Beyond accounting for the bodies in the room, I resisted looking around, not only to stay out of trouble, but because I knew that I’d just get flustered if I saw their faces again.
“Tell me,” Ross began, “why the hell I had to fly back here when you are supposed to be in charge.”
“We had it under control,” Miles said.
“I can tell that from all of the bruised faces. We have a breach, someone selling drugs, and all you can do is fight amongst yourselves.” Ross knocked his chair backward as he stood. “You argued to keep her, Kirk. Was it simply to piss Gabe off or put her to use, because frankly I’m tired of the shenanigans.”
“I find her to be far more fun alive, and I didn’t feel like having to clean up a murder, or deal with the mess they would have made even if they left her alive.”
“And you still believe that after this morning’s altercation?”
“Yes.”
Ross groaned. “Why is she even wandering around after she tried to run?”
“She was punished, she learned her lesson, and she hasn’t caused any problems since.”
“You don’t consider this morning a problem?”
“She wasn’t directly responsible.”
“I think you’re smitten. You don’t spend enough time with the other slaves; you don’t understand the mindset or how to make them behave.”
“With all due respect,” Miles said, “I think he does. I think he made better work than most of us would in training a strong-willed girl.”
“And look who’s talking,” Ross waved off Miles. “I suddenly feel like I’m surrounded by humanitarians.”
I heard Gabe snicker, and Ross’ head jerked in his direction. “And you, fighting over a damn slave girl. You shouldn’t have brought her here in the first place. If you want to have your fun, do it elsewhere and make sure it doesn’t get tracked back here.”
Ross righted his chair then sat down. “Silver.”
Concentrate. “Yes, Master.”
“Come here.”
I walked past Kirk, hoping that no one could see my body shaking. Hell, I hoped they couldn’t feel it as I walked up to the desk.
Ross turned to the side, motioning for me to stand in front of him. “Take off your shirt.”
No hesitating. I pulled it over my head and held it in my hand, unsure of what he wanted me to do with it.
“Turn around and kneel.”
As if being this close wasn’t bad enough, he had to be where I couldn’t see him. I turned and dropped to my knees in front of him, gathering my shirt in my lap.
He brushed my hair off my back, tucking it around my shoulder, then he traced every single mark left from the beating he’d ordered Kirk to give me.
I struggled to keep my breath even as he pressed the still-sensitive skin hard enough to aggravate the deep bruises.
He was counting them, I’d realized. Making sure that Kirk hadn’t gone easy on me. Making sure that every single one was exactly what he expected.
“Turn around,” he ordered when he was finished.
I stayed on my knees but shuffled around to face him.
“You’ve learned your lesson?”
“Yes, Master.”
“And what is it?”
“To do as I’m told, Master.”
“And if I told you to crawl across the room and suck Gabe’s dick?”
“Then, I would do as you ordered, Master.” Breathe. It’s just a test. Please let it be just a test.
Ross grabbed the shirt out of my hands. “Crawl over to Gabe and undo his pants.”
My stomach turned into a ball of ice. I moved to hands and knees and dragged myself across the room, keeping gaze glued to the floor. I didn’t want to see anyone else’s face. I didn’t want to seek Kirk’s neutral expression, or Gabe’s smirk, or Ross’ scowl.
When I reached Gabe, I sat back on my feet. His belt buckle clanged as I released it. I popped the button free and slid the zipper down.
I already wanted a shower, a scalding shower to rinse away the feeling of having to touch him. Even his clothes reeked of cigarettes.
A bulge grew just behind the blue fabric of his underwear. But I dropped my hands to my lap. I’d done exactly as Ross had said.
Gabe grabbed my hair, but I wasn’t taking orders from him. I waited for Ross’ next command. Seconds ticked by, and Gabe grew impatient as his erection grew.
Ross chuckled. I heard his footsteps behind me.
He was going to force me to take Gabe’s cock, just like he’d done with Kirk.
