“Mr.President, I swear she is here in an official capacity only, to present me to you,” I interjected on Kaspar’s behalf, knowing at once that the plea would fall on deaf ears and yet needing to try, regardless.
The man Caroline had melded couldn’t just witness a potentially horrific assault whilst doing nothing to disrupt proceedings.I had a dozen reasons to dislike Kaspar, but on balance, she’d looked after Caroline and me, and there was no way she deserved to be manhandled by the odious Ian.
“Oh,you swear?”Ian’s mocking tone was back as he glanced behind to look at me.“The man who cut and run, leaving with a whore who he should have sacrificed for the sake of our great nation now vouches for his latest whore.”
Behind the gag, Kaspar screeched at the insult.It was seemingly the first time she’d ever been called a whore.Her indignation faded fast, though, when Ian spun back to glare her way.
“Right.”Stepping in the middle of his paid muscle, he unfastened the buttons of her suit jacket, taking his time for good measure.“You’re older than my usual type, but you never know, maybe you’re hiding a decent pair of tits under this clobber.”
He laughed, and right on cue, all the men around him did the same, as though they’d been conditioned to parrot the response whenever Ian was around.My brow furrowed as I struggled to recall what my life had been like before Caroline.Was that what I’d been like then?An indoctrinated prick who jumped through whatever hoop Ian had held aloft for me?
No,I convinced myself as Ian released the final button.I played my part, but I was never sold on the propaganda.
I never once believed that women were inherently deferent to men.
I’d stood apart from the rest of Ian’s sycophants, staying at Fortorus as much as possible and only flying to London whenever Ian had insisted.I’d never been a trained flunkey, devoid of all critical thinking, and for that, I was grateful.It had made my transition to life beyond Britain so much simpler.
Kaspar’s scream demanded my attention back to her ordeal, and by the time I’d glanced back, Ian had opened her blouse and foisted her bra aside to reveal her breasts.Averting my eyes, I swallowed back the bile rising at her obvious trauma.I’d been privy to that type of sickening behavior all the time in the past, but there was something deeply unsettling about witnessing it all over again.
I might not have been on the run with my little girl for long, but it seemed that time had irrevocably changed me.I was no longer able to accept the things I’d put up with before.Committing to a consensual relationship with Caroline had taught me about respectful and healthy boundaries, about crazy things that the country had once taken for granted but had all but abandoned, like human rights.
“Mr.President!”I raised my voice, my irritation more evident than it should have been, but in my mind, a myriad of angry questions smothered any concerns I might have had.
Why the fuck is he doing this? I heaved in an angry breath.This is supposed to be about humiliating me, not Kaspar!Why doesn’t he just leave her alone?
Ian froze, turning slowly to address the man who’d dared to interrupt his alleged fun, and by the time our gazes locked, I could see he’d taken the bait.His so-called lust for Kaspar had been overshadowed by his desire to degrade the one man who’d been a thorn in his side for most of his adult life.
“Who do you think you’re speaking to?”he growled as he closed the space between us.
My gaze flitted to the terrified face of Kaspar as I answered.“You, Sir.”
I wished one of the morons holding her would have just covered her up, but naturally, they seemed to enjoy denigrating her almost as much as their glorious leader.
“You and I have got some serious catching up to do, Adam.”He practically spat out my name as he approached.
“Yes, Sir.”That much I’d been expecting.
“We’re not going to have that little chat on deck, but don’t worry, the entire thing will be broadcast live, so everyone back at home can see what happens to traitors.”
Traitor.The word resonated through me like a streak of lightning.Was that what I was?
I supposed I’d defected, but I hadn’t intended to collaborate with Ian’s enemies.Those officials had come to my door.I’d have been happy to just be left alone with the woman I loved.
“Search him.”
Ian gave the gruff order, and two sentries rushed to my side on command, searching my damp jacket and pockets for evidence of weapons.Naturally, they found nothing.Bringing a gun on board would have been literal suicide.
Apparently satisfied with the search, Ian stepped in my direction.
“Get up and come with me.”His enormous belly loomed by my head as he gave the order.“I could make you crawl, but it always seems so ungainly to have a man do so.Crawling was really made for the lithe female form.They just do it so much better.”
Rumbles of approving laughter echoed from the men around us as I climbed to my full height.Ian’s gaze narrowed as he regarded me.He’d presumably forgotten how much taller than him I was once I was on my feet, and being the shortest in our friendship group had never failed to give him a chip on his shoulder.
Glancing past me, he signaled to the guards still holding the shivering Kaspar.
“As for our unexpected guest, take her to my room.I’ll decide whether to play with her later, but don’t worry, boys.”He peered around at the assembled uniformed throng.“If I change my mind, you can all have first dibs.”
A roar of appreciation rose at his alleged generosity, and I heaved in the cold sea air as two of his goons forced Kaspar forward.Led away with her chest still bared, our eyes locked fleetingly, and the shame, embarrassment, and anger in hers were the same mix of torrid emotions I’d seen from countless women before her.
