Page 24 of Love Me in the Dark
“Fuck,” he shouts. “Strip her.”
Tripp and Rook hesitate, but Rook eventually unties my arms. Before they can take my clothes off, I yank away from them and do it myself. Knox watches me with his teeth gritted. He is pissed off, but as I take off my clothes, and all my scars appear, something different appears. “What’s wrong, Knox? Expecting something different? I’ve been hurt in ways that you will never be able to match. So, do whatever you need to do, but you won’t make me break.”
“Who did that to you?” Rook asks me to face him.
“Tie her arms back and lay her down,” Knox says firmly. Rook shrugs, and he and Tripp tie my arms behind my back again. Rook is the softest, but Tripp is the one that is a weird mixture of both him and Knox. He has an energy that is playful yet volatile.
I am laid on my back with my arms pinned, and panic starts to swell inside of me. I combat this by focusing on the same spot on the ceiling. “Let’s see what she has in her bag, hmm?” Tripp says. I bought a new Rhino Dildo this week, but I also got smaller sizes too. They’re still massive but would prolong the torture if I decide to make them come until I eventually kill them.
“Damn, she was going to fuck you with this,” Rook laughs.
“Is that true?” Knox asks.
“I still am,” I say with an attitude. “If you are going to hurt me, just fucking do it. All the drama is not necessary.”
“Who said anything about hurting you, Birdy?” he asks.
“Stop calling me that,” I scream.
“What else should I call you then?” he asks as he leans down and grabs my chin. “What’s your name?”
“Phoenyx,” I say. “I go by Nyx.”
“Pretty name for a pretty girl,” Knox says simply.
“You wanting me to beg you not to rape me or something? Beg for my life?” I ask. “Fuck you. Better make sure to do it right because I will fucking kill you.”
“She’s so angry,” Tripp laughs.
“No,” Knox says. “She’s scared.”
“She’s a brat,” Rook adds.
“I’m not scared of you,” I laugh.
“No, but you are scared of something,” he says.
“I won’t beg you. Do whatever you want,” I say.
“Oh, don’t tell me that,” Knox says as he leans down more to speak softly. “I’ll make you come until you can’t see straight. You are far too tempting, Birdy.”
“What do you want from me?” I ask. I’m not afraid of them. I don’t know why, but I just sense that they’re just annoying, not violent.
“Why are you here? Why target me for your little vigilante spree?” he asks.
“Because you’re just like the rest of them,” I snap. “You hurt someone innocent. You don’t deserve to breathe. She does, but she’s gone.”
“Is she talking about Macey?” Rook asks.
“She is,” he says simply.
“Fucking piece of shit,” I grumble and close my eyes.
“Look at me, Birdy,” he says. I scream and bring my legs up at the same time to kick him. I make contact with his hip, and he stumbles back a bit. He recovers fast and pulls my thighs apart to pin my legs open. “I’m trying to be nice to you, Phoenyx. Clearly, you’re doing all of this for a reason, and I’m trying to understand, but I am not who you think I am.”
“You killed your wife. You are the mafia. What the fuck do you mean you are not who I think?” I snap.
“I didn’t kill Macey, Nyx. You prefer Nyx, right?” he asks.
