Page 15 of Hunted Temptation
Scoggins shakes the man’s hand. I can’t see his face yet. He’s tall, wearing a suit, his hair short and perfectly combed.He appears to be a businessman. And judging by the car and the quality of the suit, even from just the camera, I can tell it’s expensive and tailored to him.
They’re making small talk, nothing major or even worth taking note of and remembering. I’m trying to get a clear image of his face. I’m going to send it to Hale and Boden in hopes they’ll be able to figure out his identity. Though I’m not holding my breath, at least not with the speed I’d need the information.
I don’t see his face as Scoggins guides him toward the bedroom, where Elodie is wearing that ridiculous dress. But before Scoggins opens the door, the stranger reaches for his hand, stopping him.
“How old is she?”
Scoggins turns his head. “Eighteen.”
“Eighteen?” he asks, his voice deepening and a tone of disapproval lacing his single word.
Scoggins chuckles. “Barely. I thought this would be a good way to earn trust on both sides.”
Trust. What a fucking joke. What a whole piece of shit. There’s nothing about these men that I would ever equate with the wordtrust. Shaking that thought out of my head, I continue to watch them, wishing I could get more of a slight profile of this fucker’s face.
“That I can get behind. Once I’ve tried out what you have to offer, I would like to discuss different options. You have different options, yes?”
My stomach turns.
Yes, these sick fucks are those kinds of sick fucks, and I know exactly what he’s talking about. Scoggins confirms with a single head nod before he pushes the door open. The stranger walks into the bedroom. I flick my attention to the bedroom and ball my fingers into fists at my sides.
Elodie is in the middle of the bed, on her knees, her eyes downcast. Her poofy dress spread out around her. The man grunts. Scoggins doesn’t leave. He walks in behind him, closing the door, and stands at the wall, watching.
The stranger keeps his back to the cameras as if he knows exactly where they are placed. As he approaches the bed, I watch as he lifts his hand, cupping Elodie’s chin and forcing her head up, forcing her to look at him.
Then, as if a band snaps, his control slips, and he grips the sides of her face, her cheeks, forcing her mouth to open slightly. He leans forward, his face just inches from hers, almost as if he’s examining… her teeth.
I’m done.
ELODIE
The man walksinto the bedroom. I don’t know him. He doesn’t introduce himself. He’s dressed to the nines in a suit nicer than I’ve ever seen before. He’s handsome, too. Green eyes, light-brown hair, tall and lean.
It’s a shame because he’s definitely a pervert. I find myself wondering if he has a famous model-type girlfriend. He probably does, and either she knows what he’s into and doesn’t care, or she is oblivious.
My wondering stops when he grabs my cheeks. When he leans forward, I know what’s happening. I can’t remember the last time someone did this to me, but I know what it is without even having to think about it.
He’s inspecting my teeth.
He turns his head slightly, looking over to my father, arching a brow with a grin. “She seems to be in good health. You’ve taken care of her teeth.”
My father clears his throat before he speaks. “She is. She sees a doctor regularly and undergoes regular testing. Everything I do is and will always be aboveboard. Elodie isn’t just one of my girls. She is my daughter. My prized girl.”
My stomach clenches with every word my father says. He’s trying to sell me to this man, at least sell what I am, entice him to want me. To take me. To use me. I want to throw up everywhere.
The man dips his chin in a single nod before he straightens, thankfully releasing my chin. “Show me what’s under that pretty little dress, doll baby.”
His words come out syrupy. I hide the shiver of disgust that slithers up and down my spine. The very last thing I want to do is show him any part of me, but I know my father will lose his mind if I don’t, and it’s not like I can leave.
Inwardly, I scream, while outwardly, I do as he demands. Slowly, I spread my knees apart, making sure to sit on my ass. Placing my heels on the mattress, I gently glide my skirt and petticoat up my thighs. I’m not wearing any panties, but if I just flash him, he’s not going to like that. He wants the little-girl vibes, so I have to go with shy and meek.
I’m just about to expose myself to him, just a little bit, when the door flies open. I gasp before I even look up. A man stands in the doorway—a tall man with dark clothes. I have no idea who he is, and he doesn’t give me enough time to study his features.
I watch in horror and fascination as he turns to my father, points a gun at his temple, and pulls the trigger. Then he shifts his attention to the man in front of me and does the same. They fall onto the floor, not a single word spoken, and the extra-long tube at the end of his gun is the reason it was so quiet. He’s got a suppressor.
I’m frozen where I am on the bed, my skirts still hiked almost all the way up my thighs. I can’t move. Clearly, I am not a fight-or-flight type of girl. I’m a freeze-in-my-spot kind of girl. Theman turns toward me, his blue eyes sparkling as he watches me for a silent moment.
“You got anything you want to take with you out of this house?” he asks.
