Page 154 of Slaughter

Did I dream it? Or did I really go insane? If so, why am I alone? I sit up, and my eyes fall to the nightstand. My phone sits on it. Reaching over, I snatch it up as if someone is going to take it from me at any second. I have some missed phone calls and texts, but I don’t open them. Instead, I grip it in my hand and get out of the bed. My legs feel a little heavy, and my head is groggy but not too bad. I make sure to use the restroom first, then step out of his bedroom. Looking around, I hear voices coming from down the hall. Slowly, I make my way down it and come to a stop in the formal dining room. Five heads all turn to face me, and silence falls over the room.

Avery stands from his place at the head of the table but doesn’t speak.

Alex is the second one to stand. She reaches over to the empty seat and picks up a plate. “Here, Pres. You need to eat.” She begins to fill the plate with bacon, scrambled eggs, and sausage. And last, three pancakes. She places in front of the empty seat to the left of Avery, across from her.

“How long have I been asleep?” I ask roughly.

“Almost twenty hours,” she answers.

Shit! No wonder I feel rested. “Why are you here?” I ask Avery but keep my eyes downward not wanting to look at him.

“We can leave.” Chloe is the one who speaks to me when he doesn’t answer. “Alex and I are ready when you are. The jet is ready and waiting for us.” I look at her, and she gives me a soft smile. “I just want you to eat a little something first.”

I nod and make my way over to the seat and sit down. I feel like a robot on autopilot. I’m starving, but I can’t make myself grab the fork and eat. Not when I know five sets of eyes are on me. I take in a long breath and finally lift my eyes to meet Avery’s. “I can really go?”

He sits back in his chair and nods once. “I have something I want to show you first, but yes, afterward, you may go.”

I don’t know why, but the fact that he wants me to stay a little longer has my stomach doing flips. The good kind.

“Okay.” He picks up his fork to start eating. “Show me now.”

“You need food …”

“Now Avery.” I’m testing the waters. Will he boss me around? Order me to eat or there will be consequences? Just how much have things changed in the last week that we’ve been apart?

Surprising me, he pushes his chair back and stands. “Excuse us,” he says and then reaches out his right hand for me to take. I wait for Alex to object or Chloe to call him a son of a bitch, but when it doesn’t come, I place my hand in his and allow him to lead me away from them.

My heart starts to pound when we near the dungeon. He’s gonna punish me. And I hate that I’m looking forward to it. To feeling something again.

He opens the door, and I close my eyes as we enter. I feel his hand leave mine, then they’re on my face. My eyes spring open, and I look up at him, my breathing erratic, not knowing what he is about to do to me. “I promised you something.” His blue eyes search mine. “I did what I did because I didn’t have any other choice, Bunny. You deserved more. You deserved to get your revenge just as much as all those other girls who were used. The ones I couldn’t save.” He sighs. “I couldn’t save you eleven years ago, but I kept my promise.” He lets go of me and flips the lights on.

My breath gets stuck in my throat when I see my brother chained to the far wall. A black mask covers his eyes. His arms are up above his head secured with black straps. His legs spread eagle also secured by the black straps. And next to him in the very same position is Vaughn. They both wear nothing but their boxers. “What …?”

“Presleigh?” my brother asks, shaking his head around, trying to see under the mask. “Presleigh, is that you?” He yanks on his restraints.

I turn to face Avery. He stands by the wall, his arms over his chest, and his eyes on mine. I stare at him for an explanation, and he doesn’t make me wait. “Your brother was the one who sold you out to Victor. I had him tied to a chair in a warehouse in New York when I had you taken from your house. He was the only one who knew you were with me.” He sighs heavily as if disappointed in himself. “He and Vaughn broke into my home and took you from me. He was the one who removed your tracker. He was there in the house they kept you at with Vaughn, Victor, and Lance.”

I look back over at him. “There was a voice … I recognized it while there. But couldn’t place it.”

“Presleigh!” my brother snaps.

“Why?” I ask, and my voice shakes. “How could you …?”

He doesn’t answer.

Instead, Avery speaks. “But he had planned to take you before then. He had already sold you to Victor.” My eyes widen, and he continues. “They’ve had a lot to say since I brought them down in here. Vaughn informed me that Preston is the one who told Victor we were expecting a baby.”

“What? How …?”

“He found your pregnancy test in your bathroom trash. And it was his idea to get me out of town that week in order for Victor to … do what he did.”

Tears sting my eyes. Looking at my brother, I don’t feel an ounce of remorse for what Avery is doing to him right now. Does that make me a bad person? Maybe. Do I care? Not one bit. He stole everything from me. He took something that can’t be replaced.

I feel hands on my shoulders, and I jump. Avery leans down and whispers in my ear. “I told you that you can leave. But you can also stay as long as you want. To make them pay as long as you want.”

I spin around in his arms and look up at him. “Is that the only way I can stay?”

He pushes the hair from my face, tucking it behind my ears. “I never want to be without you again.”

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