by Alta Hensley
“Let me ask you something, lovely Marlowe. Is Harley Crow a strict lover? Does he punish you when you are a naughty girl? I bet he’s going to be so mad at you for allowing yourself to be captured. Would he punish you for not being safer and more aware? From what I have heard from my men, the house was unlocked and taking you was a cakewalk. They said you didn’t even put up a fight. A scared little bird were you. Naughty, naughty. Harley must have taught you better. You couldn’t possibly be the woman of a lethal killer and not know how to defend yourself .”
I didn’t say anything. No matter what I said, this man was clearly not listening to me .
“Sadist, I think we should do Mr. Crow a favor. I think we should punish this little scared bird as he would if he were here to do so. At least he will be able to watch .”
I heard a wicked chuckle seethe from the speaker as Sadist came closer, clearly understanding exactly what Lukas had in mind when he spoke of punishment. Using the same switchblade he had used to disrobe me, he cut the ropes around my wrists and ankles that held me captive .
Before I could process that I was free from my bonds, Sadist lifted me effortlessly off the chair, and upturned me over his lap as he sat where I once had. My stomach came slamming down upon his thighs, and I stared down at the concrete floor, realizing I was being put over his knee like an errant child would be .
Without saying a word, or giving me any warning, Sadist spanked my bare ass with his large palm. The sting took the breath right out of me, more out of surprise rather than pain. But that soon changed as he continued firing off swat after swat, spanking every square inch of my upturned bottom. I wasn’t sure if I should lie there, be stoic, and just accept this humiliating act, trying to block out everything until he finally stopped the spanking, or beg for him to stop. Although the burn on my backside made that decision for me .
“Stop!” I demanded, trying to throw myself off Sadist’s lap. The effort was futile, because he only held me firmer against him .
“Continue on,” Lukas commanded from the other side of the window .
Sadist did as he was asked and continued on with the spanking, slapping harder every time I tried to wiggle from his grasp. Swat after swat, the shameful act seemed to go on forever, but I would not cry. I would not give these assholes the satisfaction of giving them what they wanted. I knew they wanted to hear my cries. Fuck them .
I actually liked being spanked normally—it turned me on more than many sexual acts would—but this was not normal. I didn’t want this. I didn’t want Sadist. There was nothing sexual about this discipline, and all I felt was pure and absolute rage. The fire in my soul far exceeded the fire on my ass. And the fact that Lukas watched like a damn coward made me want to kill the fucker .
“Stand her up,” Lukas commanded evenly .
Without even skipping a beat, Sadist stopped the corporal punishment and stood me up on wobbly knees. If he hadn’t had a strong hold of my right arm, I surely would have crumpled to the ground as the blood rushed back to my head .
“Slap her breast .”
Sadist slapped my breast robotically .
“Slap her other breast .”
He followed the order again, while I could do nothing more than stand before the mirror accepting the punishment .
“Slap her pussy .”
Positioning his body slightly to get a better angle, Sadist swatted my pussy, sending a tantalizing bite through my core. It made me feel filthy. Fucking filthy .
“Again,” Lukas ordered .
He did so with no emotion in his eyes. Did he not feel anything at all ?
“That is enough for now,” Lukas’s voice boomed throughout the room. “I think that is just enough to show Mr. Crow what is in store for his lovely Latina beauty .”
I could do nothing but stand, and there was nothing more for me to say .
“Welcome to your new room, Marlowe. You will only leave this room to use the bathroom facilities. You are not an animal—at least not yet. So, if you need to use the restroom, knock on the door and Sadist will escort you. I will be back to continue our fun little game later. Until then, make yourself comfortable .”
Sadist gathered all the shreds of fabric from the tee shirt I once wore, as well as the mask, blindfold, and ropes that had held me and exited the room, not once looking my way. The red lights of the cameras turned off, and the glare of the mirror faded. Lukas was gone. Sadist was gone. Even Harley Crow was gone, unable to see me anymore as I was held captive .
