“Amigo!” Javier pounds on the door wildly. Yup. Definitely cutting off that motherfucker’s hands.
“Fuck you!” I bark, and then look over my shoulder at Ellie. “It will be over very soon.” I try to reassure her as I grab the door knob and turn.
She nods, panicked and confused. I think her ability to speak is gone.
I swing open the door to Javier, two of his thugs, and three semi-automatic weapons pointed right at me.
“That was quite an earful,” Javier says lewdly with that evil smirk.
“WHAT THE FUCK IS THIS?” I spit.
“Armed escort. Move.” Javier motions with the pistol in his hand.
With no other option at the moment, I do as he says; walking down the hall surrounded by muscle and machine guns. I keep Ellie close. This shit isn’t good.
We’re forced into my study at the front of the house. It’s away from the party and very secluded.
“I think El Rey would have something to say about you treating your host like his.” I sneer.
“I’m sure he will.” Javier smiles brightly. A moment later The King is strong-armed into the room at gunpoint.
Definitely not good.
“What’s the meaning of this?!?” he demands outraged, looking between me and Javier.
“Hostile takeover.” Javier lifts his gun and shoots El Rey right in the head. Ellie screams as The King’s body falls to the floor and bleeds out all over the hardwood. I stare Javier down as Ellie quickly crumbles.
“Shut your bitch up!” He motions with the gun. “I’d shoot her too, but I have plans for you both.”
I try to calm a trembling, pleading Ellie down, but she’s in shock. It’s no wonder, she’s been traumatized over and over ever since she stepped foot in this house.
“Shhhh. Ellie. Calm.” I yank on her chain, trying to command her. I’d rather wrap her in my arms and console her, but the moment calls for dictative actions. She looks at me with the most distressed eyes I have ever seen on a living human being.
“Kneel,” I order, my voice firm, cold, and calculating. Nothing like the man she was with moments ago. I’d much rather be that man, but he has flaws and feelings. And those two things can get you killed.
“Do it,” I hiss through my teeth and spank her so hard my hand stings. She drops to my feet so fast her knees slam against the floor.
If we survive this, the penance I will pay.
“I’ll teach her better.” Javier snatches her leash out of my hand and drags her across the room. I bolt forward but am met with several guns shoved into my chest.
“Not yours anymore,” he heckles with a grip so tight on Ellie’s collar he’s restricting her airway. She’s gasping and clawing at the leather begging for oxygen.
I’m quaking with rage from the inside out. I am going to kill him. Fuck cutting off his hands, I’m just going to put my fist through his chest and rip out his heart. I watch helplessly as he ties the leash to a thick gold sconce high on the wall.
“Kneel,” he orders her.
Ellie doesn’t move quickly enough and he shoves her down, the collar nearly hanging her. “Move and I’ll rape you in front of everyone with that letter opener on the desk.” My steel-plated letter opener that looks like a mini sword. Ellie kneels with barely enough chain to reach the ground. That cocksucker has turned her collar into a noose. She stares at me with pleading eyes as she slowly starts to suffocate.
I weigh my options. There aren’t many. I have no gun, I’m outnumbered, and I don’t want to go all Rambo and end up getting her killed.
As I formulate a strategy, Javier drops another bomb. He pulls something out of his pocket and throws it at my feet.
“Recognize that?”
I stare down, studying the scrap of something on the floor. I nudge it with my toe and then realize what it is. My head snaps up. “Where is he?”
“Gone,” Javier sings. Terrorizing me.
