Page 21 of Captive Vows
“Then let me talk to your boss.” I crossed my arms and tipped my chin up defiantly. These assholes wouldn’t see me weak. Yet, as I stood straight, I felt tired and nervous deep inside. Tomorrow would be five days, and I wasn’t sure I could manage to remain this tough.
The man who offered me the clothing started to smile. Dark and sinister in a suit, he showed me a cocky smile I didn’t care for.
“You want to see the Boss?” he mocked.
“I want to talk to your boss,” I repeated.
“Just talk?” With a slow, leering look that he roved up and down me, he suggested that if he were to have his way with me, he’d have other things in mind than merely talking. So far, none of them had tried to touch me. But that didn’t mean they wouldn’t surprise me yet.
I tightened my arms over my chest and pressed my lips tighter together.
“The Boss will deal with you as he sees fit,” the man replied in that damn teasing tone again.
Hearing him mock me was too much. I got it. I got the big picture. I was stuck here with no defense, no options. And I was sick of feeling helpless and without power.
“Then tell him that I demand a discussion about why I am stuck here.”
“Oh.Youdemand?” he taunted, leaning closer to sneer at me. “You’re nothing. You’re no one. And it might do you well to accept it.”
If he’d said anything else, I might’ve been able to rein in my temper. But he’d chosen to demean me and remind me of this supposed inferiority that I was supposed to be okay with.
I wouldn’t.
And I showed it by punching him. I’d struck out at them before. I’d kneed men in the nuts, like Tony when he tried torape me. Self-defense was something I’d taught myself, just like I had learned to dance by watching dance tutorials and videos. I bet my form was all wrong, but I’d done it right. My fist popped him in the face. A sickening crunch came with my hit. From how he groaned and staggered back, his hand over his face, I’d gotten him good.
The other two raised their guns, and this time, as the other man reeled back and growled in pain, I worried they really would shoot me.
I wouldn’t take it back, but I feared the repercussions I could face for fighting this hard.
“What the fucking— You bitch!” The man I punched lowered his hand and scowled at the blood in his palm. Deep red and flowing fast, it leaked from his nose.
“Let’s go.” The thug to his right grabbed his arm and propelled him to retreat. The third, the man on the punched one’s left, kept his gun trained on me as they backed up toward the door. It closed after them with a slam. Despite watching them go and knowing the door would shut with a bang, I flinched.
Then as I stared at the door for another long moment, partly afraid and partly curious whether they’d realize I wouldn’t ever stop trying to get out of here, I wished this wasn’t happening to me. That I’d been born to someone else. That I’d lived elsewhere, somewhere on this planet where I had an ally and a friend. Anyone.
But it’s just me.
I would always only have myself.
With that depressing thought, I let out a deep exhale and hung my head. It wasn’t a simple matter of being alone again and having the luxury of lowering my guard. I couldn’t. I wouldn’t dare to relax just because I was the only one in the room now. Cameras were no doubt posted on the walls. Eyeswere on me. Ears, too. I knew better than to assume I wasn’t being watched, and with how I’d just punched and broken that man’s nose, I wondered how long it would take for someone to come and react to it.
Shaking out my hand that stung with the punch I’d thrown, I spun away from the door.
Giving it my back felt like a stupid mistake, though. As soon as I pivoted, the locks clicked once more. Someone was already coming in here.
Tense and shaking with how tightly my muscles bunched, I waited for the men to enter again.
Only one did.
A taller man with graying hair strode into the room like he was in charge. His eyes were just as cold and serious as the others’. But this hulking individual wasn’t one of them.
I knew from just one look.
I felt the change in the air.
He exuded power. Dominance. Authority.
Refusing to show an ounce of fear, I narrowed my eyes as I faced him squarely. With every second of him stalking toward me like a predator hiding in the disguise of a finely tailored suit that clung to him perfectly, showing he was as fit and toned as his soldiers and men, I wanted to quiver. The instinct to cower and tremble hit me, but I resisted it. I was too determined to stand tall and strong. Letting this brutish but distinguished older man see a hint of intimidation would only be the start of my downfall.
