~*~*~*~*~
Emily
The darkness began to fade away and I could faintly hear a rumble of voices. They were in the distance, but they quickly became louder. I moaned softly. My mouth and throat were dry. And my arms, they hurt. I attempted to move, but I couldn’t.
When in the hell was going on? As soon as the question came to mind I remembered. The auction. The bastard had drugged me – again. Those voices, there were people – lots of people. A surge of shock and humiliation surged through me. I didn’t want to open my eyes, ‘cause if I opened my eyes I’d know for a fact that people – strange people, horrible people – were looking at my naked body.
“I know you’re awake, love, might as well open your eyes and get it over with,” Tanner whispered in my ear.
“No,” I whispered back.
“Open your eyes or I whip Victoria. Or maybe I’ll let one of the gentlemen here to purchase her feel for themselves just how tight your pussy is. Men love finger-fucking a tight virgin pussy. Or maybe I’ll let my whip mark you for the first time in front of all these people. Is that really what you want?”
“I hate you,” I snarled, but I did as told, slowly opening my eyes.
He chuckled. He’d won.
As I opened my eyes, a gasp escaped my lips. There were at least two dozen men sitting before me, chattering amongst themselves as if they were hanging out at a bar and shooting the shit. I’ve never felt such humiliation in my life. At that moment I hated Tanner more than I ever would have thought imaginable. I immediately dropped my gaze to the floor. They might be able to see me, but I didn’t have to look at them.
Tanner brushed my hair back and leaned in to my back again, his lips grazing my ear. “You’re a big hit, slave, seriously overshadowing Victoria. Take a good look at the crowd before you, Emily. Keep up the attitude and one of them will be taking you home. I’m doing you a favour. Quitting the life for you. So I’d appreciate it if you’d show me a little fucking respect.”
I cringed at his tone. “Yes, Master.”
“Tell me now, are you staying or do you want to be auctioned off? Choose now.”
Fear raced through me. I couldn’t go. I needed to stay here with Tanner. If I got shipped away… My sister… My family. I had to play his game; the cost was too high. “I want to stay, Master.”
“Much better. In that case, maybe I’ll keep you for myself after all.”
A sigh of relief escaped me. “Thank you, Master.” I’d failed. Victoria was going to be sold and there wasn’t a damned thing I could do about it. I silently wept for her.
The doorbell rang out and Tanner stepped around me to address the group of bidders. “My final guest is arriving. Please give me a few minutes and I will begin taking your silent bids. Until then, you may examine the girl for sale and continue to help yourselves to the bar.”
He left and people began to stand and mingle – some getting drinks, some examining Victoria. When the first man approached me, my breath caught in my throat. I didn’t see his face, I couldn’t bear look into his face, but he was wearing black loafers and grey slacks, that much I did know.
“Damn, I’d like to touch you. It’s been a while since I’ve fucked a virgin pussy. Shame.”
I didn’t speak. Tanner must have given instructions for me to not be touched before I came to. I mentally thanked him. I wasn’t sure if he’d done it for me, or if he’d done it because he didn’t want to have his toy damaged before he had a chance to break it in himself, but either way I was grateful.
I chanced a look over at Victoria. Men were fondling her breasts. One was pumping her privates with his fingers. Another had her chin in his hand, examining her face from every angle. She was being examined like a pedigree dog being judged or on exhibition. Considering we were both still wearing our collars, I suppose that wasn’t too far off the mark. More men looked at me, but none touched. I could tell they wanted to, though – their gazes burned into me.
God, where was Tanner? It was taking him what felt like an eternity to return. I don’t think I’ve even been so anxious to see Tanner as I was right then, despite how much I hated him.
“Aren’t you a prize?” My head turned and I looked up to meet the dark eyes of the man before me and a shiver ran down my spine. His hand touched my hip and then moved up to palm my breast and I attempted to jerk out of reach, but my bonds had no give – I was at his mercy.
