Page 62 of Secret

I look around, not wanting to stare at the old man anymore, and see the snake tattoo guy from before, and another big guy next to the entrance to The Cage. The snake man smirks at me, making me shiver in fear as my arms start their shaking again. I pull my gaze back to the old man, who is inches away from me.

“What do you want?” I ask harshly, wanting to get to the obvious point. I have to guess this man is important enough to have had these guys kidnap me.

“Now, Elizabeth, let’s be nice. Don’t you want to know my name first?” he asks with a creepy grin. I have the urge to correct him on my name, as it doesn’t feel right coming out of his crazy-ass mouth. His familiar looking, blue eyes stare down at me. Why does he look familiar to me? My anger takes over my fear at this point, trying to think of a way out of this.

“Not really, asshole,” I say under my breath, and he walks the last few steps toward me.

I don’t expect it when he slaps me. The hit across my face is hard enough to make me see stars, and it feels like my face is going to explode. I go dizzy as my throat tightens for a second. All I want to do is cry, and I must black out a little as the world feels like its spinning.

The next thing I’m aware of is the metal taste in my mouth, and I feel sick as I remember the needle. They must have drugged me with something, and that’s why it’s hard to stay awake. I’m guessing getting slapped isn’t helping either.

I look up eventually, with tear-filled eyes, and the bastard is grinning down at me. I can see the pleasure of my pain in his eyes. He wipes my blood off his hand and onto his trousers, never breaking eye contact.

“Let’s try this again, and maybe a little nicer. My name is Arthur. I presume your brothers told you about me,” he says, watching as horror fills my mind.

I feel sicker as I realise this is the man who controls my brothers and killed my father, even if he did deserve it. I should have told someone about him. I’m so fucked. This guy is going to kill me, or worse, and I only want to see Blake one last time. I didn’t get to tell him how it’s him for me; it will always be him.

Shit, I'm in trouble, and I can only hope the boys find Blake. I hope they don't come here, as I guess he is going to use me as a trap. I can’t think of any other reason why the bastard wants me here.

“Yes, they did,” I bite out and glare at him. Arthur just chuckles and not one bit of me wants to know what amuses him. I move a little in my seat, wincing as pain shoots up my arm.

“Well, you owe me just like your brothers, who should be on their way soon to try to rescue you. We can negotiate terms.” He claps his hands together like he can't wait for my brothers to walk in here. He’s a crazy man, I think as I watch him look at me. I can’t work out what he is thinking, but, then again, I probably don’t want to know.

Arthur opens his suit to pull out his phone, and my heart drops when I see the shiny, black handgun clipped to the side of his hip. I can guess the bodyguards have guns too, and if my brothers walk in, it’s going to be suicide for them.

I must have blacked out again because, as I open my eyes, I jump back, seeing Arthur so close to my face and holding my chin roughly. It takes me a second to realise he is shouting at me to wake up.

“Ah, there you are. Your brothers are nearly here, sweet one,” he leans in to place a wet kiss on my cheek, and I cringe away. Arthur takes a step back and laughs at me while his eyes roam over my body. I’m more scared than ever now. A wave of sickness fills my throat, and it takes everything in me not to cry now.

I look away from the bastard at the doors as they bang open, and I see the outline of two men. My vision is still a little blurry, but as they come closer, I recognise snake tattoo guy and the other beefy guy flanking them. It’s Sebastian and Elliot, and I’m filled with relief and fear as I watch them. They’re both wearing grim faces until they spot me. The look of anger on the twins’ faces would scare me if I didn’t know it’s not aimed at me.

Sebastian's fists clench as he shoutsat Arthur. “What the fuck did you do her?” I have no idea what I look like, but I’m guessing it looks bad. I can feel my cheek swelling, and there’s dried blood on my cheek and chin.

Arthur laughs in front of me, clearly entertained by my brothers, and doesn't answer until they are standing a few steps away from him.

“Stop there,” Arthur commands, and snake guy’s arm stops Sebastian, as does the other guy with Elliot.

“To answer you, she has a loud, rude mouth, and, well, I think she looks lovely even with the blood.” He smiles at me, and I flinch away as he strokes a finger down my cheek.

“I don't,” Elliot says flatly as I stare at him. Elliot gives me a look full of sympathy, and I find some comfort in the twins being here. Where the hell are Harley and Luke? I’m hoping there is a plan going on and not that the twins have rushed in here alone.

“Where is the famous King leader?” Arthur taunts and turns to look at my brothers. I can't see around Arthur, but as I look around, I can see snake guy grin in my direction, which makes me feel sick.

“You know, here and there,” Seb says in a cocky tone I’m used to hearing from him, and I wish I could see his face.

“Don't be cheeky, boy, we need to talk business. This one is your sister, and she owes me, thanks to her betraying father,” Arthur snaps. Clearly, Sebastian has a way of winding him up.

Sebastian interruptshis sentence as he tries to say something else. “No, she doesn't owe anything. We have more than paid for his mistakes, and she never even met him!” he shouts loudly at Arthur.

“I don't care. See, when I first met your beautiful sister, I saw her potential. She can easily pay off her debts with me.” I shiver in disgust, I understand his sick meaning as he turns to wink at me.

“Over my dead body,” Elliot saysdarkly.

“That is not happening,” Sebastian says in nearly the same time.

“Well, it doesn't look like you have much choice. She is tied to a chair in my cage, and you are held by three people with guns, while you don't have any. This is me telling you, not asking.” Arthur turns his back on my brothers and walks over to me. He stands behind my chair and plays with my hair as I try to pull myself away from him, even if it’s impossible.

I see my brothers up close for the first time and try to smile at them, they both glare at Arthur and smile at me grimly as Sebastian mouths,“It will be okay.” I have no reason to believe him, but I do. I relax a little in the chair and try to block everything out. They won’t leave me here with him.

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