Page 41 of Better Run
He looks at me and I see pity in his gaze for a second. Quickly, it’s gone. He doesn’t answer.
That brief expression takes all the fight out of me.
“Can I shower?” I whisper.
He steps back. “I don’t know. You being covered in blood is the hottest thing I’ve seen since Jayden took you in the car.”
Tears well in my eyes. “You’re sick.”
He nods. “It’s a good thing you are too.”
“I’m not,” I hiss. “I’m not the one who kidnapped two people and watched while someone was raped.”
Cole’s eyes darken, and he closes in on my space, pushing me against the door again. “Did you not enjoy it? Do you not get off on being taken and forced? Did you not enjoy every other time we’ve touched you? Chased you? Made you come?”
I hate the feeling in my chest. There’s pressure like a band around me. Because I did like it. I’ve come harder and more often than I ever have before. I narrow my eyes in hatred. “That doesn’t make it right.”
He gives a mocking smile and growls. “Right? Are you saying your fantasies are wrong? Then you’re in a shitty place to start judging something you know nothing about.”
He grabs my arm and yanks me down to the bathroom. “Shower.”
I do. I stay as long as I dare. Until the water has run cold. Until Cole tells me that Jayden needs to get in. That gets me out quick. No matter how hard I try, I can’t stop thinking about everything that has happened to me. About the girl. How I knew her. Why Jayden seemed to know me so well before he took me. About my traitorous body.
I vow to never let them make me come again. I’ve just been weak. It’s time I start being strong. It’s time to get away from these psychopaths before I end up likeher.
***
Jayden cuffs me to my bed again that night. I can’t sleep. My tattoo itches incessantly. I can’t help thinking about that girl. I have a feeling she’s in the garage. With no heat. Having lost all that blood.
I sit up with a start. The paperclip! I fumble to search under the mattress. It’s still there. Frantically I work it in the keyhole. Soon my fingers get sweaty and keeping my grip on it is hard. It takes what feels like forever, but the cuff opens.
I could cry from relief. I put it back under the mattress, grab my sweater from the chair, and sneak to the door. I open it and cringe, although the sound it makes is soft.
The cabin is dark and quiet. I grab some granola bars from the counter and a water bottle. Cole doesn’t realize I saw the code to the door. I punch it in and hold my breath. Green lights up the monitor. I pad out the door and shut it softly. Then I’m running to the garage.
It’s unlocked again. The cocky motherfuckers. It scares me too. We really must not be close to anything if they feel comfortable leaving things unlocked. I step inside and close the door again.
It’s dark. I think about turning the light on, but I don’t. I notice the car keys are not hanging where they normally do. So not too cocky then.
There’s what appears to be a small office area to the right, by the stairs. I move to it and open the door.
Beyond a desk is the girl, handcuffed to a metal chair. I gasp.
Her head jerks up. Her hair is matted with blood, but it appears brunette. She has dark circles under her eyes, but she’s still gorgeous with tan skin and pretty eyes. She has the body of a supermodel.
I rush over to her. “Are you okay?”
She blinks at me. Of course, she isn’t.
Her voice comes out raspy, “Water?”
“Fuck. Yes.” I grab the bottle from my pocket and try to hand it to her, but realize her hands are bound. I snap the seal and hold it to her mouth.
She drinks in long pulls. She doesn’t stop until it’s all gone then eyes me warily. “He let you see me?”
“Uh, no. I picked the lock.”
She looks at me like I have two heads. I see now there’s a swollen lump on the side of her head where there’s the most blood. She’s in penguin pajamas. She must have a concussion.
