Throne of Truth

by Pepper Winters

  “I’ll scream.”

  He smirked. “No one to hear you.”

  “I’ll kill you.”

  “I’d like to see you try.”

  My fury turned caustic, burning me up inside. I shook so hard my teeth chattered.

  He leered over me, keeping his hold on the chain, giving me nowhere to go. Bending down, he grabbed me by the throat, pinning my body against the couch.

  My legs stayed tight and crossed, hand wedged low.

  “Kiss me. Show me that you can be nice, and I’ll be gentle our first time.”

  I spat in his face.

  Wrong move.

  Seriously wrong move.

  But it was the only move I had because I couldn’t kiss him. I could never give anything of me willingly because the hate I had would transfer into hatred for myself.

  Time slowed down.

  His hand came up, rubbing at the bead of saliva I’d put there. Never looking away from me, he wiped his hand on his jeans, shaking his head. “You’ll pay for that.”

  His face turned nasty, his fingers grabbing my elbows and plucking me from the couch as if I weighed nothing.

  “No!” I pummeled his chest as he hauled me against him, marching me backward until my legs pressed against the couch end.

  “Yes.” Spinning me around, he pressed me over the rolled armrest, running his hands down my spine to my ass.

  “Get ready to be nice to me, Elle. ‘Cause I’m sure as shit not going to be nice to you.”

  Chapter Twelve

  Penn

  THIS CABIN HAD lake views, not forest.

  This cabin had a Dodge, not a Porsche.

  This cabin held Elle, not empty.

  This place ricocheted with a scream, not silence.

  Fuck!

  I cursed that I’d left my Merc at the top of the driveway again, hoping for the element of surprise. I’d taken my time sneaking through the bushes and shadows, staying out of sight.

  The occasional smell of cooking had carried on the breeze the closer I got.

  The electrical tingle of being close to Elle revved me the nearer I sneaked.

  But that was before the scream.

  Forgetting stealth, I bolted forward from gloomy undergrowth to gleaming daylight. All instincts told me to barrel through the front door and tear Greg fucking apart.

  But the sensible part of me—the part that’d kept me alive for decades on the streets—whispered patience.

  What if he had a knife to her throat?

  What if he had a gun ready to kill me?

  I had to know where they were, what they were doing—then I could win.

  Ducking, I snuck around the perimeter of the house. My ears strained for another scream, but nothing came. Ice water washed my spine. No scream could be good, could be bad.

  I couldn’t see inside the dim interior with the bright sunshine beating on my head.

  I ran through the small garden with baby saplings swaying in the breeze and approached the side of the house where a bathroom window cracked to allow shower steam to dissipate.

  No movement down the back of the cabin.

  Pressing against the siding, I made my way back to the front where the living room and kitchen would be.

  I kept my height beneath the window frames, listening for any hint of what room Elle was a prisoner in.

  The sound of chains dragging on hardwood screeched in my ears from a cracked window.

  He’s chained her up?

  That motherfucker.

  He’d pay for this. Over and over, he’d pay.

  He had his motherfucking hands on her.

  Soon, I’d have mine on him.

  Sounds of raised voices filtered through the afternoon, garbled and cut short as something thumped and then couch legs squeaked over floorboards.

  I couldn’t stop myself.

  I stood upright, keeping my body low but my eyes above the trim. Peering through the glass, my heart fucking stopped.

  Greg had Elle pinned over the edge of the couch. Chains on her wrists and ankle. A gold nightdress shoved over her hips, exposing her nakedness below.

  I thought seeing her vulnerable with half-torn clothes in the alley three years ago was enough for me to turn rogue.

  This...this was enough for me to commit fucking murder.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Elle

  I SCREAMED.

  How could I not?

  When a man who you’d just eaten lunch with, grew up with, someone you watched turn from boy to grown-up suddenly takes away all control and prepares to rape you—all common sense, conversation skills, and bartering flies out of comprehension.

  I gave up pain and precaution.

