His maniacal laugh filled the room. “Well, I’ll be fucking damned. Has my kitten turned into a dirty pussy? You want me to punish Andrew?” I nodded. “Here?”
“This is where he stole my innocence. Tahir too?” I murmured.
He eyed me suspiciously. “What about me? You don’t want to hurt me?”
“No,” I said softly. “You’re my Master.” He stood there for a long moment, his expression uncertain, until I said, “I’ll wait for you. After, we can go anywhere you want to. Away from here too.”
He rubbed his jaw, his smile triumphant. Nodding, he left. I stood and walked around the room, fingering the pink ribbon I’d worn to give me strength. Then I walked to the cupboard where Kabir kept all the toys he’d used on me. My eyes stopped on each one until I found what I was looking for, returned to the bed, sat down, and waited.
A few minutes later, Kabir entered the room, followed by Tahir, Andrew, and Xavier behind them.
“Why did you bring him?” Rising, I asked Kabir, pointing to Xavier.
“He wanted to see if you’ll change your mind and go with him,” Kabir snorted. “I told him you wouldn’t, kitten.” His eyes darted from me to Xavier and back.
“I’m not going with you, Xavier, but you’re welcome to watch the show.” I gave him a small smile.
Xavier clenched his jaw and leveled Kabir with a look of disgust. “You still intend to use her for your fucking guests?”
Kabir shrugged. “I’ll give her room to explore.”
“You sure you want to stay with him, Ella,” Xavier asked. I nodded. He took a deep breath as though he were thinking. “Then I’ll stay and watch,” he muttered. Leaning back against the door, he crossed his arms over his chest.
I looked behind him toward the outer door, and because of where I stood, I could see Wilkes and Luke step into the green room and wait there. Then I turned to face Tahir, Andrew, and Kabir.
“What are we doing here,” Andrew grunted.
I smiled at him, and his expression changed. It reminded me of that moment when a man knew he was about to die. “I recently learned that many sexually abused victims don’t report their rape because sexual assault is often perpetrated by men the victim knows and loves who they don’t want to report, especially if they depend on him. Or, they fear not being believed, especially if the rapist is older, more powerful, or respected in the community. Or, they fear humiliation by family, friends, or the police. And perhaps the biggest reason of all is the lack of faith in the ability of the justice system to punish the perpetrator properly.”
All three men wore large frowns while Tahir and Andrew shifted uncomfortably. “What the fuck is this?” Tahir looked at his father.
Kabir sent me one of his deathly stares before his gaze slid to Xavier behind me, his anger intensifying.
I ignored their silent communication and looked at Andrew and Tahir. “I also learned another interesting story. A woman suffered domestic violence for a long time. After her husband raped her one night, she cut off his penis while he slept, took a drive, and tossed it over a bridge. It was found in a field and later stitched back to his stump. John Wayne Bobbitt lived and even made a porn movie about it. His wife was acquitted with an insanity plea—”
“What the fuck is this?” Andrew frowned.
His laugh filled with a sour annoyance, Kabir grunted. “Kitten’s gotten a sense of humor too.”
“You two,” I looked at Andrew and Tahir, “took my innocence, and I want it back.” Both men’s expressions turned incredulous. “Since I have no evidence against you, I can’t report you. And seeing I can’t let you get away with what you did, I have a proposition. Someone will be free on one condition.”
“What?” Tahir asked when I remained quiet, my gaze shifting back and forth between them.
“Simple.” I held up the knife Kabir had used to cut me. “Someone is going to have his penis cut off. You can decide who.”
“What?” Andrew shrieked at the same time Tahir said, “I’ll do it.”
Andrew looked at him. “Are you fucking crazy?” He took a step away from Tahir.
Kabir’s ruthless laugh, I knew well, filled the room. “I’m fucking impressed, kitten. I could’ve used you for so much more, it seems.”
“Help me cuff him to the bed, Dad,” Tahir yanked his father’s arm. Both men pinned a screaming Andrew to the wall, tossed him on the bed, and cuffed his hands and legs, leaving him spread-eagled.
I stared at him, recalling those days I stayed in that position until my shoulders locked and my hips throbbed, how my body burned with cuts and cried blood. Moving, I held the knife out to Tahir. “Go on,” I said, my calm surprising me.
“You want to watch?” he asked, flipping the knife from one hand to the other. I nodded.
“Please,” Andrew screamed. “Don’t do this.”
