Page 107 of Slaughter

“Two graves.” I turn and start to walk toward the door but stop when he speaks again.

“But Jacob isn’t dead.”

I turn back around to face him. Reaching into the back of my slacks, I pull out my gun and shoot him in the head. The loud bang makes some of my guys flinch, and our ears ring. Mason stands upright, staring at me for a few seconds before his eyes cloud over, blood runs out from between his lips, and then he too, falls to the floor.

“Three graves,” I call out. Then I turn to face all the men. “Anyone wanna make it four?” Silence follows my question. I take that they understand me. “Bury Jacob face down. The knife is not to be removed.” Then I look at Kayn. “Watch them. Make sure they do as they’re told. If not, take care of it.” Then I turn and walk out of the warehouse, heading back to my house.

PRESLEIGH

I lie on the concrete floor. My hands still cuffed behind my back. And I hate it the most. How it takes any chance I have to fight away from me. I hear the door creak open, and I keep my eyes shut.

“I know you’re awake.” I hear his voice and whimper. It’s Victor.

He grabs me and pushes me onto my back. My eyes spring open, and I try to fight him. I lose.

He straddles my hips and places his hands on my face, holding it in place. Then he slaps me. I bite my inner cheek to keep from making any kind of noise. He likes it when I scream.

“I must say, Presleigh, I like you much better this way. Even though you have no chance, you try to be strong.”

“He’ll find me,” I say through gritted teeth. I have to keep hope. If not, I’ll be a crying fucking mess. Just like he wants. Any fate I have with Avery is better than in Victor’s hands.

He laughs. “So naïve. I thought you grew out of that. The only reason Avery took you is because someone else wants you.”

I shake my head. He said it was because of Preston. “You don’t know anything,” I snap. Keep him talking. He can’t rape me if he’s too busy running his mouth.

“I know everything,” he says, lifting his hand. I flinch, thinking he is about to slap me, but he just laughs and places it on my cheek. I pull away, trying not to puke at the thought of him touching me. “A man by the name of Damon wants you.” I start shaking my head. “Oh, he does. Your brother fucked him over, and he wants you for payment.”

“Preston?” I ask, and my chest tightens. Avery told me it involved my brother.

He nods once. “But Avery wouldn’t have that. He couldn’t imagine another man having you as their slave, so he decided to take you instead.” He places his hands on my ribs, and I thrash underneath him when they begin to run up my sides. He cups my breasts, and I cry out as if he hit me. “Then he took you to that party and strutted you around like a fucking trophy.” Tears burn my eyes. “He set you up, you know. Him and Tristan. They knew you would act out, and he would have to punish you.” He chuckles. “I watched the tape of him whipping you. I must say I didn’t think Avery had it in him to touch you like that.”

“Stop.” I choke while his hands massage my breasts.

“I watched the way you got off on it, Presleigh. And I like to think I had something to do with that. My intentions were to ruin you for anyone else, but I guess it did the opposite. Considering you’ve fucked your way through New York.” His hand lets go of my right breast, and he reaches up, grabbing a fist full of hair, and yanks my head back. It causes the shackle around my neck to pinch my skin. He lowers his mouth to my cheek, and whispers, “Did you like the way I beat you before, Presleigh?” I whimper, trying to struggle with my cuffed hands underneath me. They’re numb. “The way I fucked you?” His other hand slides between our bodies, and I struggle harder when he cups me between my legs.

He doesn’t move any further. He’s toying with me. Last time, he raped me hard and fast. Now he knows there’s no one here to interrupt us, so he’s gonna fuck my mind too.

“But I do believe he will come for you. Because, as I said, he wants you to be his slave. No one else’s. Avery is no different than anyone else in this world you were born into. He’s gonna come for you guns raised and with an army. And you’ll be here, chained and bloodied waiting for him to take you home and nurse you back to health.”

“What do you want from me?” I scream; he’s playing some sick game.

He pulls back and looks down at me with a smirk on his face. “I’m gonna let you go back to send a message.”

“Message?”

His sits up and removes himself from straddling my hips. I almost cry in relief. Then he spreads my legs apart. “Nooo.”

He places himself between them and spreads them further with his knees. Then his hand runs over the brand on my thigh and I bite my lip to keep from crying out as the tears run down my face. “A message that he may have you, but he’ll never own you.” He slaps me, and my head whips to the side. “You were always meant to be mine, and that will never change.” He grips my chin and leans his face down to mine. “He’ll never fucking own you.”

Gasping for air, I sit up and blink but see nothing but darkness. My body starts to shake, and my hands go to my neck. I cry out when my fingers feel the sensitive skin.

“Bunny?” A light comes on. “You’re okay.”

I look over to see Avery sitting up. He wraps his arms around me and pulls me to him. I push him away, and he allows it.

“Where am I?” I ask with a shaky breath.

“You fell asleep in my arms, so I brought you to my bedroom.” He lowers his voice. “I didn’t wanna leave you alone …”

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