  I felt nothing but wildness and terror.

  “Stop!” I kicked. I wiggled. I clawed at the couch.

  “All it takes is for you to be nice to me, Elle. And this can go so much better for you.”

  The promise whispered in my head to do something. To be generous with compliments if it meant he wouldn’t hurt me. But I physically gagged on such blasphemy.

  He stroked my back, running his fingers over my naked hips as he wedged his jeans-clad cock against me. He didn’t move to unzip, but it didn’t stop his hardness from sending disgust gushing through my blood.

  A shadow fell over the floor for the briefest second, wrenching my eyes to the window where sun spilled upon my ruin.

  Perhaps a fellow vacation-maker had come to borrow a cup of sugar. Maybe a fisherman needed to dig in the garden for some worm-bait. Hopefully, some good Samaritan was here to save me.

  I opened my mouth to scream again, but Greg slammed his sweaty palm over my lips.

  “Be nice, and we go into the bedroom.” He fumbled with his belt with his other hand. “Don’t, and you’re mine right here.”

  My heart atrophied at the sounds of leather unbuckling.

  I’m running out of time.

  Do something.

  Think.

  Kick. Fight. Bite. Scream.

  Anything!

  The shadow came again, quick and fleeting, but I caught what made it this time. The barest glimpse of an angel come to free me.

  I didn’t believe it.

  I couldn’t believe it.

  It wasn’t a fisherman or a bird or even a confused bear out for a stroll.

  It was so much better.

  So much worse.

  My heart grew wings even as heavy tar coated it. Greg undid his jeans. The sensation of denim switched to bare male flesh.

  I moaned behind his palm, tossing my head.

  The figure in the window appeared again, this time closer to the front door. His tussled dark hair scattered stencils on the floor.

  Him.

  The liar.

  The alley abuser.

  The man I had feelings for despite everything.

  He ducked again.

  Did he know I’d seen him?

  Did he know I was grateful?

  What would he do?

  How had he found me and not David or Dad?

  My questions evaporated as Greg’s hard cock lined up with my ass. He shuddered, his hand clenching around my mouth while his other yanked my hips into him.

  He was moments away from taking me.

  So I did the only thing I could.

  I chose survival over pride.

  I decided to lie just like Penn.

  Letting my body go loose, I forced my ass against him, rubbing his erection, deliberately arching my back as if being fucked by him was exactly what I wanted.

  My body hated, hated me.

  My heart cursed, cursed me.

  And my lips didn’t know how to form the falsehoods I was about to spill.

  His hand tumbled from my mouth in shock, giving me freedom to speak.

  “Mmm, Greg.” My sultry moan made my skin scratch itself with knives. “You’re right...I’m so—” I rocked into him, making him groan and fingers spasm “—so sorry.”

&nb
sp; He froze, his thighs twitching against the back of mine. “What did you just say?”

  I kept my voice slow and decadent—like chocolate and liquor and rich, rich coffee. “I said you’re right. I should be nicer to you.” I rolled my hips, dragging a revolting pant from him and a coil of nausea from me. “If you let me stand and face you, I’ll show you how nice I can be.”

  My tongue burned with lies.

  My throat slashed with fibs.

  Was this how Penn felt every time he talked to me?

  Greg nudged me with his hips, keeping me pinned against the couch. “Why should I trust you? You’ve been nothing but a bitch since we got here.”

  I jingled the chain around my wrists. “I’m yours, remember? I’m not going anywhere.” I let my body go completely submissive. “It’s time I listened to what you’re offering rather than destroy what we could have together without giving it a chance.”

  Lies, lies, lies.

  I wanted to vomit with lies.

  I wanted to wash away the lies.

  I wanted to bleach the lies.

  Greg slowly relaxed. He stepped back, giving me room to stand.

  I took one last look at the window. A slight shadow appeared closer to the door. Penn was many things, but I trusted him to help me. He’d come for me in his car that night. He’d fought for me in the club at the beginning. He would get me free, and then I’d politely thank him and walk away.

