I shove the phone back into my pocket, jaw tight. For a second, I just stand there. A part of me wants to keep her here for at least another day.
Possessive? Maybe.
I step back into the main room. Rico’s still out. I kick his boot. “Wake the fuck up. Start the car. We’re moving soon.”
He groans, rubs at his face, mutters something in Spanish.
I ignore him and walk to her. Chloe. She’s curled on her side, mouth parted, little tufts of air leaving her lips. She looks peaceful. Too peaceful for this place, for me.
“Hey!” I shake her. Her eyes open, hazy green locking onto mine. And I watch it hit her. The fear. The panic.
She goes to scream. I’m on her in a heartbeat, palm covering her mouth. “Shut up,” I hiss. “We’re leaving.”
She muffles against my hand, body stiff with terror.
“I’m not gonna kill you,” I snap. “So stop fucking begging. Shoes.” I grab them, shove them onto her feet, tying the laces tight.
Tears slide down her cheeks as she whispers, “Please. I have money. I can pay you. Just— don’t—”
I gag her before she can finish, blindfold her too. Her whole body trembles as I haul her up and over my shoulder. She squirms, fights, but it’s useless. She’s light. Too light. My palm presses into the back of her thigh, the warmth of her skin against me, and fuck, I’m hard again.
I shouldn’t, but I do. I spank her. Once. Twice. Again and again. Her skirt rides up, ass bouncing under my hand, and my cock throbs with every slap. She squeals behind the gag, muffled, writhing against me. I’m leaking in my boxers, ashamed and turned on all at once.
By the time I shove her into the backseat, my palm is red. I grin.
“Let’s go,” I tell Rico, sliding into the front.
From the mirror, I see her. Blindfolded, gagged, squirming. Her ass is bruised, pressed against the leather. She’s shaking, begging muffled words I can’t quite hear.
We drive. Out of East Pointe, away from the warehouse, down the long stretch that leads to nowhere. The night is thick, the world asleep. My chest is tight the whole way, every mile heavy.
Finally, Rico pulls over by the old train yard. I drag her out, set her on her feet. She stumbles, crying, bound and blindfolded.
This is it. End of the line.
I untie her hands, push her forward. She falls onto the gravel, whimpering, clutching at herself like she can hold her body together.
I don’t look back.
We get in the car, engine roaring to life. Rico mutters something, lights a cigarette, exhales smoke.
But me? My hands grip the wheel so hard my knuckles crack. I hesitate, just for a second, staring into the rearview.
Chloe. Beautiful, blonde, infuriating Chloe.
What an interesting girl.
4
Chloe
Three months later
Handsclamparoundmywrists, rough, unrelenting, dragging me forward into the circle of light. My knees hit the cold floor with a crack. Laughter booms around me, low and cruel, bouncing off walls I can’t see. I blink, but the shadows blur, faceless men circling like predators.
A sting rips across my skin. Another. The sound of flesh meeting flesh echoes, sharp, merciless as they spank my bare ass. My body jerks with every strike, fire licking down my spine, my thighs trembling under the weight of it.
“No,” I choke out, my voice breaking. “Please, stop—please—”