I was alone .
Shit, I was all alone .
12
Marlowe
I sat in the corner of my white cell with my knees pulled up to my chest. Curled up in this position was the only way I could feel some sense of control. I was able to conceal some of my nudity in case the red lights on the cameras returned. Though if what Lukas had said was true, then Harley and God knows who else had already seen my breasts, my sex, my naked helpless body on display .
I struggled to remain calm as panic beat against every ounce of control I had left. I tried to think of a solution—any solution at all. There was nothing in the room but the metal chair. It was bolted to the ground, so picking the chair up and using it as a weapon was not an option. Charging Sadist and trying to attack him with my bare hands was also not an option. It would be the same as me punching a brick wall. The man was solid and even more ominous than Harley was. I wouldn’t have a chance, and the only thing I would do was upset him more .
I had no options. At least not on my own. I had to hope that Harley would take pity on me and indeed meet the demands of Lukas regardless of what they were. Maybe Harley would care. Maybe he wouldn’t want to see an innocent woman die. I truly believed that beneath the tattoos of skulls and death, and hidden behind his dark eyes, there was a decent and kind man. The man who’d taken off his coat so that I would remain warm on his boat. The man who’d gently helped me in and out of it. The man who’d asked me questions because I could see he genuinely wanted to know the answers .
Maybe Harley would get the other managing members of Spiked Roses involved in rescuing me. The idea of that actually gave me some hope. They were all powerful men in their own right. I knew they had connections in the dark underworld. Maybe if they all worked together… Even if Harley didn’t care, the others would. Wouldn’t it send a bad message to the other girls at Spiked Roses if they allowed me to be kidnapped, tortured and killed while on a Tasting? And I knew Tennessee would care. He would demand my safe return. That man cared about me. He wasn’t just my boss. He was my friend. I knew this. But would Harley tell them ?
I had no idea the rules of a criminal. How does one act? Would Harley meeting the demands of Lukas make him weak? Would it ruin his reputation? Would he have to choose me over his legacy ?
Rocking back and forth in a ball, I tried to breathe as evenly as I could. Terror consumed my bones, and they ached. Chills ran down my spine, and I shivered uncontrollably. And what made it worse… the red lights turned back on .
They were watching .
They were watching me and probably getting hard off my fear .
I was fucking afraid .
I was terrified and that fucker Lukas had a hard dick because of it .
I examined the mirror, wondering if he was on the other side watching me. He didn’t say anything, but I wondered if he was there. I balled myself up even more, trying to hide every part of me which would make that fucker want to jack off to me .
Was Harley watching me now? I wondered what Lukas was doing. Was he sending the video through email? Was there some link? Shit, was I on some site where others could see me too? I bet there were sites out there for sick fucks to see girls like me scared shitless awaiting their fates… whatever that fate would be .
I wanted to be Layla right now. At least in death, I would find peace. She’d gone quickly—or at least I hoped she had. But she wasn’t held captive fearing what torture would come next. My fate would be worse than death
, and I had to somehow wrap my head around what would happen. But the unknown was the worst part of it. Did they want me dead eventually? Or would they just use and abuse me for a lifetime ?
But the torture had already begun. Time. Time was the beginning of the agony. I sat in that cold room for what felt like an eternity. Hours? Was it nighttime? Still day? Was it still Saturday ?
I just sat there and rocked, staring at the red light. But as time passed on, my fear turned to anger. I was tired of being the fucking victim. So goddamn tired .
Stupid or not, I stood up and charged to the corner of the room and stared up into the camera. “You stupid fucks. Get me the fuck out of here. You hear me? Get me the fuck out! I have nothing to do with Harley Crow! Nothing! You are making a mistake. Do you know who I am? Do you want to really know who the fuck I am? My father will kill you all. He will hunt you down and make you pay for what you are doing to me. His vengeance will be like nothing you can imagine. You hurt me, you kill me, you even touch me again, and he will slice your goddamn cocks off. You hear me ?”
