Page 44 of Jagger
I did this to her.
Shame flares through me, and I dig my nails into my hands until they bleed. He didn't know where she lived until I texted him.
“Hel…help…” Her voice scrapes through her lips, and I force myself to watch. "Me…"
"Who, Molly?" Lawson presses, moving back so I can see her naked body. It's bruised and…bleeding. Lines of blood drip from her stomach and breasts.
No…
She's been whipped.
"Ja…"
I know she's going to say my name, and the fact it's taking every ounce of strength she has to say my name makes me fall to my knees.
I don't care what I have to do to get her back. I'll do it, then I'll kill him. Slowly.
"Ja…gger."
I bow my head as Lawson cheers pathetically.
"Good girl! Okay, Jagger, you heard the girl. You've got twenty-four hours to wire eight million to my account, or she's sold to someone else for good."
Eight million. He's talking about it like it's pocket change, even after the two million I already sent him. He's greedy and inhumane. My chest feels tight, but I refuse to have a panic attack. I won't let him do that to me.
Instead, I take deep breaths, inhaling the air so far into my lungs it burns.
I'm breathing.
But Lawson Veng won't be for much longer.
23
MOLLY
I try to lift my head, but it's impossible. It's too heavy, and my neck is too weak. It probably has to do with the stupid fucking collar Lawson has around it. My body hums universally with agony, but something strong and determined stirs within me. I refuse to be a victim. He may have beaten and starved me, but I'm stronger than he thinks.
One of my eyes has swollen shut, but I manage to look around the room I'm in with my good eye, taking in the other women here.
Yeah, other women.
All of them are naked and chained up. I count five others, some quietly sobbing, others unconscious.
My teeth chatter, and I wince when a girl suddenly cries out to my right.
"My tooth…" she whispers. Something hits the ground, and I tense.
"It's okay…" I grit out, knowing it's anything but. We're chained up like…not animals. Animals aren't chained up like this. Like prisoners. My jaw aches, and my wounds scream when I breathe.
Lawson is worse than I ever imagined. He's doing this—holding me here—for ransom, from Jagger.
What makes him think he's going to pay?
Jagger doesn't care about me—he raped me in front of him for fucks sake. Why are these men so twisted?
If Jagger is my only hope, then I'm on my own.
The realization isn't so bad—I've never depended on anyone to help me because no one ever has. It's me against the world.