He chuckled, “Feisty whore. Not broken yet, I see. Still, I think you’d make a nice addition to my collection. I bet I could make him an offer he wouldn’t refuse. Everything has a price, if the offer is high enough.”
“Fuck you.” The words left my lips so quickly I looked around, wondering if they’d actually come from my lips.
The man’s smile turned into a savage sneer as he upholstered his gun and brought it up to eye level. “Apologize, whore.”
My lips formed a tight line and I shook my head, despite a rush of terror running through me. Never. He was bluffing. I was Tanner’s. He wouldn’t dare.
He tapped my chest with the barrel of the gun and began to trail the tip down my naked body, down all the way down to my mound. He took a step closer and I could smell the repulsive scent of cigars on him. At least Tanner always smelt nice, and as much as I hated his touch at times, it didn’t repel me in the way this man’s did – at least it didn’t anymore.
“Apologize. Last chance.”
“I said, fuck you.” I heard a few men behind him chuckling at my outburst. My body was trembling but I refused to back down. I didn’t give a damn how angry Tanner would be. I guess a part of me felt brazen because subconsciously I knew Tanner would protect me.
His expression grew angry as he slipped the barrel of the gun between my legs and to my entrance. “Apologize.”
I glared at him. “Fuck. You.”
With one quick, forceful motion he thrust the barrel of the gun deep into me. I screamed out as pain shot through me, tears forming in my eyes. The room immediately quieted and virtually all eyes landed on us.
He snickered. “Not so bold now, are you, whore?” The man withdrew the gun from me and held up the barrel to my eyes. There were hints of blood on the silver barrel. “Well, look at that. Indeed a virgin. Guess your price tag just dropped.” He chuckled as he took a step back and then a second. Pulling a handkerchief from his suit jacket pocket, he wiped off the blood.
Not wanting anyone to see my pain and tears, I lowered my head and cried softly, the throbbing between my legs a reminder of what had happened. Monsters – they were all monsters. How could Tanner leave me with them? I was his, wasn’t I? He’d told me over and over that if I was good, he’d protect me. Then why leave me with these monsters?
“All right, everyone here knows Flynn McCarty,” Tanner said as he entered the room and made his way over to me and Victoria. “So if you all can take your seats, I’ll have you come up to the platform one by one, get a final look at Victoria and place your bid with me.”
I sniffed and glanced at him through tear-filled eyes. Hearing my sniffing, he looked at me and our gazes locked. He frowned and came over to me. “What happened?”
Shaking my head, I didn’t answer. I didn’t even know how to tell him.
Tanner took a step back and examined me. When his eyes landed on my mound he crouched and his finger swept at my inner thigh, near the apex. When he stood there was a drop of blood on his index finger. Rage filled his eyes as he looked at me. I’d never seen rage so intense from him before.
“Who did this to you?” he growled. Not waiting for me to respond, he spun around and scanned the men who were seating themselves. “Who touched her?”
The man who had shoved the barrel of the gun in me stood. “Sorry, man, she got mouthy and I was teaching her a lesson. She needed to learn her place.” He laughed. “I thought you were supposed to be the best? By the looks of it you’re not doing a very good job with that one. I’ll be happy to pay damages, though.”
Tann
er’s hand disappeared under his suit jacket. When it reappeared his revolver was in his hand. He pointed it at the other man’s head and without hesitation pulled the trigger. I screamed as the sound of the gunshot rang out in the room, leaving a ringing in my ears. The man grunted, blood spraying out as he fell backwards.
Virtually everyone looked down at the now dead man in shock.
“I gave the rules when you all arrived. The first and most important one being NO ONE touches MY slave. NO ONE! If you touch her, you die. He touched her, he’s now dead.”
The men all looked back at Tanner, some with shock still on their faces, some quickly regaining their composure and shrugging off the incident as if it were just another everyday affair. I could only assume that perhaps it was just an everyday thing for them. It wasn’t for me. My eyes were glued to the dead man on the floor, lying in an ever increasing pool of his own blood as it drained from him. I was both terrified that Tanner could do something like that, and glad he had. I was having a hard time grasping the ease with which he’d pulled out the gun and shot the other man – there hadn’t been even a second of hesitation. I was even more repulsed over the fact that a sick sense of satisfaction washed over me.
