But unlike before, when I’d spoken with the fury of a thousand fires, this time, I spoke with far more certainty and coldness. It was like he’d pushed me so far that I knew at some point, he couldn’t push any further. He could only taunt me so much and so hard before it all just…meant nothing.
For now, at least. If he actually laid hands on me, that was a different story. But this was plausible for now.
“You will not take me.”
“Oh, but actually, I will,” he said, “and just so you know, the more you fight back, the sooner you will be raped.”
The sooner…not now?
I didn’t dare ask him why not now. That seemed like a practical invitation. But why the hell would he wait?
One possibility seemed like he was enjoying torturing me. If that was the case, maybe it would behoove me to play along as the poor, helpless victim who needed to succumb to her oppressor’s wishes. Or maybe he was waiting for Mason and Brock and the other Reapers to show up before he did something to me.
The thought was sickening, but it made some logical sense.
One thing was for damn sure. Mentioning the words “Black Reapers” was the fastest way to ensure that something awful happened to me.
“We can’t be spoiling the show so early for your friends.”
And there it was.
The reason.
He wanted to repeat the event ten years ago.
He wanted to rape me in front of everyone, force them to watch, force me to know that they were watching and seeing it all. That, more than anything he could say, was the ultimate form of mental torture and cruelty.
The only silver lining in it was that I had time, then, until the Reapers showed up. When that happened, it was up to fate and time if I could avoid having my spirit snatched away again. For now, though, I could keep that intact.
I hoped.
“So are you going to be a good girl and do as I say, or are you going to make this difficult and force me to fuck you?”
I bit my teeth. I would not play the part of compliant little rag doll.
But there was a fine line between that and goading him into doing something more.
“You won’t get your way,” I said, but I took care not to mention that that would be because the Black Reapers would destroy him.
“We shall see about that,” Eduardo said, rising from his chair.
He came over to me, towering over me. I felt my stomach flip. Had I been wrong? Was he going to force this on me? Now? Even after what he’d said?
He pulled my head against his crotch—mercifully, with his jeans still on. I tried to pull away, but it did no good. Thank fucking God it only lasted a second or two before Eduardo laughed and shoved me back. My head hit the wall, but it was a light bounce, all things considered.
“Stupid fucking bitch,” he said. “I have no idea what the hell they see in you. But if you’re fucking bait, I’ll use you however I have to.”
And with that, he stepped outside the room and slammed the door shut. I heard him muttering something more outside the door, followed by a response from a voice I didn’t recognize, but I couldn’t pick up on anything specific being said.
But at least I could temporarily breathe. I had not been raped, though I certainly wouldn’t have called what Eduardo did dignified. I was still intact.
And also, really fucking hungry.
But at least I wasn’t starved of my soul.
* * *
Hours upon hours passed. The light from beyond the blinds slowly got more and more acute before darkening rapidly, signaling the arrival of night. I was sure that by now, given my messages and calls to the Reapers, they had a plan and knew I was gone.
