Page 128 of Choices

“I’d save some of that energy, little girl. You’re going to need it for what I have planned for you. So many delicious things I’m going to do to that body.”

“You won’t get that chance, asshole. Worse men than you have tried.” I flex my jaw, the pain spreading down my face, and try to get my breathing under control.

Think!

“I doubt that.” His low rumble deepens, and the distinct sound of a metal blade scraping against wood lifts the hair on my neck.

“I’m going to kill you,” I snap. Angry at myself for showing my knife too soon. I should have gotten my equilibrium back before attacking.

His dark laugh echoes through the door, sending chills over my skin. Irritation floods into my veins. “Get comfortable. You’re going to be here a while, and when I’ve taken everything there is from you.” he taunts. “I’ll send you back to that bastard who thought he could track that fucking amateur Trevor to me, in pieces.”

“Fuck you!” I scream.

“All in time, pet.” My stomach turns. The way he says “pet”is almost a caress. I feel it skin-deep, burning like acid.

A lock engages like a cartridge being loaded into the chamber of a gun.

Snap.

I’m a hostage.

The beast has me caged in his lair.

Pushing my ear against the door, I listen to his fading footfalls, my heart slamming against my ribcage.

Think!

I look around the space, kicking at the layer of hay on the ground. The stable can’t be more than twelve-by-twelve with a metal hoop attached to the back wall. There’s nothing else in here. There’s no noise, just piercing silence all around me.

I move to the side panels, looking through the inch-gap between each slat. It’s another stable next to mine. Empty. Rushing to the other side, I peer through, rearing backwards and nearly falling on my ass at the blue eyes staring back at me. “Shit.” I gasp in shock, my breathing coming out in quick puffs.

Small fingers push through the lower slat into my prison. Dirty, broken, bloody nails push against the wood until they turn white.

“Hey,” I exhale, placing my hand on top of them. “What’s your name?”

Silence.

“Are you okay?”

Silence.

“How long have you been here?”

Silence.

“I’m Rogue,” I say in a calmer tone.

Nothing.

A million thoughts race through my mind. What if she can’t speak? Doesn’t have a tongue? Has her lips sewn shut? What if she’s in my imagination?

“I have people looking for me,” I tell her. Knowing it’s true but scared to death that it may be too late if they ever do find me.

Monster has a tracker on my phone, but I’m unsure if I dropped it when I lost consciousness or if the animal who took me has it. Monster won’t stop until he finds me, but how long will that take?

I need a weapon.

“Do you have anything I can use as a weapon?” I ask, aware that she has likely already attempted to escape.

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