  All I needed to do was keep Greg distracted enough, so it was an ambush rather than a full-on fight.

  I didn’t need more complications in my life by turning this abduction into death or bloodshed. Regardless of what Greg had done, the law would deal with him, not vigilante justice.

  Standing upright, I pushed the negligée down my hips for coverage and turned to face him.

  The only problem was he had a full view of the door where Penn would most likely come in.

  I have to change that.

  Placing my hand on Greg’s chest, I disguised my shuddering fingers with a breathy laugh. “You know...I agree with something else you said, too.”

  His eyes widened then narrowed with suspicion. “Agree with me? That will be a first.”

  I nodded, licking my lips, taking a step to the left, doing my best to ignore the sound of the chain dragging on the floor behind me. “Belle Elle could be ours.”

  Another step, guiding his attention from the door. “You and me.”

  He followed, trying to sniff out my agenda. “What do you mean?”

  “I mean if you’d work harder once Belle Elle was yours, then perhaps that’s an option.”

  He smirked coldly. “And why should I believe this sudden change of heart?”

  Another step, three-quarters turned from the door. He swiveled to follow me with every footfall I took.

  “Can’t I change my mind?”

  “You can, but it’s odd you change it now.” His hand cupped my cheek, running his thumb over the bruise he’d given me. “Strange that you turn cooperative just before I show you how good we are together.”

  I swallowed bile as I stroked my finger down his chest, drawing a circle around his open belt buckle. “You scared me. But if you’re nice to me—like you promised—I can be nice to you.”

  The sexual reference scalded my tongue, but Greg’s eyes glowed. “Oh yeah? How nice are we talking?”

  Another step and his back was toward the exit. Over his shoulder, I hid my victory smirk as the door cracked open with a sliver of warm sunshine.

  Penn’s livid gaze locked on mine.

  I looked away, staying in character, and not giving in to the crazed patter of my heart.

  He was bloody and broken. Smeared with rust and torn on the shoulder, he still wore his white shirt and silver trousers from the charity gala. He moved silently but with a stiffness that wasn’t there before.

  What the hell happened to him?

  Doesn’t matter.

  Keep going.

  Keep Greg distracted.

  I moved closer to my enemy, tugging his belt, sliding it through his jean loops. “I can be very, very nice.” I fluttered my eyelashes. “I’ve grown up a lot the past month. I know how to please.”

  Penn moved closer.

  I daren’t glance up. I couldn’t afford to see how angry he was at my flirting or how angry I was at his fibs. We were furious with each other.

  Good, fury is better than lust.

  “That right?” Greg’s hand landed on my shoulder, squeezing, adding downward pressure just like Penn did when he taught me a lesson and ordered me to suck him in my office.

  I couldn’t be on my knees. I had to watch Penn behind Greg’s back, so I could get out of the way at the right time.

  I giggled—I never giggled—but I amped up the flirt to terrible levels. “How about we discuss the terms first, and then I’m nice to you?”

  “You already know the terms.” He grabbed my hand, spinning the engagement ring on my finger. “This means you’re mine. Everything you own is mine. That’s the deal, Elle.”

  “And my body? Is that yours, too?”

  He looked down at my breasts with a hungry glare. “Fuck yes, it is.”

  Nausea splashed my stomach as I stroked his chest, moving back up his body away from the hardness in his pants. “And your body? Is that mine in return?”

  He licked his lips. “It is if you want it.”

  I dared look over his shoulder as Penn slowly slinked from the doorway into the living room. His eyes met mine again, narrowed and dark and full of murder. His fists clenched with no other weapon but his hate.

  He was utterly sublime.

  And totally terrifying.

  My skin shivered with a mixture of frustration and appreciation. I’d felt something for him. I could’ve been happy with him. But the truth shattered that.

  I was glad he was here, and this situation warranted gratitude, but after that...I never want to see him again.

  Tearing my eyes back to Greg, I counted the seconds until I could stop this pantomime and let Penn incapacitate him.

