Her lips tremble as her tears fall. “I’m not strong like you.”
“You are. You have to be.”
She sniffs and nuzzles back into my shoulder as heavy footfalls approach along the hall.
There’s more than one set, the deep pound resembling a pack of men.
Robert, Luther, and Chris pass the open doorway, not glancing in our direction before they continue out of sight, the front door slamming shut moments later.
“They must be going to get Luther’s son.” I kiss her forehead and slide from the bed. “We need to get ready.”
She doesn’t budge. It’s clear she doesn’t have the strength to appease Luther’s depraved fantasies, and my heart breaks at the imminent goodbye. She might last another week. Maybe a few days.
“Come on, Lill. Get dressed. Do your hair. It’s better to fly under the radar than draw attention by being unprepared.”
She sinks farther under the covers. “In a minute.”
The ache in my chest grows arms, squeezing me from the inside, painfully compressing my ribs.
I can’t let her weaken me. I can’t soften for her.
I can’t. I can’t. I can’t.
“Okay, beautiful girl.” I swallow over the lump in my throat. “Come find me if you need me.”
As much as I want to—as much as I’ve tried with other women—I can’t save her.
I can’t save any of them. I can only provide guidance to help lengthen their stay. And right now is one of those moments when leadership is key.
I stalk from the room, going in search of my friends—my sisters—finding Abi, Chloe, and Nina in the living room, each of them sitting on different armchairs.
“Morning,” I offer in greeting.
They turn toward me, their eyes questioning. They won’t ask how my night of horrors went. Not verbally, anyway. But I see the need for answers in their matching expressions of concern.
“Did you know Lilly is still in bed?” I ask.
Abi lowers her gaze to the floor.
“She didn’t want to join us.” Chloe slumps into her chair. “She’s given up.”
“And I don’t know what else to do.” Nina pushes to her feet and comes to my side, lightly wrapping an arm around my waist to snuggle into me. “Nothing I say seems to sink in.”
“We’re all wasting our breath.” Abi continues to stare at the carpet. “She’ll be gone soon. We’re better off getting used to—”
“Stop.” I warn. “Don’t talk like that. Ever. Do you hear me?”
They all react in their own defensive ways.
Nina nestles closer into me. Chloe weaves her arms around her waist, self-soothing. And Abi scowls, strengthening her resolve to distance herself from the emotional loss.
“We stick together. Always.” I stare at Abi until she meets my gaze. “Always.”
She winces as Nina nods against my shoulder, the room filling with silence for a few beats before Abi sighs. “Did you hear about Luther’s son?”
“Yes. And I think Luther left a few minutes ago to retrieve him, so we need to prepare.”
“For what?” Chloe asks.
“Anything.” I inch away from Nina so I can look her in the eye. “We all have to expect the unexpected. Sometimes visitors come and go without drama. But other times…” I let the sentence hang. They’ve already lived through enough torment to come to their own conclusions.
“What should we do?”
“Start tidying up. Make sure the house is clean. At least that way Luther won’t have an excuse for additional punishment.” It will also give my sisters something to occupy their minds.
“Fine.” Abi huffs. “I’ll vacuum.”
“I’ll dust.” Chloe pushes from the sofa.
Nina’s tired eyes turn my way. “I guess I’ll clean the bathrooms.”
“And once I get ready, I’ll tidy the kitchen.” I attempt to smile and hope I’m exuding calm instead of the nauseating anticipation twisting my stomach. “Don’t worry. We’ll be okay.”
They don’t respond to the placation as they leave the room. We all know a threat looms close. It’s only a matter of the severity.
I try to follow my own strategy to keep myself occupied as the sand in my mental hourglass dwindles.
I grab a pair of shoes. I do my hair, finger-combing the long strands into a messy plait. The make-up I put on is understated and simple. I don’t want to accentuate my features any more than necessary. Only enough for Luther to think I’ve made an effort.
