Page 92 of Taming Achilles

There were cameras at every angle, all staring at a strung up mountain of a man made even taller by the arms that were pulled up high by the manacles that kept him on the tips of his straining toes.

“Has he eaten since he’s been here?” I asked Brett, as he briefed us on the last week of random beatings, and the constant noise and light that had kept Rhodes awake.

Ajax and Brett sat at the monitors, their arms crossed in front of them as they gave me the update on what was happening with the victim.

“Nah,” Brett said with a smirk. “Just enough water to keep him awake. He hasn’t defecated or pissed in a few days, so he’s shutting down.”

“But we don’t know who’s hired him,” I asked, feeling my profession coming forward, like I was shedding the snake skin I had donned while I was helpless and bedridden. But now that the bruising had gone away, I was ready to feel my body move, and my mind turn back to the profession I had been trained in.

It was a distraction from the turmoil created by a certain angry Scotsman.

“Why are his fingernails still intact?” I asked, looking at the screens, assessing the man from head to toe.

My question was directed at Brett, but Geo responded.

“Is that your specialty?” he asked, his voice almost sounding impressed.

I ignored him. “He’s been beaten, but has he shown signs of internal bleeding?”

“No.” Geo stepped in again before anyone else could answer.

Still, I ignored him. Brett lifted a brow, but added nothing to the discourse.

“He looks like he’s got maybe a few more days before he passes his expiration date,” I bit my lower lip, thinking about the best way to extract as much out of him as possible.

“Aye.” Geordie was determined to interact, and I was determined to pretend he wasn’t here. “But he is showing no signs of giving in …”

“Stand up, Ajax,” I interrupted.

The man smirked and gave Geo a sly smile, knowing what was about to happen.

I pointed at the side of my face.

“Right on the kisser?” Ajax said with an amused look on his face.

“Good lord, no!” I said with a small chuckle. “I’d rather the cheek bone or jaw. It heals faster.”

Ajax chuckled. “Is your boyfriend going to hit me back?”

I rolled my eyes. “I’m single, remember?”

Lea be damned. Whatever she might think, there was nothing defined between me and Geordie, and I was tired of extending a hand in love, or giving my body to him freely, only to have him turn his eyes to another woman.

I couldn’t. It hurt too much.

“No, you’re not,” growled a Scottish voice. From the corner of my eye, I saw Geo put his hand in his pockets, as he glowered.

Again, I didn’t react to him. He deserved nothing but my cold shoulder.

“Come on, Manny Pacquiao,” I teased Ajax. “Get on with it.”

In a blink, Ajax punched me in the cheekbone. I felt my head whip backwards, as the impact bruised my face.

“What the fuck!” Geo bellowed like a beast.

He grabbed Ajax around the collar, and I laughed. Ajax and Brett guffawed as Geo tried to shake the MMA trainer. He didn’t realise that he was taking his own good looks in his own hands by going after one of the world’s best fighters.

“For Christ’s sake, let him go,” I said, trying not to laugh as I pried Geo off of Ajax. “I need him to bruise me.”

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