I paused as if I could hear them thinking. Balling up my fists, and straightening my spine even more, ignoring the fact that I was completely naked as I demanded my freedom, I glared straight into the lens .
“I am the daughter of Juan Alvarez. He is the president of a Mexican MC in Oregon called The Quarrymen. And though you may not know who he is, or even what their club is all about and the mayhem that they cause, you should fear them. They are ruthless and deadly. Killing his daughter would bring down the wrath of every member of that group .”
I licked my lips and took a deep breath. I hated saying those words. Despised it. I’d left that all behind. Ran away so I would never have to think of that world again. But I had no choice. I had to use the only cards I had, and those were my father and his club .
“You may think you’ll get away with this,” I continued. “You may think that you are only going to piss off Harley Crow and feel you can handle his fury. But you have no idea what my father will unleash. He will find out. He will hunt you down. He will make you pay. So, let me the fuck out! Let me go, and we will all just forget this disgusting shit happened. I will go back to my job, and you can seek your revenge in some other way. You fucked up by kidnapping me. You have no fucking idea how much you did. Turn off this damn camera, and let me out of this fucking cell. Or else !”
I stood there and waited. Waited to see the lights turn off. I waited to hear the door open .
Nothing. Nothing .
Fury bubbling to the surface and exploding over, I stormed over to the glass window and began to pound my fists on it. I knew I wouldn’t be able to break the glass, but I sure as hell would get their attention. Over and over, I pounded as I screamed in rage. Not fear . Rage .
“You stupid motherfucker. You will pay for this. You will fucking pay !”
I had no idea how long I pounded and screamed, but eventually exhaustion took over. Returning to where I’d once sat, balled up, I resumed the familiar position. I’d tried. I’d prayed that dropping my father’s name would be enough. But apparently, these men did not fear an angry motorcycle club. They should. They definitely should .
It bothered me that Harley knew of my past if he was watching this video, even though it really didn’t matter at this point. I hadn’t told a soul in New Orleans of my roots back home. I’d never wanted people to know what I was escaping. My past was a demon I was locking away in my closet with the boogieman I never saw growing up. I was fleeing from the violence, the crime, and the death. I never wanted to see it again. I didn’t want to become my mother who was just an old lady and had learned to keep her mouth shut and do what she was told which usually meant looking the other way. I would never be an old lady, as they liked to call their women. No fucking way. So I’d left. Left it all behind. Or so I’d thought .
Here I was though. Violence. Crime. Death. I’d left it all behind only to only walk right into it with someone else and worse. The minute I’d seen Harley Crow, I should have run the other way. I knew better. I fucking should have known better than to lust after a bad boy. He was my history repeating itself, and I’d strolled right into it. Hell, I’d signed in blood to enter into it. What a fucking fool I was. I was worse than my mother. I had not only become her, but so much worse. I hated how she was at the mercy of a man—my father. But I, too, was at the mercy of a man—Harley Crow and all that came with him. God, I was a fucking idiot .
Resting my head on my knees, I closed my eyes. Maybe I could sleep. Maybe I could just disappear and get lost in my dream, never to wake up to the nightmare I was living .
I wasn’t sure how long I had sat there, wallowing in my own misery when the door finally opened. Looking up, I tried not to cry out when I saw Sadist enter the room. He stared at me, yet it seemed as if he looked right through me. Emotionless. Eyes of a killer. I assumed that if he didn’t care or get attached to the victim, it made it easier for him to do whatever was necessary. Oh, God. What would be necessary ?
Bending down, he took me by one of my arms and lifted me to standing .
“Please,” I whispered. “You have this all wrong. Please help me. Get me out of here. I beg you .”
I knew deep down that pleading with this man—a soldier of Lukas’s—would be futile, but I still tried anyway .