I’m in the kitchen, wiping down the counter when the faintest sound of an approaching car brushes my ears.
“They’re here,” Tobias calls from another room. “My brother is here.”
I stalk into the living room, finding Abi, Nina, and Chloe frantically scrambling to pack their cleaning supplies.
“Don’t panic.” I maneuver around the coffee table, then the sofa, and squeeze by Nina to get to the curtains and gently glide them an inch aside. “Take a few minutes to breathe.”
I listen to my own advice and slow my inhales, expelling the air from my lungs gradually as Luther and Chris stride toward the house. But it’s the men climbing from the parked car who steal my attention.
They’re both tall, broad, with one man looking toward the house to reveal a face resembling Luther so closely it’s clear he must be the son.
My hatred is instantaneous.
No introduction is necessary to determine he’s the scum of the earth. Not when I’ve already heard enough whispers to know this confident man lazily strolling for the mansion doors is yet another monster.
“Go get Lilly.” I glance over my shoulder and meet Nina’s gaze. “Reassure her everything will be fine.”
She nods and quickly leaves the room, Abi and Chloe following behind her while I release the curtain to fall back into place.
The front door opens in the distance. Tobias greets them with words I can’t decipher before he rushes back down the hall in the opposite direction. Heavy footsteps approach, accompanied by murmurs from men without souls.
I toe off my shoes and creep across the room, listening, eavesdropping, and plaster myself to the wall beside the doorway. I hear disjointed conversation as they approach, none of which makes any sense. Then I spy a glimpse of Luther and Chris as they pass the living room and continue toward the back of the house.
Their guests walk by a few seconds later, and I stiffen at the malevolence ebbing from them. I can feel their malicious intent.
I wait for the footsteps to move farther along the hall before I attempt a peek around the doorway. The Luther lookalike is focused, eyes straight ahead, while his companion carries his menacing frame with confidence. He’s strong, his suit-covered frame hiding what I assume is a lethal body beneath.
I need to see his face, though. To stare into those soulless eyes and determine what I’m up against. But it’s too risky now. I won’t bring unnecessary attention to myself by greeting these assholes before I’m summoned.
Below the radar is where I fly.
I silently inch back into the living room, prepared to remain in hiding until I can make an escape to find my sisters, when the face-less man glances over his shoulder.
I pause.
Freeze.
I hold my breath as his face comes into view. The deep scowl. The tight-pressed lips. The aura of a brutal man filled with darkness. And as his intense eyes narrow precisely on mine, his harsh attention fills me with dread.
2
Penny
I hold his gaze as his brows pull deeper, the slight flare of his nostrils increasing my fear.
He’s angered at the sight of me. Furious.
I fight all the instincts screaming at me to run and begin to breathe again when he turns away, continuing around the corner, the door to the outside entertaining area closing moments later.
“Oh, God.” I collapse against the wall, sucking in gulps of air.
Each blink brings back a memory of har
d eyes and an even harder scowl. Like every other man to walk through the front doors, Cole’s companion didn’t have an ounce of pity for my situation.
There was no surprise. No concern.
But there wasn’t a taunting smirk either. His expression didn’t hold the conniving prelude I’ve witnessed from the vilest of Luther’s guests.
The patter of small feet rushes down the hall, forcing me to put my game face on right before Tobias runs into the room and skitters to a stop before me. His eyes are big as saucers, his inhales rampant.
“He’s here… my brother.” He waves a hand for me to hurry. “You need to come meet him.”
“I’ll be there in a minute.”
“No.” He shakes his head as Abi, Nina, and Chloe come to stand in the doorway behind him. “Dad wants to see you now.”
“Toby, I said I’ll be there in a minute. I just need to do something first.” I have to claim a moment to gain my composure. I can’t face a pack of wolves unless I’m in control.
He frowns, his annoyance beyond clear. “But Penny—”
“I need to put on my shoes. Is that okay?”
