“You’re upset,” I whisper, and he nods.
“Of course I’m fucking upset. They kidnapped you, hurt you, and tried to make you…” He trails off, shaking his head. “I’m not going to calm down until I’ve sliced his dick from his body and shoved it down his throat.”
“You’d do that for me?” I ask, my heart beating happily at the romantic gesture. The image is appalling, but the thought of him avenging my honor like that is what leads me to stroke my fingers down his cheek as I study his face.
“I’d do anything for you, angel. You’re the only thing I’ve ever found worth keeping, and I’m not going to let anyone take you from me.”
I want to tell him how much that means to me, how muchhemeans to me. That I love him and won’t let him go, either. But instead, I decide to show him. So, in a moment of bravery, I tilt my face to his and kiss him.
At first, he freezes, as if I’ve surprised him, but then his arms tighten around me as he starts to kiss me back, his tongue instantly demanding entrance. I moan into his mouth as he consumes me. His tongue strokes mine, lighting a fire between my legs. My hand finds his silky blond hair, and I tug at the strands, making him groan against me.
He might be playful and energetic, but his kiss is all business. He takes complete control with a passion I hadn’t expected from him.
He pulls back, sucking on my lower lip, and I moan,wanting so much more. He presses his forehead to mine as we both try to catch our breath.
“As much as I’d like to continue. We have an audience, and I’d like to get you out of here sooner rather than later.”
I unhook my legs from his waist, and he sets me on my feet. I try to regain my composure as I pull down the hem of my T-shirt over my bare legs and turn to find Jagger and Dex still watching the men on the ground, while Sly watches me with narrowed eyes. I don’t think he’s upset, just assessing, but with him, it’s always hard to tell.
“That explains why they’re helping you,” Troy sneers from where he lies on his back, blood covering his face as he looks at me. “You’re whoring yourself out to them.”
Before I can blink, Pete passes me to Sly, then he’s kneeling at Troy’s side. Screams tear from his throat for a second before Jagger slaps duct tape over his mouth.
It takes me a second to realize why he’s in pain, then I notice one of his fingers lying in the grass, severed from his hand. Pete grins down at him as he whispers. “Disrespect her again. I dare you.”
Troy clutches his damaged hand to his chest as he moans in pain. Pete wipes his knife in the grass and stands up, looking at me while pointing his knife at Troy. “Was it him?”
I shake my head, knowing what he’s asking, as Sly hugs me tighter to him. I’m clinging to his front like a monkey, but I don’t think he minds. I hope he doesn’t because right now, even if I wanted to stand on my own two feet, I don't think I could.
I watch as Jagger, Dex, and Pete all turn their furious eyes on Max.
When he realizes what sort of trouble he’s in, he tries to jump to his feet, but all three move at once. Dex gets therefirst, grabbing his ankle and yanking him so hard he cries out in pain, reaching toward his foot as if it’s been dislocated or broken. Jagger slaps duct tape over his mouth and zip ties his hands and ankles.
Seeing Max bound the same way he’d restrained me brings me a strange sort of justice. I feel no pity for this man who assaulted me.
The three of them surround him, staring down at him with clenched fists and something akin to excitement in their eyes.
Jagger looks over at me and signs,“Close your eyes.”
My ASL lessons must be paying off because Sly moves his hand up to my head and pulls my face into his neck, holding me against him so I can’t see. My body jolts when I hear the first hit. The sounds of them hitting and kicking fill the night, along with grunts, then suddenly stop. I think it’s over until I hear the muffle of his scream.
I cling harder to Sly, as he sways me back and forth, whispering words meant to soothe. “It’s okay, little bird. I’ve got you. Nobody's going to hurt you again. I’ve got you.” After a minute, temptation gets the best of me, and I try to pull my head back to look, but Sly turns us away.
“No. I don’t want you seeing anyone else’s dick. Even if it isn’t attached to him.”
I inhale sharply. Pete actually did it?He cut off Max’s dick?I’m not sure if I’m more surprised he actually did it or that he did it to make me happy.Am I messed up?Wishing another person that sort of harm?
It was clear what he wanted me to do, and it had never even crossed my mind that an act like that could be forced on someone. Is that what would have happened if Robert hadsold me to Ivan? Would Ivan make me blow him every night? Would he force himself on me day after day?
I feel a tear roll down my cheek as the true extent of what Robert wants to do to me hits me hard.
“Wren? Are you okay?” Sly asks, tilting my chin to look at him. When he sees my tear-filled eyes, he asks. “Is the violence too much? I’ll take you back to our car.”
“It’s not that,” I sniffle, trying to wipe my tears away. “I just…” I try to glance toward the others, but Sly turns us a little, so I still can’t see. “I’m just realizing what it would have been like with Ivan, if Robert had managed to sell me to him.” I lick my lips as I look up at him. “Ivan would have forced me to do things, wouldn’t he? Sexual things?”
Sly presses his lips tightly together and gives me a small, singular nod. “I’m sorry, Wren. I promise we won’t let that happen.”
“Robert’s always going to be after me, though, isn’t he?”
