Page 88 of The Dark Obsession

“He dropped me off!” I spy the gun again.

This time, Dale notices. His manic laugh fills the room as he kicks it across the floor. I struggle, pushing my shoulders and trying to shuffle away from his ever strengthening hands.

Any colour left in my face must be gone.

“Let’s play a game.” He pulls some rope from his pocket. “The more you lie, the worse this will be for you.” With a triumphant smile, he lets me go. I let out a small sigh of relief and try to move when his fist collides with my stomach, knocking the air clean out of me.

I curl into a tight ball, gasping for breath. My muscles contract unmercifully as acid burns up my throat and out my mouth onto the floor.

Dale grips my wrists, ties them together behind my back, and slams my head onto the sofa.

Lights flash in my eyes as my head cracks against the sofa’s wooden frame. I kick out, desperately fighting the fear building in my chest.

“Now, let us try again,” Dale whispers tauntingly. “Why did Rafael come?”

“I’m telling you the truth,” I say through bared teeth.

“It’s a shame Rafael had to be caught like this. Such a clever being. Bet you thought he could protect you.” Dale’s hand flexes threateningly by my face.

I shrink away from him.

His other hand holds me down, putting pressure on the middle of my chest. Before I can flinch, his hand rises fast and swings downwards, whipping across my face.

I let out a cry. My cheek sears. I can feel the swelling instantly.

“Try again.”

“Where is he?” I scream.

“Good question. I’ll ask.” Dale reaches for my phone from the front pocket of my jeans. He searches through my phone, then holds it to his ear.

“Rose!” a relieved voice echoes down the phone.

“Wrong.” Dale laughs.

“Where is she?” Rafael growls.

“With me, of course. She asked the same thing.”

“Rosa, can you hear me? I’m coming, alright?”

A tear breaks free and drips down my cheeks. “Are you okay?” I shout.

Dale’s eyes turn to mere slits. “You’ll love what I do to her, Raffy.”

“Just hold tight. I promise! Lucy, Lucy is here. She’s working with Dale!”

Before I can reply, I hear a loud thud down the phone.

Dale throws my phone at the wooden floor, and the screen explodes. “Time for me to have some fun with you.” A bared-tooth grin spreads across Dale’s face.

“Where is Rafael?” I don’t take my eyes off his.

Dale yanks my legs, and I drop to the floor with a loud smack, the back of my head bouncing on the hard floor. He stands back, his hand tugging his belt.

A pressure fills my head as my eyes become blurry, almost like a sheet of glass covers them. I reach blindly on the floor for anything that might help me protect myself.

“You do as I say, and I won’t kill your brother,” Dale sneers.

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