His stern expression remains in place, yet those innocent eyes lose their anger. He’s torn. Nothing is more important than pleasing his father, but he hates upsetting me, too.
“Hurry.” He turns on his heel to walk between Abi and Nina. “Don’t take too long.”
“I won’t.”
My sisters look at me, their expressions questioning.
“Play it safe,” I whisper. “Nod and agree with everything they say. Don’t retaliate to anything. Don’t smile. Don’t talk unless spoken to.”
Abi and Nina nod.
“Did you see him?” Chloe asks. “What does he look like?”
“It doesn’t matter. Be smart and you’ll be okay.”
“Hurry up,” Tobias calls from down the hall.
I sigh. “You heard the little Nazi. Go. Get the introduction over and done with. I’ll be out there soon.”
They follow my instruction, leaving me alone to suck in deep lungfuls of air, the oxygen taking long moments to settle me into some semblance of control.
I tiptoe into the hall, clinging to my shoes as I measure a calm stride past the rooms with an armed guard. I run once I’m out of sight until I reach the other side of the house, closing in on the window closest to the outdoor dining setting.
The male voices are almost decipherable from here, the chitchat easily heard over the soft whir of the mist fan.
I want to know what they’re here for. If their taste in perversion is more sinister than we’re used to I need to prepare myself and everyone else, too.
I inch aside the curtain, chancing another peek.
Luther, Cole, and the man with the harsh stare all sit on the expensive furniture. I can’t clearly see their faces, only the back of Luther’s head and two stony profiles. But the heir to this lawless empire is still unmistakable.
Cole sits with the same confidence as his father—his shoulders strong, the tilt of his chin arrogantly high. The other man is more laid-back, his demeanor now entirely casual as he talks to Luther about the necessity for regular servicing of sex slaves.
His words chill my veins.
I was right. This man is heartless. Soulless.
“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” Chris growls.
I drop the curtain and swing around to face him entering the dining room. “I was checking to see how many guests we have.” I straighten to my full height and pretend I’m not one wrong answer away from punishment. “I assume Luther wants me to organize refreshments.”
He eyes me with predatory intent as his lips kick into a smirk. “You’re right. He does.” He strolls forward, skirting the dining table, not stopping until he’s a foot away. “But that doesn’t mean you weren’t snooping.” He reaches out, slowly gliding a hand around my waist, then farther to grab the flesh of my ass.
I tense, every muscle pulled taut through the degradation.
He won’t hurt me, though. He wouldn’t dare.
As far as he’s concerned, I’m off-limits. Nobody gets to defile Luther’s precious Penny. But that doesn’t mean he can’t play games and get me in trouble.
“What would Luther think if he found out you were spying?” he murmurs. “What do you think he would do to you?”
“I wasn’t spying. I only wanted to know how many guests there are.”
He inches closer, toe to toe, hip to hip, and grinds the hard length of his cock into me. “Are you sure?” He leans in, his mouth a breath away from my cheek. “I don’t think I believe you, and I wouldn’t be a valued employee if I didn’t tell Luther what I caught you doing.”
Anger heats my chest, his power sickening me. “Tell him whatever you like. Your threats mean nothing to me.”
“Sure they do,” he purrs. “Don’t pretend you’re not scared.”
His toxicity invades me, curdling my emotions. I want to lash out. To tell him he’s nothing but a leashed dog who jumps at his owner’s command. Instead, I pull back and look him in the eye. “I was determining how many guests we have. And now that I’m aware, it’s time for me to prepare refreshments.”
He chuckles, the tone sinister. “Come on, pretty Penny. Admit your little heart is pounding at the thought of me fucking you.”
“Luther would cut off your hands.”
“You’re right.” He drops his hold and steps back with a non-committal shrug. “I guess I’m left to take out my frustration on poor Lilly. You realize she’s still all alone in your room, right?”
Defeat hits me.
It’s a hard punch to the stomach I can’t take without lowering my head to hide my suffering.
