Page 68 of His Captive Pet

The dogs mewled throughout the night, some whimpering in their sleep while others barked at every little sound. Aubree curled up on the floor in front of Samuel’s cage, her fingers slipping through the bars to pet him. He kept his nose as close to her as he could, licking her fingers now and then. No matter how hard her life got, no matter which man broke her heart, or what social circle she’d been discarded from, Samuel had always been there to lick her wounds.

“I’m so sorry,” she whispered into the darkness, caressing the patch of fur over his nose. “I shouldn’t have tried to be the hero. I’m no savior. I couldn’t save Mom, I couldn’t save the dogs, I can’t save you.”

Samuel whimpered and shifted his body closer to her.

“Blake is never going to forgive me.” She laughed. Like it mattered now. Once Jorge was done with her, he probably wouldn’t even find her.

Samuel perked up his ears and gave her a low growl. She reached through the cage and petted him, rubbing behind his ears. “Okay. Okay. I’m just talking stupid.” She sat up and leaned against the cage. “I’ll figure a way out of this. There has to be a way out, right?”

Hours later, the steel door banging against the wall woke Aubree. She groaned. Having slept sitting up against the cage had stiffened her back.

The dogs all started barking at once and as Jorge walked through the door, his wife in tow along with two men, she understood why. The devil had just walked in, and dogs didn’t like evil. Even when they’d been trained to kill.

She shuffled to her feet, staring at him, not giving him any reason to believe she feared for her life. Because she did, but there was no reason he needed to know about it.

“Sleep good?” he asked, walking to her.

She ignored him, looking around him at his wife. Another bruise had formed since she saw her the day before. This one under her left eye.

“Do you feel like a bigger man when you beat her?” Aubree asked.

Jorge stiffened. “Do you think to steal her away as well? Maybe take her back to your little clinic and sell her off?”

“You’re an asshole.” Maybe not the best at hurling insults, but Aubree hadn’t slept well. She was hungry and her stomach trembled beneath his hateful stare.

“My wife suggested I let you go. She said to let you pay for the dogs you stole and let you go. But my wife is an idiot who should use her mouth only for things that please me.” He turned his head over his shoulder and blew a kiss at the woman cowering behind him. “Like sucking my cock.”

“It’s a small chore, I’m sure.” Aubree regretted the comment as soon as the back of his hand connected with her cheekbone. Stars lit up in her view and a sharp pain radiated through her head. She fell back, hitting the cage and sending the dogs into fits of barking again.

“Now you’ve upset my puppies.”

Aubree righted herself and rolled her shoulders back.

“I’m getting bored.” Jorge snapped his fingers. The two men behind him came forward, grabbing hold of her and muscling her to the other side of the room. Each held one of her arms, ready to stop her if she tried to get away.

“Go, stand by your hero. You’ll watch this, too. Maybe you’ll stop being such a whiny bitch.” Jorge stepped toward his wife, sending her scurrying across the room to stand beside Aubree.

The door to Samuel’s cage opened and Jorge reached in, grabbing Samuel by his collar. Samuel fought against him, but Jorge was able to get him in the center of the room. A thick metal ring was cemented into the floor; beside the ring, a large drain.

Aubree started to struggle against her guards, but they held fast to her.

“Leave him alone!” Aubree yelled. Her heart pounded against her ribs, sweat broke out across her forehead. She had to get to him. She couldn’t let Jorge hurt Samuel.

Why had she thought she could take on the Pecadores alone? She’d had Blake to help her, but instead she’d struck out on her own. She’d left him behind and now she had to endure this alone.

Jorge picked up a chain connecting the ring and hooked it to Samuel’s collar. Samuel struggled and barked, and jumped at Jorge, but he had no fear of the dog.

“Do you know what this room is?” Jorge gestured around. “A training room. This is where we let the dogs practice. The ones that win, the ones that survive get to earn a place on my team.” He walked over to one of the kennels and snapped his finger at the barking dog that cowered away and sat down, his tail thumping hard against the floor but no longer barking. “When I get a new dog, we bring him in here. To see what he’s got.”

“Samuel isn’t a fighting dog. He won’t—”

“Oh. I know.” Jorge grinned. Deep satisfaction covered his expression.

“I’m not watching this.” His wife ran to the door, flinging it open only to be snatched back by her hair. Jorge had made it to the door easily, yanked her back, and backhanded her across the mouth. Aubree fought against those holding her, but couldn’t get out of their grip.

Jorge grabbed his wife by the hair and pulled her to her feet, keeping a hold on her as he went to the cage of a dog growling with drool cascading from his mouth.

“I’m too nice to you. I should let my puppies get a hold of you for a little while then maybe you won’t be such a meddlesome bitch. Like this one.” He pointed a finger at Aubree.

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