  Placing my hand over Greg’s heart, the chain around my wrists dangled, nudging his erection with morbid jewelry. “Yes, I want it.”

  He wrapped his arms around my waist, wedging himself against me. “In that case, be a good girl and get in the bedroom. I’ll make it good for you if you make it good for me. That’s all I ever wanted, Elle.”

  I giggled again even though I wanted to strangle him. “Okay...”

  Penn sneaked forward, his eyes darting between me in Greg’s arms and his feet on the floorboards, searching for squeaky spots.

  “Let’s go.” Greg moved forward, his head turned toward the kitchen. If his peripheral was any good, he’d see Penn and all my lying and touching would’ve been for nothing.

  “Wait!” I grabbed his face, holding his gaze with mine. “Don’t go, not yet.”

  His eyebrows knitted together, dark blond hair cascading over his forehead. “Why the fuck not?” Temper tightened his eyes. “If you’re playing a game—”

  “No game—” Panic made me blurt rather than hum with sexual intrigue.

  Penn inched closer.

  A floorboard creaked.

  Greg’s nostrils flared as he twitched to look over his shoulder.

  I did the only thing I could.

  The only thing I could think of.

  Digging my nails into his cheeks, I wrenched his face to mine and kissed him.

  The world screeched to a halt as my lips willingly found his and seduced him.

  He tasted wrong.

  He felt wrong.

  He was wrong.

  His body tensed.

  For a second, I feared he’d slap me away and find Penn just a foot behind him. But then he relaxed, grabbing me close and spearing his tongue into my mouth.

  I gagged as he kissed me deep, his hands tangling in my hair.

  I hated every wet heat of it. I despised every swipe of his unwanted invasion.


  Trying to stay in character, I did my hardest not to bite him. But I couldn’t stop the moan of rejection or squirm of refusal.

  He grunted, dragging me closer to him. The kiss turned brutal and basic. Teeth nipping at my lip, sharp and smooth.

  And then...it was over.

  Commotion, clamor, then Greg was torn from my arms and jerked backward. Instinct made him grab the chain around my wrists, yanking me with him.

  A sharp gasp fell from me as we fell together, plummeting to the hardwood.

  I landed with a bone-rattling jar half on him, half on the floor. I didn’t have time to register pain as vicious hands wrapped around my waist, plucked me from Greg, and threw me to the side out of the way.

  I rolled to my knees just in time to see Penn dive onto Greg as he pinned him to the floor and delivered two solid punches to his jaw. “You cock-sucking motherfucker!”

  “What the—” Greg tried to protect his face, but Penn had the element of surprise.

  “How dare you take her?” Penn rammed his knuckles into Greg’s jaw.

  “How dare you fucking touch her?” He hit his temple, his throat—his punches messy but swift.

  “How dare you goddamn hurt her!” He turned diabolical, hitting every part he could reach.

  Greg whimpered, his voice punctured by punches and pain.

  Penn didn’t let up.

  He didn’t stop the violence.

  He’ll kill him.

  “Wait!” I scrambled upright. “Stop!”

  Penn didn’t listen.

  Greg’s nose popped in a gush of blood. He groaned something incomprehensible.

  Penn pushed up, towering over him. His chest heaved with breath, his body covered in stains and injury. “You’re an asshole.” His foot kicked out, connecting with Greg’s side. “A creep who ought to be exterminated—just like all the other fucking creeps who think they can take what isn’t theirs.”

  Even in the midst of a fight, I couldn’t help my inner voice from whispering, hypocrite.

  Penn was one of those creeps. He’d tried to rape me in that alley. He’d stolen my necklace.

  I backed away, holding my stomach in revulsion.

  Two emotions tangled and braided. They knotted together trying to confuse me. I liked Penn. I hated Penn. I wanted Penn. I couldn’t forgive Penn.

  The flash of his bare foot brought me back as he buried it in Greg’s soft belly. A sickening thud made nerves tangle into sickness.