One man is better than thirty. One dick is better than thirty.
I can’t believe Darius is my safest option.
I’m not far off passing out from fear and exhaustion, but now the adrenaline’s cranking my survival instinct to eleven.
I can’t pass out while there’s at least thirty men—armed with guns, knives, whips, and belts—watching my every move.
They lift the rug once I step off it. Following the three poor girls before me, I drop to my knees, crawling deeper and deeper toward the center.
My gag reflex kicks in when the rug falls, pinning me to the floor. It’s heavier than it looks... reeking of puke, piss, and sweat. It smells like desperation and shattered dreams. Like the worst nightmare.
The first whip lashes my back, pain lighting up my mind. I bite my tongue, muffling the scream tearing from my chest. Another whack, then one more, and more.
“Move,” Darius booms. “Crawl, you dumb bitch!”
What if I don’t?
What if I let them whip me until I pass out? Until I can’t hold onto reality?
“You have three seconds to move or I’ll pull the carpet off and you’ll have two dicks in your ass before you realize what the fuck’s happening.”
My heart lurches, threatening to break ribs.
One dick is better than thirty.
One dick is better than thirty.
I repeat the mantra, swallow the fear, brace on my elbows and crawl straight ahead.
8
CARTER
Vaughn gnashes his teeth between his lips, glaring from where he leans against the wall, fingers tightening around the phone he pulled out of the inside pocket of his jacket.
The air in the room grows thick with tension, the silent battle of wills between us almost tangible. He’s been standing there for five minutes, chewing his teeth, lost in his desperate need to save Hailey but restrained by his principles.
“You’re wasting time,” I grit out, cracking my knuckles to keep my hands occupied with something other than battering him to death. That sure would mean time behind bars.
“You think this is easy?” He straightens his spine against the wall. “You think I want to rely on you?”
I resist the urge to sneer. “This isn’t about what you want, Vaughn. It’s about getting Hailey back. What other choice do you have? What’s your plan? You had seven days and you’re nowhere.”
“You had just as long,” he grumbles, rubbing his temples. “And yet here you are, empty-handed, needingmyhelp.”
“Your help?” I scoff, losing my goddamn patience with this clown. “I haven’t found her only because I was convincedyouhad her. You don’t, so I don’t need you. It’syouwho needs help. I still have my one phone call and I’ll walk once my lawyer gets here. We both know you forged that warrant.”
Vaughn scoffs, crossing his arms over his chest. “I tried getting a real one but, as you pointed out, the system is flawed.”
“Welcome to the dark side of the line. I’ll know where Hailey is by morning.” That’s a bluff. I have no fucking idea where she is, but I have a few suspects. Suspects inmyworld which means my sources of information are infinitely more useful. “I’ll have her back in forty-eight hours max. You really think you’ll find her first?”
He shifts his weight from one leg to another, clutching his phone like a lifeline. Like it’s a manifestation of his principles. Either he stands his ground, holding onto the illusion of being the bigger man, or he waves the white flag. I want him to relent. I want him to hand the fucking phone over, inadvertently admitting he needsme.
“If she’s been off the radar this long, she’s with someone who won’t offer you the same decency Rhett did,” I continue, swaying his judgment. “You’ll be dead the moment you get there, and that’s only if your deputy allows the raid. You need me more than I need you.”
I don’t need him at all, but while he’s been standing there, sulking, I realized that while Hailey’s all he has left, he’s also her only remaining family.
She’ll want him in her life and there’s no way he’ll accept me unless I give him no choice.
