Page 35 of Madness

“I never flirted with you. And I dress like this because it’s my job.”

His eyes locked on me. He stared at the tiny bit of cleavage showing. At my legs covered by fishnets. There was something dangerous about the way he looked right now. This wasn’t his typical lecherous gaze. It was possessive, like he thought I owed him something.

“Don’t fucking lie.” He yelled. In a flash, his hand came out, and he grabbed my face. He squeezed my jaw until my teeth cut into the inside of my cheek. “You’ll be a whore for him, but not me.”

Fear stilled my body as I tasted the metallic blood in my mouth. My heart pounded in my chest, and my mind screamed at me to do something.

“Nothing happened.” I lied because I needed to get out of this. I didn’t know what was going on, but I knew I needed to calm him down, or I would never get away. Not without losing a part of myself.

“I saw you.” He roared. His spit landed on my face from the force of his anger. “There are cameras in those private rooms.”

Oh, God. My mind flashed to what Maddox had done to me in that room. My body bent over the table as he’d spanked me, touched me, made me come. Rodney had seen all that. Revulsion rolled in my gut.

He smiled at me like he knew exactly what I was thinking. “Since you’re giving it away like a fucking whore I think I’ll have a taste.”

“No.” I acted without thinking. Using all my strength, I pushed him back. Unbalanced, he flew his back, connecting with the corner of his desk.

I shoved from the chair and ran towards the door. I stumbled forward as my heel caught in the carpeting. My shoulder hit the doorframe, but I didn’t let it slow me down. I needed to get out of this room. I was running out of this club and never coming back.

Fuck this job. Fuck this crazy bastard.

I fumbled with the lock when a hand grabbed my hair, yanking me back until I fell to the floor. I landed on my hip. Hard. Pain shot through my side, stealing the breath from my lungs as I tried to roll over and crawl away.

This wasn’t the kind of pain I experienced with Maddox. This was real pain. There would be no pleasure. This was real fear. Rodney was going to rape me. In spending time with Maddox, I’d forgotten monsters came in all sizes. Monsters lurked around every corner. That was life.

“Fucking bitch. You’re all the same.”

Rodney’s body slammed into me, pinning me to the floor.

“No! Stop!” I screamed as I thrashed beneath him, trying to get away.

“Shut up.” He slapped me hard across the face. My eyes watered from the shock and sting. I sucked in a painful breath. The smell of his disgusting sweat choked me. “You’ll take it, you stupid whore.”

He held my hands over my head in one arm as I felt the other fumble with the clothes between us. The sound of my tights ripping was loud in the room. Tears ran down my face, but I didn’t stop fighting. Didn’t stop twisting and trying to kick out. I would never stop.

My muscles ached from his weight and fatigue. My lungs burned from screaming that couldn’t be heard over the bass from the club music. I turned my head to try and bite him. To use everything I could.

Suddenly his weight was ripped off me. My eyes flew open. I saw the startled look on Rodney’s face before Maddox punched him. Blood splattered from his nose as the sound of bones crunching filled my ears.

“No one touches the little dove but me.”

Maddox’s blue eyes were almost black with rage. That was the only sign he was mad. His tone was even. His body tensed but in control. Rodney tried to sputter a response, but Maddox hit him again.

Punishing blows to his face, his stomach, his side. Over and over. I was paralyzed on the floor, watching it all happen. I should be afraid; instead, I was in shock. Numb.

Maddox kept hitting him until only a bloody whimpering mess remained. His face looked like ground meat. His breathing was a wet, rattling sound.

I tried to feel bad, but I couldn’t muster it. He was a monster. He’d assaulted me. How many more had he hurt?

Maddox might be a demon who liked dispensing pain, but I didn’t believe he’d do this to me. He had touched me because he’d seen that I wanted it. Even when I couldn’t admit it to myself.

He tossed Rodney’s body to Sebastian, who I hadn’t noticed was guarding the door. “Take him to the warehouse and wait for my word.”

“With pleasure.” Sebastian stepped into the room.

Maddox turned to where I was still lying on the floor. Blood dripped from his knuckles; some coated his face and mine. I wasn’t bothered by it. I should be. Maybe I just had nothing left in me. I was shutting down from the shock of the night.

“Come, little dove.” He bent down and picked me up bridal style. My head rested on his shoulder. “Let’s get you home.”

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