Page 195 of Steel

Sucking in huge gasps of air, I shiver as the cool breeze floats across the surface of my bare skin.

Sometime between the time they kidnapped me to the time I woke up, they’ve removed my clothes and suspended me from a set of thick chains anchored to the ceiling of wherever the hell they’re holding me.

Panic tries to creep inside, but I viciously shove it out, knowing I’ll never survive if I let it get its grip on me. I need to stay as clear-headed as possible if I want the slimmest chance of escaping from this hell I’ve found myself in.

I knew my circumstances were going to be dire when I handed myself over to Killer. Call me naïve, but I never expected to wake up after being drugged to find myself hanging over a tub of water as naked as the day I was born.

The jaunty whistling from the theme song of that show where they’re all shipwrecked on an island has my head jerking toward the door.

When Killer steps through, my body shakes. I’ve been holding the fear at bay as much as possible, but seeing him standing in front of me after knowing what he’s capable of, I’m unable to hold it back any longer. There’s no way I’m leaving here breathing. The sooner I make peace with that, the easier this process will be on my soul. I can disassociate from the pain easier knowing my people are safe.

“Oh, goodie. You’re awake.” He claps. “Now, the real fun can begin.”

I keep quiet, knowing it’s only a matter of time before he has me opening my mouth anyway. I’ll hold off on giving him that satisfaction as long as possible. Not that I’ll ever give him any information about my people. I’ll go to hell first.

I think my non-reaction surprises him because he stops in front of me and tilts his head as he gazes at me quizzically.

“You’re not scared of me.”

Oh, I am, but I’m not showing you that.

“Pretty sure my daddy was as big a monster as you are, and I had to face him down every night,” I reply nonchalantly.

The smile that crosses his face has goosebumps scattering along my skin, and my nostrils flutter as I keep my breathing under control. The hair lifts at the nape of my neck as I watch him watching me.

He steps closer until his body is against my naked flesh. It takes everything I have to hold in my revulsion.

Killer lifts his finger and runs it between my breasts. “It’s going to be so fun breaking you.”

“Just get it over with, yeah?”

“Slow down, sugar. We’ll have some fun together. No worries.” He steps away and over to a table. “Let’s chat a bit. Where’s the pictures you took?”

“Hmm. Somewhere. I’m not really sure I remember.”

When he turns around, he’s got a blow torch in his hand. He squeezes his finger around the trigger of the torch, and I can’t stop the whimper from escaping.

“Have you ever smelled burnt flesh? There’s something so delicious about the aroma and the way it sizzles as you hold the flame to the skin.”

Sweat builds at my temple as he brings it closer to me.

“Where are the pictures?”

My eyes are locked onto that blue flame as it draws closer and closer to my face. “Probably with your mom.”

His nostrils flare, and his eyes turn flinty. I don’t even have time to brace before he holds the flame to the skin of my jawline. Heat scorches my throat from the force of the scream that tears from my chest.

Malicious satisfaction lights his eyes as I give him the reaction he craves.

My stomach rolls, nausea threatening to come up as the burning, throbbing pain on my face intensifies.

“I see we’re not going to get anything on my pictures yet. Let’s move on, shall we?”

On and off, he flicks the blowtorch, taunting me. As much as I don’t want to let it scare me, it does.

My father was a monster, but Killer is something more evil, more depraved.

“Tell me something about the club,” he orders.

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