He said nothing, but dragged me toward the doorway, with his hand gripped firmly on my upper arm. I don’t know why, but the idea of being taken from the room scared me even more than being locked inside. It was the unknown .
“Where are you taking me?” I asked, trying to keep up with his long strides as he walked me down a hallway. Everything was concrete and gray with no windows anywhere. It seemed we were in some bunker or industrial warehouse someplace. There were no signs of life other than Sadist and me .
He didn’t answer, though I didn’t expect him to. He hadn’t said a single word since I’d first laid eyes on his monster self. He kept dragging me down the hallway until we reached another metal door. He placed his big palm on the door and pushed it open, shoving me inside. He didn’t follow, and with a quick glance around, I saw why. It was a restroom. There was one toilet, one sink with a small mirror over it, and a tiny window with bars near the ceiling. There was no way to escape, but I was positive that Sadist had made sure of that fact, or he wouldn’t have left me in there by myself .
Realizing that I had been in the white room for quite some time, I squatted over the dirty toilet seat. Then while washing my hands, I stared into the mirror and cringed. Black mascara ran down my cheeks, and my hair laid limply around my face in wisps of tangles. Using the water from the sink, I washed off the makeup, and tried to tame my black strands to the best of my ability. I had no idea why I was allowing vanity to even come into play at a time like this, but it was the only thing I could control at the moment .
I glanced at the door and wondered how long I could remain in here before Sadist would enter to retrieve me. Would that anger him? Did I care? Taking a weary step toward the door, I froze when I heard the sound of a gunshot. The sound vibrated off the walls and resonated in my soul. Why was there gunfire? Was Lukas killing someone? Surely, that wasn’t Sadist killing anyone. I was pretty positive that Sadist hadn’t left his post from outside my door .
Or was it Harley Crow? Had he found me ?
Was he rescuing me like some knight in shining armor ?
Not being able to take the unknown any longer, I ran toward the door and peeked out. Sadist wasn’t there. No one was there. The hallway was completely empty. Sadist must have run off to see what the gunfire was all about .
And then there was another in the distance. And then another .
Loud metallic booms echoed all around me, screaming at me. Demanding that I run for safety. This may be my only chance of survival. Regardless what the gunfire meant, it gave me an opening . Run !
Run !
Not caring that I was naked or had no shoes on, I charged down the hallwa
y faster than I had ever run in my life. I had no idea where it would lead me, and for all I knew, it could land me right back in the waiting arms of Lukas. But I had to try. I had to take my destiny into my own hands. And even if I were to be captured again, at least I would die fighting .
Reaching the end of the corridor, I took a sharp right, hoping I would eventually see an exit of some sort. Reaching another hallway that gave me a choice of turning right or left, I chose left .
I chose poorly .
Before I could even see it coming, I was snatched from behind and thrown up against a hard body. A hand came crashing down on my mouth as I was held captive in two extremely strong arms. I couldn’t struggle. I couldn’t move. My back pressed against a chest, and I knew it was over . Over .
My escape had come to an end .
13
Harley
“D on’t say a word,” I whispered in Marlowe’s ear .
Her tense body relaxed some at the sound of my voice .
“I’m going to take my hand away from your mouth now,” I said in a calm and even voice, knowing how close to the edge of insanity she teetered on. Spinning her around, I took her into my arms in an embrace. “It’s going to be okay. I’m here now .”
“Oh God,” she mumbled, her face pressed securely near my heart as she gripped the fabric of my shirt in her tiny fists. Pulling away enough to look up at me with absolute horror in her brown eyes, she whispered, “There are two men. Lukas and Sadist .”
I nodded. “It’s over. You won’t see them again .”
The look of relief washed over her delicate features, and an odd sensation attacked my core. The way her eyes shone under the fluorescent lights, the way her breath hitched and how her entire body softened in my arms, gave me a sense of satisfaction I had never felt before. Tears ran down her face, and I couldn’t help but use my thumb to wipe them away .