I don’t see Chris grin in response. I don’t need to. I already know his mouth is spread wide, his eyes glistening with victory. His reaction is as predictable as the change in seasons.
I inch away, sliding between him and the dining table, then stalk from the room and into the kitchen. I ignore my turmoil as I put on my shoes, then pull a bottle of scotch from a cupboard. I suppress all the unwanted feelings threatening to overwhelm me while I grab liquor glasses and a serving tray.
What I can’t do is pretend Chris won’t make good on his promise.
He always does.
The only thing I can do is live with the guilt that I taunted him into taking his frustration out on my sister.
I grind my teeth and tighten my grip around the neck of the scotch bottle until my fingers ache in protest. I’m still there, strangling the liquor when the sound of the sliding door opens down the hall and the clap of numerous sets of heels approach.
Nina, Abi, and Chloe make their way into the kitchen, Tobias following them with tight-knit brows.
“Dad is looking for you,” he snips. “He’s gone to the bathroom, but he’s not happy you’ve made them wait.”
“I’m on my way.” I pour a finger of scotch into each glass. “Abi, can you check on Lilly for me?” I give the woman a pointed look, then do the same with Chloe and Nina. “Chris was headed to our room and I want to make sure the two of them don’t have another fight.”
Abi’s eyes narrow in understanding. “Sure.” She nods and stalks from the kitchen, Chloe and Nina following.
I ignore Tobias as he continues to scowl in my periphery and grab the tray, my heart pounding beneath tightening ribs as I stalk for the hall leading to the sliding door. The glass is open an inch, letting me hear the soft murmur of Cole and his accomplice.
I can’t make out the conversation, only the hushed tone.
There’s nothing sinister in the voices. If anything, it’s more tinged with conspiracy. Secretive and low.
I suck in a deep breath and square my shoulders as I use the toe of my shoe to slide the door wide. The tap of my heels is almost deafening against the tile. The beat of my heart is even louder.
The men stop talking on my approach, the descending silence thick and uncomfortable. Maybe I sh
ould’ve waited for Luther to finish in the bathroom. If these strangers don’t know the rules—if they’re unaware I’m not to be touched—I could be standing before a viper pit.
But it’s too late to back out now.
I won’t scamper away and trigger any sort of predatory chase.
Luther’s son meets my gaze, his dark eyes scrutinizing. I quickly lower my focus, not wanting unnecessary attention as I place the tray on the coffee table and grasp two glasses of scotch. I hand the first to his associate, keeping my attention lowered to forgo another scorn-filled look.
I’m surprised when he grasps the offer gently, his large fingers smoothly wrapping around the rim of the glass. That doesn’t mean I don’t picture the same grip wrapping around a woman’s neck, the effortless glide becoming tight. Squeezing. Choking.
How many times has he tortured the defenseless?
I back away and hold the second glass out to Cole. Just like the other man, his intent toward my offering is slow and calm. There’s no rough grab or harsh snatch. He reaches out, preparing to take the scotch, then doesn’t grasp the glass. His hand only hovers close without contact.
“Aren’t you going to introduce yourself?” His tone holds the same arrogant authority as his father. The same superior self-worth I’ve come to despise.
I swallow over my hatred and chant a mental warning to remain civil.
“I’m Cole,” he continues. “Luther’s son.”
I’m sure he knows I’m well aware of who he is and what he’s capable of. This friendly introduction is merely a taunt.
I raise my gaze, answering him with a spiteful look. It’s impossible to play nice, especially when I’ve conditioned myself to be vicious to all men.
“Have we met?” He rakes his gaze over me, from head to toe and back again. “I’m sure I’ve seen you before.”
I don’t know what he’s angling for—familiarity? Kindness? Or worse, my vulnerability?
“You’re mistaken.” I shove the glass into his hand and backtrack. I’m ready to turn on my heel and flee inside when the glass door slides open and Luther ruins my chance of escape.
Savior Page 2
