Page 29 of Gray

She was back in the hands of a monster.

Chapter 16

“You’re even prettier than I remembered,” Ivan leered, reaching out to touch Lena’s hair. His big hand slid down her cheek, her neck, until he was lewdly groping at her breasts. Tears streamed down her face, and she heard chuckles from the men who’d been driving the big black SUV. They were just as eager as Ivan to hurt her.

Bile rose in the back of her throat as Ivan pulled her closer to him, his meaty hands pawing at her everywhere.

Ivan hadn’t forced her into the backseat with him, but it was only when he’d threatened to hunt down and kill her pregnant friend that she’d gone without a fight.

Lena had shuddered at the realization that Ivan knew who Anna was. Had he been watching them in the coffee shop a month ago? But no. That couldn’t be right. It was only after Kaylee had mistakenly used her credit card on her phone’s app that they’d found her, and Anna was long gone by then. Yet somehow, Ivan had followed Lena. Found her. And he knew who her friends were as well.

Trembling, she wondered if he’d seen her with Gray.

Her gaze darted around the heavily wooded area as they stood outside the SUV. They’d driven a short distance from the shopping center to a secluded home in the woods, and Ivan had gloated about the days he’d spent watching her. Waiting. Jacking off in his vehicle as he imagined fucking her.

Lena wanted to vomit.

She looked around the forest, shivering in the winter air, and desolation washed over her. Gray wouldn’t be able to quicklyfind her. He didn’t even know she was missing yet. They’d have to figure out what grocery store she’d gone to, locate her car…. She sniffled, unable to stop the tears falling down her face. Even then, it might take hours. Days. Ivan could have taken her anywhere by then—out of New York. Out of the country. Away from the man she loved.

More tears spilled down her cheeks. She hadn’t even told Gray how she felt about him. When he eventually found her car in the parking lot, he’d see her keys and winter coat on the ground, the latter ripped off her by Ivan. He’d laughed as he’d threatened to strip her right there, raping her in front of his men.

Lena knew she should have screamed. Fought. Yelled as loudly as she could for help. But as soon as they’d mentioned Anna, she’d froze. Lena had no idea how many men Ivan had working for him, but she knew the evil he was capable of. His men had closed in on her, and she’d let them. Now, as a chill seeped into her bones, she knew she’d never get away.

“Go through her purse!” Ivan ordered, marching her into the secluded home, his grip on her arm unyielding.

His fingers dug further into her arm, and suddenly she panicked. He was going to hurt her. Rape her. Probably kill her. She’d never see Gray or any of her friends again. Lena let out a bloodcurdling scream, even knowing no one was around to hear. She screamed again, and Ivan roared in anger, lifting her up into his arms, the other men rushing to his aid. She fought and cried, but they were too strong, easily overpowering her.

One of the men was already pulling out her wallet, phone, and lipstick, tossing them onto the table as she fought in vain against Ivan. Someone slammed the front door shut, turning the lock, and Lena cried as Ivan forced her down the hallway. Shecowered back as Ivan unceremoniously dumped her on the bed, his hands already moving to undo his belt buckle.

He wasn’t going to wait around this time. He was going to rape her right here in front of the others. Two men appeared in the bedroom doorway, and Lena began to shake in fear. Would they all take turns assaulting her? She’d never let them. She’d rather die than be hurt that way.

“Get the contacts on her phone,” Ivan ordered, whipping his belt off and flinging it to the ground.

One of the men swiped at the screen, frowning. “It’s got a passcode.”

Ivan turned to Lena, sneering as he stalked closer. “Tell him the numbers. I’m demanding payment from those assholes you work with. They want you back? They’ve fucking ruined me! The Feds seized my assets because of them. Raided my homes. Stole from me. They’ll fucking pay for this!”

Blinking at him in shock, she froze.

“Unlock it right now, or my men get a turn with you first!” he threatened.

Disgust and fear dueled within her. The other men looked like buzzards circling over a recent kill. Predators. And she was their prey.

The man holding the phone leered at her, his gaze lingering on her breasts. Lena had worn a pretty dress for the baby shower, a new one that Gray would love. He’d never see her in it, she realized, the thought ridiculous at the moment.

Ivan licked his lips, his eyes raking up and down Lena, and she could see the outline of his erection pressing against his pants. He was excited from watching them manhandle her. From throwing her onto the bed, knowing she couldn’t escape.His gaze ran over her body lasciviously, and in that split second, Lena knew he was never letting her go. He’d kill her before he allowed anyone to save her. Maybe he’d taken a sick liking to her a month ago, but now? He was out for blood. Revenge. Whatever Gray and his teammates had started with the Feds had escalated far beyond Ivan’s control. He’d take it out on her, then kill her if she was lucky.

Lena swallowed, the entire room feeling like it was beginning to spin. At least if Ivan contacted Shadow Security, Gray would know for certain who had her. It would at least give him a chance to find her. She recited the numbers to unlock her phone as Ivan threatened her again, and then he was chuckling. Hovering over her like the devil himself.

“Take off your dress!” he ordered.

“What? No!” she cried out, horror washing through her.

“You’re mine now,” Ivan told her, a crazed look filling his eyes. “I had a girl like you once before. Pretty. Brunette. Perfect pouty lips. When I saw you all those weeks ago, I knew you’d be the perfect replacement. Big tits. Wide eyes. A mouth that’s begging to be fucked. A curvy, luscious body that belongs to me now.”

Lena screamed as Ivan lunged at her, and then he was ripping her dress off, pinning her wrists to the mattress and ordering his men to tie her down so she couldn’t escape. Lena kicked and screamed, and then he tied her ankles to the bedframe as well, his leering gaze on her body. Tears ran down her cheeks as he pulled out a knife, holding it up menacingly.

“Don’t make me use this!”

---