Page 44 of Encircled in Darkness
His stride ate the space between us, and he gripped my hair, yanking my head to the side. I felt strands ripping out by the root and I cried into the air. He laughed and released me, dropping me to the floor. My head throbbed again from his forceful grip and the tears fell.
Victor crouched in front of me and I brought my gaze up to his.
“You finally look the part of the dirty whore that you are.” He clicked his tongue disapprovingly. “Are you happy to see me, pet?” he taunted and ran his finger across my cheek.
I shook my head and moved away from his toxic touch, and his expression turned from amused to angry suddenly. His hand swung and connected with my left cheek, the pain exploded across my jaw and my vision grew spotty. There was a ringing in my ear, and I struggled against him as he gripped my shirt with both hands and lifted me from the floor.
He kept his powerful hold on me with a sneer on his face. My head throbbed as he shook me, yelling. “How could you betray me, you fucking whore! You’re just like the rest of them!”
Another hit came out of nowhere and I sagged against his hold as I struggled to stay conscious. There was a copper taste that washed through my mouth and I could feel one of my back teeth was chipped. I had been hit many times growing up, but never hard enough to damage my teeth.
I was terrified if I pushed him too far, he would kill me so I soften my eyes and whispered, “I’m sorry, Sir. Please don’t punish me. I was wrong, but I’m back now.” He released his grip and I met his hollow blue eyes. “What can I do to show you how sorry I am?”
He brought his hands to my shoulders and rubbed his thumbs over both collar bones. I fought to relax under his touch, hoping he believed the lies that rolled off my tongue with ease. I had lied to him since the first moment I met him. Making him believe I wanted to do the things he dictated.
I slowly lifted my hands and touched his black suit jacket with the tips of my fingers. “Please, Sir. Let me make it up to you. Let me show you how much I missed you.”
He pressed himself against me and I could feel his growing length between us. The bile rose in my throat and I swallowed it down as I forced a pleasant smile. Praying he didn’t feel the small stun gun in my sports bra, I rested my head on his chest.
“Can I have a shower, Sir? I know you hate it when I don’t look my best. I would like to make myself pretty for you so we can celebrate properly.” I let my hand drift down his chest and brushed against his hard dick.
Hating myself more and more with each passing moment and I prayed James found me before they forced me to do something that would finally push me over the edge. My heart belonged to him. I loved him and I had been too scared to tell him. If I saw him again, it would be the first thing I said.
If he still wanted me after all this.
The voices from the darkness were whispering how I was back where I belonged, but I wouldn’t let them win. I promised Natalia I would be strong and if it meant willingly giving my body to this man to save my life, I would have to live with that.
James doesn’t want a whore.
Victor leaned over and kissed me, a forceful grip on my throat. I complied, the entire time apologizing to James in my mind. Pulling back, he looked at me and smiled. “I’ll have someone bring you something more presentable for the party. Take a shower and join me downstairs when you’re finished.”
Releasing me, he stepped back, and I whispered hoarsely. “Thank you, Sir.”
Moving to the open door, he spoke over his shoulder while I waited for him to leave. “Don’t take long pet. I’ve missed you and I want to show you off to my special guests.” His tone was sinister, and I felt a chill run down my spine as he closed the door and left me alone.
I locked the bathroom door behind me and looked at myself in the mirror. I had three stitches near my hairline that had bled all over my face, my left eye was swelling and had a blue hue blooming under the skin. My face was red from his slaps, there were small red marks on my throat, minor cuts over most of my body, and my ears were still ringing. Closing my eyes, I reminded myself I had to get out of here.
I didn’t come here willingly, and I knew they wouldn’t let me leave, so I removed my clothes and took the fastest shower ever. Washing the dried blood from my skin and hair, I watched the pink water run down the drain from the cuts on my arms and back. I grabbed a towel and dried off. I didn’t think too far ahead, not knowing what to expect when I went downstairs and not needing to induce any more anxiety or panic.
I was trembling as I hid the stun gun in my dirty clothes and opened the bathroom door. There was a young man standing there I had never seen at the parties before. He blushed when I walked out with just a towel wrapped around me. I paused, my eyes finding the red satin dress laid out on the bed.
He looked over his shoulder through the open door and spoke so low, I almost didn’t hear him. “They’re on the way to save you. No matter what, you have to be strong, Amaya.”
I looked at him with confusion and he discreetly pulled up his sleeve, showing me a tattoo on his forearm. Recognizing it as the same one Skid had on his arm, my heart lifted with hope. He must be one of Skid’s brothers, and that meant James knew where I was. Nodding, I watched him close the door as I got dressed.
I strapped the stun gun to my inner thigh with a length of rope from the drawer and opened the door. Greg was waiting for me and my breathing grew erratic. He gripped my arm tight and snatched me out of the room, the entire time mumbling under his breath. I couldn’t understand what he was saying over the pounding in my ears as he dragged me down the hallway.
Walking into the study, I saw Victor had three chairs set in front of an oversized television and his throne chair was placed at the end. He saw me and the three men he was talking to turned to me with sick smiles on their faces. I recognized them, and the way they were undressing me with their eyes reminded me they were just as demented as Victor. Greg pushed me into the room and Victor sat down, his eyes alight with glee as I stumbled in front of him.
“For the record, this is a fucking mistake.” Greg spat as he ran his hand down his sweaty face. “I would have never agreed to any of this if I knew this was your fucking plan. You’re going to fuck everything up, Victor.”
“The only record that matters is mine, and I think it’s exactly what my pet needs to remember her place. Let’s call it a little lesson in obedience.” He laughed as one of the men started a movie. “And you’re up to your neck in this, just like us, so stop being so holier than thou and enjoy the show.”
“Psychopath.” Greg muttered and stormed out of the room before I heard the front door slam. Looking up at Víctor from my place at his feet, I watched as he turned his gaze to the tv, his blue eyes dancing with delight and with a sick curiosity, I looked over my shoulder.
What I saw had me crawling backward on the floor, trying to get away from the four men who were watching with rapt attention. The tears flowed and I pressed my hands over my ears, trying to block out the sounds. Tucking tightly against myself, I rocked against the wall and prayed the nightmare would end.
