Chapter 24
Two burly fucks with nothing but ill-will leaking off them lead my tiny sister into the shadows.
Another stands off to the side, shifting his weight from foot to foot.
His ashy blond hair flutters over his brow as the warm breeze rustles through the trees, brushing past us.
His sea-green eyes seem to look everywhere but at me.
Which makes him a perfect person to try and draw any sort of sympathy from.
Leaning over to Maximus, I whisper, “May I go too?”
Simultaneously shocked and pleased by my meek politeness, he nods. “Karson,” he directs, and the last remaining guard dog snaps his head to his master. “Take Miss Chelsea to the bushes.”
Karson jerks a rigid nod, stepping forward. He’s only slightly taller than I am, which makes him, and every other man, much less intimidating than I assume Rose sees them. Maximus lifts his hand, guiding it to the right—the opposite direction of Rose.
Karson’s fingers clamp around my upper arm as he practically drags me into the long grass.
Step after step he leads me into the darkness.
I try to get a better look at him, but his eyes are honed on the area around us.
I need to get him talking, but I’d have better luck trying to conjure words from a statue.
All of this could’ve been avoided if Rose had just left Brad to be eaten alive.
I don’t know what she was thinking. We could have easily overpowered Sam, or manipulated him since he’s so sickly head over heels for her.
Despite what she said, I’d still risk it.
I’ll gladly gamble my life on an escape and live forever running.
Anything is better than willingly walking into this torturous death sentence.
I don’t know why she would think any different.
I’m a fighter. I always have been. But even I can recognize when the cards are stacked against me.
First in the cabin room, and now. It's why I’m a non-threatening, malleable, meek bitch.
Even though I detest it. My impulsivity would only get us killed on the spot or punished.
I believed Brad when he told us what Max would do if he found us.
But when I escape, alone or with Rose, I don’t intend to be found again.
Lost in my thoughts, I trip over a root. “Pay attention,” Karson growls.
Oh, fuck this guy.
“Do you have a problem with me?” I snap.
An angry huff shoots out through his nose. He turns my back to the nearest tree, pressing me into it. “Hurry up,” he grumbles.
“No chance of privacy?”
“Privacy is a privilege not extended to new toys.” He recites the words like they’ve been plucked straight from the kidnappers handbook he had to memorize to get this job.
“Well, I have stage fright,” I lash out, kissing any chance of sympathy from this dickhead goodbye.
Karson’s sea-glass eyes lock with mine, crinkling with mirth. “Better get over that, sweetheart. Lots of clients have a piss kink.”
My jaw drops involuntarily, and he chuckles quietly. “You’re disgusting.”
“Maybe, but it’s not because I favour a warm golden shower.”
There it is, my opening into an actual conversation. “And what is it you favour?”
Karson steps closer, closing me in against the tree. He looks me up and down before leaning in near enough to smell the enticing cologne clinging to his skin. “Doesn’t matter, I won’t be coming to you to fulfill my fantasies.”
“And why’s that?” I query before thinking better of it.
“Because when you look like me, you don’t have to pay for sex.
” He beams down upon me, that light in his eyes burning ever brighter.
It’s then I realize that this is what does it for him.
Karson doesn’t pay for sex, because by the time he’s done degrading the women he’s surrounded by, he’s damn near ready to cum in his pants.
Better yet, he hates it. It’s why he avoided eye contact with me until we were alone.
“Is that because they pay you to stop?”
His award-winning smile falters for a moment before he says, “No, sweetheart, they’d pay me to keep going.”
“And you can’t? What a shame. I’m sure there’s a pill you can get with all that money to increase your stamina. The women would probably appreciate it.”
His nostrils flare as I clench my teeth to keep from breaking into a raucous laugh.
“That’s some great advice, maybe I’ll give it a go. I’m sure bossman would love to have you broken in by someone as disgusting as me, backed by pharmaceutically enhanced stamina.”
Fuck.
Doesn’t matter, keep him talking.
“Oh? Now you want me to fulfill your fantasies? Make up your mind.” He opens his mouth, a reply on the tip of his tongue, but I get there first, cutting him off.
“Tell me, Karson. Do you like to do the degrading, or would you prefer I take the lead? I guarantee you’ll break before me, and enjoy it. ”
“Think you got me all figured out, huh?”
“Pretty much.”
Karson leans impossibly closer, nestling his hardness between my thighs in an attempt to unnerve me. After what Brad did, this is nothing. “Hope you like knives, sweetheart, or you’ll be the one crumbling for me.”
Pulling back, he observes me. I let the smile I’ve been holding back split across my face. “I prefer a scalpel, but I’m sure any blade will do.”
His hypnotizing eyes widen, lips parting like he’s about to speak but no words are forming.
Karson launches himself away from me without warning. “Hurry the fuck up,” he snarls, pulling a concealed gun from behind him.
I’m momentarily stunned until I hear the approaching footsteps, followed by the same sharp whistle Maximus made earlier.
Turning slightly, Karson nods to a man that emerges from the greenery. He steps to him, effectively blocking me from view, and I take full advantage of the small bit of privacy he’s offering me.
“Boss wants to know what’s taking so long.”
“Stage fright, and begging for her release. You know, the usual.”
“He was hoping you’d finally dipped your dick in the company ink. Said if anyone would test your restraint, it’d be this one.”
“Not a fucking chance, Ry.”
“That’s what I said.” He glances over to me briefly before returning his gaze to Karson. “Need any help?”
Karson raises the gun from its position loosely hanging at his side, aiming at me. “Nah, seems you showing up and distracting me got things moving. Be right there.” He waves the gun in a hurry up gesture, and I grab a leaf I pray isn’t poison ivy to finish.
The man nods, turning and making his way back in the direction he came from. Karson sags in relief and I wonder if he would have gotten in trouble for engaging with me.
Not that I care.