Page 55 of Ensnared By Silence
Turning at the end of the neighborhood onto Hayden’s private driveway, I slowed down as the trees lining the driveway seemed to grow closer. It was dark leading to his secluded cabin, and I exhaled a breath as I entered the clearing around the house. The security light turned on as I approached the garage, and I turned the car off.
The soft sounds of lapping water were faintly audible as I opened my trunk and lifted the two small boxes out. Balancing them in one arm, I slammed the trunk and followed the path to the front door. Using my key, I opened the door and quickly shut it behind me, trying to keep the icy breeze out.
My shoes squeaked against the hardwood floors and I took them off before I walked into the kitchen and placed the boxes on the counter. The sun was almost set, and the dark shadows of the creeping night sky filled the large windows overlooking the lake. I was tired from baking all day, and after tossing my coat and hat onto the chair by the front door, I turned on the fireplace and curled up on the couch with a soft blanket.
The peace and quiet of the cabin compared to the hectic but wonderful day lulled me into a peaceful sleep, filled with pictures of Hayden and me holding our first child as we watched the sun set over the beautiful lake. My dreams had been more pleasant lately, and I knew Hayden’s love was the reason.
The sound of the front door opening pulled me from my nap, and I blinked into the dark room as the sound of footsteps echoed into the room. It was completely dark outside, and I didn’t know how long I’d been asleep. The kitchen light came on and I stretched on the couch as the blanket slipped onto the floor. Sitting up, I rubbed my eyes and glanced over my shoulder into the kitchen.
I could see the refrigerator door open, so I walked through the open living room toward the counter separating the living room from the kitchen. The person stood up, and I froze in my tracks as brown hair came into view. A dry mouth and an erratic heartbeat overwhelmed me as Tucker turned around, startled by my standing behind him.
His shocked expression changed into a heated stare, and the corners of his lips tilted up as he watched me. My hands trembled as he lifted the bottle to his lips and drained the last of the beer. I didn’t know why he was here, or how he got inside, but I needed to get away from him. I glanced at the clock and saw it was three minutes to eight, so I knew Hayden would be here soon.
“Bree? Damn, girl. The years have been good to you.” He leered and stroked his hand across his crotch. “What are you doing here?” His gaze was quizzical, and then he smiled as a perverted look overtook him. “Are you my brother’s dick warmer? You must be. Waiting diligently for him to come home so he can ride you and work his frustrations out.” He stepped closer, and I stepped back again as he continued, “I can’t say I’m surprised you spread your legs like a whore, but I’m shocked you’re fucking my brother.”
I felt bile rise in my throat and I stepped back as he started moving slowly toward me. He chuckled as he continued approaching me. “I guess you found out how big his bank account is and went for the big haul. Don’t worry, I’ll tell him you treated my cock right and maybe he’ll toss you a few bucks on the way out the door.”
My feet kept retreating until I felt the wall against my back, and he smiled sinisterly as he reached out and lifted a piece of hair from my cheek. I flinched as his fingers brushed against my face and the smell of beer wafted from him as he pressed closer to me. I clenched my fists as he smelled my hair, groaning into the air with a lustful tone that sent a shiver down my spine.
Pressing my hands to his chest, I tried to control the darkness that was pulling me closer to the edge. I survived for too many years in a bleak existence and I refused to let Tucker or anyone push me back into that hell.
“Get away from me,” I muttered, but he shoved closer, his hardness brushing against my hip. “Hayden will be home soon. If you stop, I won’t tell him about this.”
That was a lie—I would tell him everything, I just needed to keep Tucker calm and away from me until I could either get to my keys or Hayden came home.
“Who’s he going to believe, huh?” He leaned in, his voice lowering to a whisper as he asked, “Do you really think he’ll believe you after I tell him how much you begged me to fuck you? Do you think he’ll believe the word of a whore over his own family?”
His words stung, but I knew Hayden’s feelings for me and his rage for Tucker, so I lifted my chin in defiance. “You’re no family to him. You’re a pathetic rapist who had to drug women to make yourself feel superior, when all it does is show how weak and useless you are as a man.”
His eyes twinkled as he gripped my throat in a bruising hold. I grasped onto his forearm as he spoke. “I knew you were awake the whole time. Did you know that, Bree? Jared told me the dosage, and I shorted it, wanting you to remember everything.” He licked my cheek as a single tear fell. “I felt your pussy clench my cock as you came with all three of us filling your slutty holes, so I know you enjoyed it.”
“You raped me,” I croaked around his grip and he squeezed tighter, my air becoming restricted as he sneered.
“You can’t rape the willing.” With those last words, Tucker slammed his mouth to mine, forcing his rancid tongue into my mouth as my vision grew spotty from lack of oxygen.
I scratched at his arms and chest, reaching out and slapping at his face. He pulled back and the anger rolling off him scared me as he pushed back and slapped me hard across the face. My cheek erupted in fire as he pulled me away from the wall by his grip on my throat.
“If you’re going to fight me, I’ll just have to take what I want,” he mocked before a fist came out of nowhere, catching me under my left eye.
My vision blanked white and my head lulled to the side as I felt Tucker release his hold on my throat. Gasping for air, I fell to the ground as he pounced on top of me. I could feel him on top of my hips with my hands pinned under his knees, but his punch dazed me to the point I couldn’t fight him. I blinked through the pain shooting across my eyes as he gripped the front of my shirt and ripped it open, the buttons scattering across the hardwood floor.
Tears flowed down my face and Tucker licked my cheek again, his thickness pressing against my bra-covered chest. He sat up and I looked at the wild gleam in his eyes as he leered at my chest. His hands clenched, and he hesitated briefly before his brown eyes fell dead and he grasped my bra and ripped it below my breasts.
“Please, don’t do this,” I begged through sobs.
He leaned over, licking my nipple, and I wanted to sink into the floor. I was unprepared for the bite and I screamed into the room as he laughed. Releasing me, he slid down my body and quickly gripped both my hands into one of his.
My skirt had pushed up and I could feel him force his body between my legs. A zipper lowering sounded into the room and my eyes scanned the room for any way to get away. The front door opening behind him drew my attention, and just as I felt him press closer to my core, Tucker was ripped away with a roar from Hayden.
Free from his hold, I rolled to the side and closed my ripped shirt across my chest as James, Devlin, and Skid ran into the room. I shoved away from Tucker and Hayden rolling on the floor, exchanging punches, and tucked my legs against my chest as I slid against the wall. James ran to me as Devlin and Skid pulled Hayden off a prone and bleeding Tucker.
My entire body was trembling and my face throbbed from the punch as James tried to reach out to me. I flinched away and tucked my head against my legs as I heard Hayden yell, “Let me go! I’ll kill him!”
The urge to cover my ears with my hands pressed on me. I felt myself slipping closer to the little girl who suffered far too much and away from the strong woman I was learning to become. I couldn’t let Tucker win, so I clung to every good memory from the last few months until the darkness ebbed.
“Calm down, Hayden. Aubrey needs you. We’ve got him.” Devlin’s deep voice sounded into the room and tears flowed down my cheeks as I heard someone approach me.
“Aubrey . . . baby. Are you okay?” Hayden asked, and I shook my head against my legs, a deep sob erupting from my chest. “Will you let me check you to see if you need a hospital?”
