“So were the others,” another said. It likely meant he’d killed more than these, but those ghosts had turned into the light.
I got into my role, speaking to the ghosts while looking straight at their killer. “Ever wondered what it would feel like to have your leash broken?” I asked. He frowned, then smiled widely.
“Oh, you think you’re tough enough to break my hold on you? You truly are a surprise.”
I continued, wanting this over with as soon as possible. “Let’s say you held three leashes all holding subs.” I dared a look in their direction and heard them gasp. “I could break all of them, freeing them.”
He laughed. “Freeing them, huh. And would you be the one taking all the punishments then?” He seemed to think I was into a scene involving more subs.
I nodded. Swallowing down bile as I started tugging the string that held the ghosts connected to their killer. They let me, coming closer so I could touch their hands. They smiled when they felt their tether disappear. The man wouldn’t feel anything, so he was blissfully unaware. His victims were now free from him. Sadly they were now bound to this seedy club, but it was better than having to be beside your killer forever.
One of them leaned over to me. “You need to get away, or he’ll take you against your will. None of us went with him willingly.” I swallowed down my fear. I thought people had to consent. Why had I thought a killer would need consent?
“I um, I have to go home now. But I’ll be back tomorrow if you’re still interested then?” I said, hoping it would be enough for him to let me go. I would need his name from the ghosts and then I would have the police looking into the murders he’d committed. We often left clues in the mail and left the rest to the police, and they were surprisingly good at following up on our leads. If it was a bigger case, we could contact the FBI, who knew about us mediums.
He moved so quickly I didn’t even register it, caging me in with both his arms. “Now, now, little gorgeous thing, you said you couldbreak my leash. Try me.” His eyes were dark and I felt all color drain from my body. I couldn’t die like this.
I tried to move away, but he grabbed me, holding one hand on my throat. I yelled out, “RED!” hoping it would be enough to get people’s attention, but no one even looked at us.
He tsked. “You should’ve known that wouldn’t work on me. You started this. Time to put your mouth to work.”
I felt tears streak down my cheeks seeing my life escape me. I was too young to die, like the ghosts watching on with horrified expressions. He was strangling me, cutting off my air supply. This shouldn’t have happened. There were people around us, all not giving a fuck I was getting killed. I couldn’t even fight him. I tried, too weak to do anything that helped me out. When I kicked him in the nuts that only made him grunt and tighten his hold, killing me faster. I had never been this afraid before.
Then, he was knocked to the side. I slumped to the floor, holding my bruised throat and sucked in air. I wouldn’t be bound to this place as a ghost. Thank fuck! Looking up at my savior, my black lined eyes ruined with my tears, I saw the one person I hadn’t expected.
Jackson.
Chapter 4
Jackson
“He was fucking killing someone and none of you cared?!” I roared, looking at the guilty people around us. The poor sub had yelled out red, which had me hurrying away from the bar. I’d heard bad things about this club, but to see people ignoring someone getting fucking strangled to death, and after having yelled out a safe word everyone here should know and respect? They should’ve known something wasn’t right.
I was fuming as I knocked the jackass out cold. Only when I saw he was, in fact, unconscious, did I look at the sub. My breath vanished in a whoosh when I met the red eyes, rimmed with black.Pete. What was he doing here?! This wasn’t a place for someone assoft and innocent as him. Did Mike know about this? Pete was only eighteen, for fucks sake!
Kneeling in front of him, I took in his injuries. He would have a huge bruise around his neck for at least a week. And I would have many words with him as soon as I had him back at my place. Thankfully, Mike was away for a month. A work trip to Japan that’d come out of nowhere and Mike had instantly said yes, eager to experience the world. I was only here because I was meeting up with someone I’d met online. With Mike gone, I could bring the sub back to our place without causing him further trauma.
Pete’s mom couldn’t see her son with a bruise like that, and I selfishly didn’t want to let him out of my sight. Ever since I saw his huge innocent eyes the first time we’d met, I’d felt protective over him, feeling like a bonus big brother. Seeing him so broken was the worst thing I’d ever experienced. Including my childhood.
I picked him up, feeling him instantly snuggle into my arms. A warm feeling spread in my chest over having him trust me. He knew he was safe in my arms. I tightened my hold, unable to stop myself. I would make it okay. I would protect him.
I decided to leave my bike and called an Uber instead. Pete wasn’t getting on the back in that skimpy outfit.
Pete was quiet the whole drive, only occasionally would he peek out from my chest at our surroundings. The Uber driver had demanded we put our seatbelts on, but one look at Pete’s face—and neck—had him shutting up. I didn’t know why I felt somewhat responsible. Like I’d failed Pete. I had no idea he was interested in BDSM. I doubted Mike knew, hell, I doubted he'dwantto know. But there wasn’t time for my guilt. I knew logically it wasn’t my fault he was hurt, but I guess him being Mike’s younger brother meant I, too, felt obligated to help him.
The car stopped just outside mine and Mike’s apartment. It wasn’t anything fancy, the building old and with a brick façade, but it was home.
With Pete still on my lap it was a struggle to unbuckle, but in the end I succeeded. I was almost sad the ride was over. I liked having Pete in my lap, showing me he trusted me to make everything better.
I thanked the driver, and carried Pete up the stairs. Unlocking the door while Pete was still in my arms was the hardest part, but Isomehow managed to get us inside, then kicked the door shut behind us.
I knew he needed comfort, so I carried him straight into my room. Would it be weird sleeping with him in my bed? Maybe. But I also knew he shouldn’t be alone. I could easily find some sleep shorts or something so it wouldn’t be too inappropriate.
I sat down with him, leaning back against my headboard. He got comfortable in my lap, snuggling into my chest even more, like he needed to get under my skin to feel safe. It broke my heart seeing him this broken. Pete had always been shy and quiet most of the time when I was around, but never broken.
“Hey,” I whispered soothingly, stroking his back. “I think it would be best if you slept in here with me. I don’t want you to be alone. Is that okay with you?” I still had to remember to ask for consent on these things, I couldn’t just do what I felt was best for him.
He nodded against my chest. “Thank you,” he whispered, his voice hoarse from being strangled.