Instead, he dropped my shirt in my lap and patted the back of my head, pushing Gabe’s hand away from me.
“You think I should reward you for everything? Kirk was right to take her from you. To keep us all out of trouble and what could have become news.”
Ross jerked my head back. “Put your shirt on and go back to your master. And you,” he grabbed Gabe through his underwear, “stop thinking with your damn cock.”
I pulled my shirt over my head and scurried over to stand behind Kirk.
Gabe grunted loudly then stumbled backward. Served him right, I thought, but then Ross approached Kirk.
“Now that we’ve taken care of the nonsense. Where do we stand on the drug investigation?”
“He sold them to at least two girls. Caught him on video passing a dime bag and we recovered the drugs.”
“How were the girls paying for it?”
“I doubt they were,” Gabe groaned. “Freebies get them hooked then they’ll do anything for more.”
Ross nodded and sat back against his desk, I felt his gaze on me again. “Unless the slave wants to service us all while we talk, her presence is no longer needed. Gabe—”
My heart shot into my throat.
“—do Kirk a favor and escort her back to his apartment.”
Kirk’s back straightened, but as he’d told me before, he had to pick his fights with Ross, and I suspected this wouldn’t be one of them. He unhooked his key ring from his belt loop. Gabe held out his hand, but Kirk handed them to me, holding up one in particular. “Lock the door behind you, take a shower, and go to bed.”
“Yes, Master.”
I held onto the key he’d held up, thankful they at least gave me something to claw Gabe’s face with if worse came to worst.
“Gabe,” Ross added, “be back here in five minutes.”
Gabe grunted and pushed open the door, he didn’t wait for me to even catch up. There I was, sprinting after the man who’d kidnaped and nearly raped me. The last thing I wanted to do was climb onto the elevator with him, but there was no choice for me. I kept as much distance between us as possible—still careful to stay close enough that he wouldn’t have an excuse to say anything.
On the ninth floor, he led me to Kirk’s door and leaned against the wall while I unlocked it.
“Don’t worry,” he said.
I made the mistake of looking up in confusion, and he winked.
“I’ll have you yet, Princess.”
I jumped inside the apartment, slammed the door shut, and locked it as fast as I could.
I sat on the couch, checking the time every few minutes while I waited for Kirk to get back. I turned on the TV trying to drown out my own brain, but after Gabe’s threat I didn’t dare step in the shower where I wouldn’t be able to hear if anyone came in.
Gabe was upstairs with the rest of them, so I reasoned he wouldn’t be coming down to get me.
But, reason doesn’t always win in a completely unreasonable situation.
Around one in the morning, I heard the deadbolt snap, and I shot up from the couch, looking for something to grab.
“Easy, Silver.” Kirk slid in and locked the door behind him. “I thought you’d be asleep.”
“Oh, sure after today, I’m going to sleep like a baby. Besides, I thought I’d have to let you in.”
“I told you to go to bed. I picked up a spare key from security. You haven’t even showered.”
I looked down at my clothes. It was lucky only he knew that I hadn’t listened.
“Did Gabe do anything?”
I shook my head. “Do, no. He said he’d have me though.”
“What?”
“Don’t worry,” I mocked Gabe’s voice, “I’ll have you yet, Princess.”
“Princess?”
I rolled my eyes.
“Time for a shower.” Kirk wrapped an arm around my back and lifted me off the floor. He winced with the motion but didn’t let me go until we reached the shower.
“You going to wash my hair?” I teased as we stripped, waiting for the water to warm.
“Don’t press your luck,” he said, picking me up again and dropping me in the still cool stream.
I squealed and moved to the back of the tub. “If you didn’t look like an invalid….”
“You’re really asking for it tonight, aren’t you?” He stepped in the front of the shower and I charted the injuries, the largest bruise was on his left side, paired with a smaller one near the bottom of his ribs on the right. There was another just above his left hip, the outside of his right thigh.
