“So, you’ve heard of me.”
“What’s wrong with my brother?” I asked quietly.
His dark eyes swung to Sawyer, who laid motionless on the floor. “He should be fine. If he gets to a hospital in the next few hours.”
“He has nothing to do with this.”
“No,” he cocked his head. “And sadly, neither do you, but that’s not going to save you from what I have planned.”
My heart ratcheted up by ten as he stood and walked slowly around my chair. His fingertips slid over my shoulders before coming to rest around my neck. Fear slithered over every inch of my skin until I felt like I couldn’t breathe.
Large fingers wrapped around my neck, resting against my skin with only the threat looming. I stilled under his touch, my eyes flicking to Sawyer again.
Nausea swirled in my stomach with every second that passed. Was he going to kill me?
My air was suddenly cut off as his fingers squeezed hard, crushing my throat until black spots danced in front of my eyes. I wriggled and squirmed, trying to get away from him, but it was no use. There was no getting away.
Just as I was about to black out, he released me and oxygen flooded my lungs. I coughed hard, but the pain shattering my throat was nearly worse than almost dying.
His fist flew out, slamming into my cheek, splitting the skin. I felt the blood dripping down my face, mingled with tears.
“Oh, look at her cry. She’s so pretty when she cries,” he whispered, leaning in close to lick the tears from my face.
I jolted away from him, but he grabbed my jaw, twisting it painfully to face him.
“Don’t worry. I won’t break you yet. Not until he’s here to see it.”
The evil smirk on his face sent my adrenaline into overdrive. But instead of feeling superhuman, like I could escape anything, fear took the driver’s seat. My eyes stung with tears as I stared at the man in front of me.
“Please,” I whimpered.
“That’s what I like to hear. How much will you beg for me to let you go?”
I had no pride, no sense of strength that a woman dating JR should have. If this man hoped I would hold out, he would besorely mistaken. My only concern right now was staying alive long enough to get Sawyer to the ER.
“You know, we had a good thing going, and then you messed it up,” the man sighed.
“I didn’t do anything,” I cried.
“That’s where you’re wrong,” he laughed. “He was doing his job, taking care of everything he was supposed to, and then he stopped in this pissant town, and that’s where everything fell apart. Do you really think I don’t have people watching my employees?”
My whole body trembled with fear as I tried to figure a way out of all this. He strode around to the front, leering at me. It was only then that I remembered I was only wearing a robe, and it was gaping at the front.
“So beautiful,” he murmured, brushing his knuckle down the front of my chest and over my nipple.
I sucked in a breath, trying not to fall apart. How long would he torture me before he took it further?
“Oh, yes,” he laughed. “He chose a good one. Tell me, do you like sucking his dick? Are you a dirty girl?”
I whimpered as he pinched my nipple, but when he shoved his fingers in my mouth, I gagged and bit down hard, disgusted by his fingers being anywhere near me.
“Stupid cunt!” he shouted, backhanding me hard across the face.
Blood burst from my mouth, spilling down my chin. But he wasn’t done with me. Flicking open a pocket knife, he grinned as he trailed it down my chest.
Whimpering pleas spilled from my lips. “Please, don’t do this,” I cried. “Don’t!”
The knife sliced open my skin in tiny cuts meant to hurt. I cried, squirming as he continued down my body until he was just to my navel.
