I know once I kill this wet-blanket of a human they will be in a better situation.
“You’re nothing.” Darren snorts.
“Oh?” I ask as I crank the lever to begin the lift of his arms, he doesn’t make a sound, but I see him clench his jaw.
“I figured we can have some fun tonight, make a game out of these questions. We will each get to ask you a different question and when you don’t answer, Karma will pick the punishment.” I turn to my men with a bright smile, “Doesn’t that sound fun?”
“I find myself feeling quite inquisitive, Harpy.” Max chimes.