Page 40 of Savage Salvation

Why won’t he just kill me? There’s no other way out. Not if he goes through with what he’s planning. Or maybe he has no plan, and I’ll end up dead anyways. My mom. Will I get to see my mom? Will I be with her? Please let me see my mom again.

Blinking, the room barely comes into focus. My eyes burn as something blurs my vision. Tears maybe, or blood. But not enough to block the menacing face I see in front of me. Ryan. His hand reaches up, grasping my throat.

“Say something now, bitch. Show me how strong you are.”

Strong. I’ve never felt strong. I just didn’t want to be weak, not like I am now. Defenseless. Weak. Shattered.

His fingers squeeze, cutting off my airway as I try to fight to get my hands free. The burn of the rope slicing my skin is minor compared to the pain and desperation of not being able to take a breath. Just as I think he’s about to finish me off, he releases, his smirking face in mine. “That’s it? I really thought you’d put up more of a fight.”

Attempting to take in a deep breath, I cough and wheeze unable to steady myself. My mind growing foggier. If he wants to kill me, I wish he would get it over with. Anything is better than him torturing me. A gloomy shiver flows through me because I know that’s his intention. If he wanted me gone, I’d be dead. But he plans on prolonging my suffering as long as possible. A wave of nausea hits me, and I heave, coughing and spewing blood onto the floor.

“You’re fucking nasty.” His hand comes up, slamming against my cheek as a flash moves across my vision. “You’re gonna clean up every bit of the mess you make.”

I don’t have time to process his words when I hear a voice, a familiar voice that sends a deep-seated fear throughout me.

Gage.

We. Ryan had said we.

Gage.

No.

A sob rises in my throat, my hand pulling at the restraints.

“What the fuck are you doing?” Gage slowly walks over, stepping in front of me, looking to Ryan.

“She’s a gift. For you. Happy Valentine’s Day. The bitch causes nothing but trouble so I figured she could pay up. And she will, with flesh. You can ‘win’ the bet, settle the battle, and we can get back to being friends by putting this bitch in her place—on her knees. But I keep the Lambo.” Ryan laughs, reaching up as his harsh grip twists my nipple to the point where I’m not sure if he’s broken my skin. But he doesn’t relent, his hand moving down, grabbing the side of my panties as I see the reflection of the knife in his hand. He thrusts it forwards, and I brace for it to plunge into my skin, but it doesn’t. Instead, I feel the fabric of my underwear give way, leaving me completely naked and exposed.

Gage moves closer to me, my body visibly shaking as I try my best to get my hands free. But there’s no use. The binding only digs deeper into my wrist.

For a second, I wonder if Gage is going to help me. Or will he join in? He hates me. It’s no secret. We hate each other. But how much does he truly hate me? Ryan has already undoubtedly answered the question. What will Gage’s response be? Especially after what I said to him.

His eyes are locked with mine, his hand reaches up, his thumb stroking across my cheek. Wiping away my tears that are uncontrollably flowing out as he asks, “Have you fucked her?”

“Nah, man. My dick isn’t going anywhere near her pussy,” he says, looking to me with disgust. “That’s all your gift. But those disrespectful lips are going to suck my dick for every time the orphan bitch thought she was better than me. And every time she pranced around begging for it like the whore she is.” Ryan moves next to Gage, just at my side as his hand harshly pushes my shoulder, forcing me to my knees. His hand cruelly grasps my hair, pulling my head back as he looms over me. “It’s time she learns on her knees, beneath me, is the only place she’ll ever be.”

“Get your fucking hands off of her.” Gage’s voice is stern but calm. Way too calm considering what is happening at the moment.

“Don’t worry. I won’t break her too bad before you get to her,” Ryan goads, looking at Gage before returning his sinister expression to me. “I don’t mind sharing. There’s plenty of her to go around. But I’m going first.”

Fucking psycho. They both have to be. But Ryan is the one hovering in my face, taking his time to callously laugh about what he’s done to me, and what he’s about to do. Taking every ounce of strength I have left, I muster up the energy, struggling against the binds that won’t let me go, so I do the only thing I can and spit in his malicious face. Blood and saliva splatter across his face. Disgust morphs on his face as his hand rears back, and I brace myself for another blow. Only it doesn’t come, the hand in my hair is harshly jerked away.

Gage. His fist connects with Ryan’s face, ramming into his already broken nose. Ryan looks surprised as he flies back, his body slamming against the wall before he hesitates. Then he charges at Gage, the knife still in his hand as he swipes, aiming for Gage’s side. But Gage’s arm blocks him, knocking the knife to the floor. Then a rage unleashes from Gage that scares me deep in my core.

He pounds against Ryan’s face with frightening ferocity, and just when I think he’s not going to stop his assault, he halts, standing over Ryan who’s dropped to all fours, coughing and spewing some of his own blood onto the floor. Maybe it’s delirium, but my first thought is I’m not cleaning that up for sure.

“Don’t you ever touch her again, motherfucker. She’s mine. Don’t you ever fucking forget it. Because next time, I’ll kill you.” Gage’s leg swings, connecting with Ryan’s torso which sends him crashing down against the floor.

That should be a relief. He got Ryan away, but I’m not sure what his intention is now. And I don’t get a chance to figure it out before he’s stomping in my direction, his hand picking up the blade that Ryan dropped. He yanks his T-shirt over his head, and my eyes clamp shut as I brace myself for whatever flesh Gage is planning to take.

But he doesn’t. Instead, the rough ropes binding my wrists finally give way, my hands falling to the floor, my palms pressing on the cold, relentless stone.

A harsh grip seizes my arm, lifting me up as I struggle, trying to get free, but I can’t. My body feels weak, broken, as I struggle against the hold. Gage keeps a strong grip on me, which only serves to increase my panic as I struggle more. No. I can’t. I can’t do this. I can’t let him do this. I can’t let him break me. Or at least what’s left of me. He can’t do this to me.

My hands swat at him, screaming until his voice breaks through.

“Kinsley, look at me.” Gage’s stern tone causes me to halt immediately, my eyes slowly moving to his, fearing the monster I’ll see but praying for something different.