Tanner spun back to me and leaned in, his lips grazing my earlobe as he whispered, “See what I’m willing to do for you? He was a good client, but I killed him, for you. Now do you see how important you are to me, slave?”
I opened my mouth to respond, but had no idea what to say even if it had been possible for me to form a coherent thought, so snapped it shut again. A man had died – because of me. Blood on my hands. I had blood on my hands now. Maybe I hadn’t pulled the trigger, but Tanner had killed him for me – because of me – and I’d felt satisfaction over it. I suddenly felt sick. I was going to puke. I closed my eyes as the room started spinning. I both prayed I wouldn’t pass out and hoped I would at the same time.
“No need to thank me now. You can thank me later.” He span back to the group. “I apologize for this little set-back. If a couple of you could give me a hand we can get this cleaned up quickly and move on with the auction.”
Chapter 15
Tanner
She didn’t seem grateful that I’d killed her would-be rapist. Maybe she was still pissed, or maybe she couldn’t quite grasp the magnitude of the gesture I’d made for her. Okay, all right, maybe I hadn’t done it entirely for her. He’d touched her and she was mine. Nobody played with my toys but me. No one touched my things without my permission. He’d taken liberties, and while when I’d been working for The Organization my actions might have resulted in discipline, this was my world now, my playground, and I made the rules.
I looked across my desk at Flynn and silently willed the other man to leave. He was in the middle of his pitch. I didn’t care. I’d heard it over the phone a dozen times, I had no desire to hear it again, but out of professional courtesy I acted as if I cared. I really didn’t want to be on Flynn’s bad side – I might need him one day. All the others had left, leaving me Flynn and a couple of his men. Even Victoria was gone, with her new owner. And all I really wanted was to get to Emily and ensure she was aware of my grand gesture. She’d thank me when she understood.
“So what do you say, son? Join us.”
I sat back in my desk chair and steepled my fingers before mw. “I’m sorry Flynn. I’m done with this life, for now at least. I have everything I want and need right now, there just isn’t anything you can offer me.”
Flynn frowned but slowly nodded. “That’s unfortunate. I saw your work with Victoria and was very impressed.” He shrugged. “The other one definitely needs more work.”
Something within me coiled in anger. She didn’t need work. She was just the way I wanted her. All right, maybe not exactly, but she was coming. I didn’t want a fucking drone. “She’s fine,” I growled.
A grin spread across Flynn’s slips and he nodded. “I think I’m beginning to understand. You realize I would be fine with you keeping your pet while you worked for us. There’s no rule you have to get rid of her. For that matter, there’s no rule you even need to do the training yourself, just oversee. That’s all. You make the rules, Tanner.”
“I just don’t think it’s going to happen. Again, I’m sorry.” I stood and extended my hand to Flynn. “But if I change my mind…”
With reluctance, Flynn stood and took my outstretched hand. “Very well, then.”
Once Flynn and his guards were gone, I groaned a sigh of relief. Finally we were alone. The house was empty with the exception of me and Emily, just the way I wanted it. I’d locked her in her room for safekeeping, but now I could bring her back up and we could make some supper. Maybe we’d watch a movie. We could play happy, boring couple for a night. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d actually done something like that – pretended to be in a ‘normal’ relationship It might be fun.
After taking a quick shower and shaving the several days’ worth of stubble that had grown, I made my way downstairs to retrieve Emily. Unlocking the door, I found Emily on the bed curled up in a tight little beautiful ball. She didn’t move when I entered, but I could tell by her rapid breathing that she was awake.
“Everyone is gone.” She didn’t answer, so I proceeded into the room. “I thought we could go upstairs, maybe make some supper and then watch a movie. Your choice. We could even watch some chick flick if that’s what you’d like.” With a sigh, I sat down on the bed and ran my fingers through her dark locks. “What’s wrong now?”