I was afraid he’d turn around and I’d see even more.
“I’m still walking and breathing, Silver. I haven’t left you to the wolves yet.”
I leaned against the wall, sleep threatening to claim me right there in the shower. Apparently now that he was back, my body no longer felt the need to stay on high alert. Kirk pulled me against him and lathered up my back.
“Why do you care what happens to me?” I whispered into his chest.
He didn’t stop his movements, and I wondered if he even heard me. I pulled away, even though my body felt weary and no longer willing to stand under its own volition.
“Why?” I asked again. “Why did you save me? Why do you hold me when I’m freaking out or hurting? Why do you let me get away with running my mouth to you?”
“Because I want you.”
“As a slave.”
“Yes,” he pressed me into the wall but didn’t take his motions any further. “As my slave. The other girls aren’t like you, Silver. If they fight, it’s for a very different reason. You’re alive—every bit of you. You fight for that. You’re a torrid of emotions.” He kissed me, pulling the rest of the energy out of my exhausted body. “I want to keep you that way, but that kind of attitude is dangerous here.”
He rubbed the soap between his hands then caressed it over my breasts and ass. “And, I like having you as a distraction too much.”
“I want that good day you promised me. I need a distraction, too.”
“Right now, you need sleep.”
I shook my head and covered my eyes as the tears came up from nowhere. “I didn’t—I was terrified he’d make me keep going. Hell, I’m terrified of what you do to me. Everyone else instills a level far beyond terror.”
He pulled my hands down and twisted them behind my back. “Do what I say and you have no reason to be afraid of me.”
“You even control me in my dreams now. You and your damn snake.”
I wasn’t even sure I was making sense anymore, so I kept my mouth closed. Leaning against the back of the stall and watching while Kirk scrubbed his own skin then turned off the water.
“Come on, Sugar.”
I stepped out of the tub and wrapped a towel around my body, drying off as quickly as possible so I could crawl into bed and pass out.
Unceremoniously, Kirk and I both climbed into bed, and I pulled the covers up to my neck. Every day I ended up more confused, and I needed a reprieve. Not that I was any more likely to get that in my sleep.
The Snake and the Schemer
I managed a dreamless night—or at least I didn’t remember any fucked up delusions the next morning. Kirk and I were both quiet during breakfast. I figured he had work to take care of, and for once, I was thankful for it. After the past twenty-four hours, I wasn’t sure what I’d do if given the opportunity with him alone.
I stayed in the kitchen, trying to at least stay on his good side by doing the dishes and cleaning up, but it didn’t take long to run out of things to do that wouldn’t involve being in the same room.
He glanced up at me when I entered the living room, but continued working, his attention divided between his phone and computer.
“You ever decide what books you wanted?” he asked.
I pulled the notebook he’d given me from the home I’d given it under the couch and tore out the first sheet of paper. I put it on top of the e-reader.
“There are more than three books here.”
“You said I could earn more,” I said, leaning over the back of the couch. “Is everything okay?”
Kirk nodded, “I just thought you wanted some space, so I’ve been giving it to you.”
“Do you really have to read me so easily?”
“Makes life easier,” he said, hooking the e-reader to his computer. “Am I going in order?”
“Sure.”
“I do have to go upstairs for a while.”
I bit the inside of my cheek, I didn’t want him to leave me alone or take him with me.
“You’ll be fine” he handed back the e-reader. “You have two books; I’ll do a couple more tonight.”
He patted my cheek as he stood and I jerked away.
“What’s that about?” He twisted his fingers in my hair and pulled me to his face. “Sugar, you will be fine. No one is going to come in here to get you.”
“You didn’t see the look on Gabe’s face last night.”
“I already made sure that Gabe isn’t even on site today. I’ll be right upstairs, five minutes away, and I’ll be back soon.” He kissed me, and I parted my lips, giving him what—as far as anyone here was concerned—was his. “It’s going to be a good day. I promised you that, and I’ll give it to you, but I have to take care of things first.”