Still silence.
“Don’t force me to do something drastic to get you to talk to me. I don’t think either of us wants to go down that road.”
She opened her eyes and looked up at me, remaining in the curled-up position. She looked so tiny, so delicate in that position. “You sold her.”
“Of course I did. I told you I was going to. I’ve told you before I’d never lie to you.”
“And you killed that man. He’s dead because of me.” Tears began to stream down her cheeks.
All right, I’ll admit, this confused me. I thought she would be thanking me, ecstatic I cared enough to kill a business associate for her. She shouldn’t be staring up at me with hate and sorrow in her eyes. No, she should be falling to her knees and begging me to let her blow me for being such a kind and considerate owner. This lack of gratitude was beginning to seriously piss me off.
“You’re crying tears for him? Do you have any idea how horrible of a person that man was? Normally I wouldn’t care, but he hurt you, he took what was mine, and so he paid the price. Did he not hurt you?”
She paused but slowly nodded.
“Did he not make you bleed?” A new surge of anger washed over me. He’d taken what was supposed to be mine. Her blood was supposed to be for me. I’d been relishing the fact she’d bleed on my cock as I breached her and now he’d ruined that for me. If he were alive and here right now, I’d have killed the motherfucker a second time. But everything said and done, she was still a virgin. No one was taking that from me.
She nodded again.
“Do you think he felt regretful over his actions?”
She shook her head, her frown deepening.
“Then why the tears?”
She shrugged. “I feel responsible.” A new stream of tears slid down her cheeks. I didn’t like seeing those tears. When she cried for me, because of me, I liked it. It gave me an instant hard-on. But this wasn’t the case – she was crying over that piece of shit. My anger deepened, but I supressed it, forcing a calm expression onto my face for her benefit.
I cocked my head to the side and eyed her, trying to make sense of her logic. “Why are you responsible? He was told not to touch you or I’d kill him. He touched you. I killed him. Cause and effect – it couldn’t be any more straightforward. If anything he’s the only one to blame for his death.” It was so simple. I didn’t get why she couldn’t see it that way.
She turned her face away. “You don’t understand. Why would I
ever think you would?”
Good question. Surely I’d missed something.
“I’m a man of my word, Emily. Everyone who knows me knows that. So take this as the truth – that man deserved it. Even I can barely comprehend some of the things he does, if that gives you an idea of how vile he is, so rest assured the world is a better place without him.”
The statement was slightly over the top and dramatic, but it seemed to have the desired effect. After a minute she uncurled herself and sat up. Slipping her arms around my neck, she clung tightly to me, crying softly against my neck. Wrapping my arms around her, I held her tight, gently rocking her back and forth, murmuring soft reassurances in her ear. I was starting to get that this had less to do with me killing him and more to do with what he’d done to her.
~*~*~*~
Emily
After a few minutes – or twenty, I really had no idea how long – I was finally able to pull myself together and the tears slowed to a stop. But I clung on to him for a few minutes longer, and for those few minutes pretended I wasn’t in this situation and I felt safe.
“Are you ready for your surprise?”
Surprise? I pulled back from him and sniffed, staring up into his dark eyes, frowning. The last time he’d ‘surprised’ me, I’d got a dog collar put around my neck and an electric shock. He was great at surprises.
He must have seen the look of apprehension on my face because he chuckled and raked his hand through my hair. “Oh no. I think you’ll like this surprise better than the last one.” He stood and extended his hand to me. “Will you come upstairs with me?”
I nodded, taking his hand and sliding from the bed. “Okay.” Not like I had a choice – if I refused he’d just jab a needle in my neck and carry me up anyhow.
He led me upstairs and into his bedroom. Releasing my hand, he motioned to the bed. Walking past him, I went over to the bed, where there was a number of items waiting. The first thing I grabbed was the pale pink sundress. It was simple but pretty. I looked back over my shoulder at him.
Faith (A Dark Romance Novel) Page 12