“You’re the boss.”
Kirk scoffed. “Be ready to leave for lunch when I get back.”
“Leave?” My heart pounded. “Where exactly are you taking me?”
“You’ll see. Be ready in an hour. The clothes I want you to wear are in the top drawer.”
As soon as the deadbolt clicked, I ran into the bedroom to see what clothes he’d left, hoping it’d give me some clue to what he was planning. The only thing in the top drawer was a cropped tank top and a pair of jean shorts.
The last time I’d stepped out of this room wearing regular clothes, the day had gone to hell fairly quickly.
The door opened, and I dropped the e-reader into the couch to look at the clock.
“You don’t look ready,” Kirk said.
“Um, you’re fifteen minutes early,” I said, but I wasn’t entirely convinced of the argument myself. I held up the e-reader and waved it. “I was enjoying not being here for a while.”
“Stop making excuses and get dressed.” He crossed his arms and leaned against the wall, but what really caught my attention was his smile. I didn’t recognize it. It wasn’t the one he wore when he was being conniving to make me miserable or reassuring me even though he was worried. It was light and reflected a spark of mischief.
I was torn between running for my sanity and embracing it.
I slid the e-reader under the couch and sprinted into the bedroom, pulling on the clothes that he’d left in the drawer for me. Then, I met him at the front door.
“Swear you’re on your best behavior.” He said, putting his arm over my shoulders.
“Yes, Master.”
As we stepped off the elevator on the ground floor, I could see freedom right through the front door—only 100 yards away, but before I could take a second step a young boy tackled Kirk’s leg.
Kids? I couldn’t imagine why on earth kids would be in this place.
An older girl followed behind and took the boy’s hand. Kirk went down on one knee and ruffled her hair.
“Who is she?” the girl pointed to me.
“Silver.”
A woman shouted from across the room. “Greg. Mindy.”
Both kids jumped and retreated to a bench near the wall. The way the woman scowled, I guessed that she wasn’t particularly happy with the kids talking to us. Either that or she wasn’t happy to be here. Ross stepped from around the corner and glanced in our direction. I dropped my eyes to the floor, watching everyone from the edge of my vision.
Ross and the woman turned their attention to each other.
“Ross’s family,” Kirk whispered. My eyes widened as I jerked back to look him in the face to confirm he wasn’t kidding. I forced my mouth to stay closed.
Across the room, Ross silently summoned Kirk.
“Do. Not. Move.”
I took a deep breath and pressed my back to the wall. “Yes, Master.”
I stared out the window but noticed the woman approaching in my periphery. I glanced passed her, but neither Ross nor Kirk were paying attention, so I assumed she was just tending to the children. She whispered something to them and pointed to Ross, then continued in my direction.
The kids scampered off to stand with their father—I still couldn’t believe that Ross could serve in such a role.
I couldn’t imagine what she’d have to say to me. Maybe she didn’t know who… what I was. Maybe—
She stopped in front of me, without saying a word. Her mouth pressed in a line then she swung, hitting my cheek with the back of her hand.
I stumbled, sliding against the wall as Kirk and Ross ran toward us.
I wiped the blood from my lip while Ross’ wife walked away as calmly as she’d approached. Ross intercepted her and they exchanged a few heated whispers before she stormed out with the kids.
“What was that for?” I whispered to Kirk as he examined my face.
“Wrong place, wrong time.”
“Story of my life lately.” I knew I should have stayed in the apartment.
Ross handed Kirk a handkerchief, his gaze raking over me. Then, without a word, he walked around us and boarded the elevator.
Once Kirk had dabbed away the visible blood, he led me into a back room, stopping at an industrial sized kitchen sink to wet the handkerchief. “Are you okay?”
Irrevocable: A Sins of Ashville Abduction Dark Romance (Irrevocable Duet Book 1) Page 16
