Chapter 5 Breaking Point

I stepped in front of Susie almost instinctively. "Mr. Vale, she doesn't smoke."

Damien slowly got to his feet and held the cigarette out to me instead. "Then, you'll smoke it."

I forced myself to stay calm as I took it from him. My hands were trembling, but I managed to light the cigarette and take a drag.

Suddenly, Damien burst out laughing.

"Holy shit, Cruz! You actually thought I put something in it?" He laughed even harder. "Look at you! Scared shitless over a damn cigarette!"

I forced myself to laugh along, pretending I found it just as funny.

I dug the nails of my other hand into my thigh just as he turned his attention back to Susie.

"Get her ready. Put her on the pool table." A cruel smile spread across his face. "I'm gonna have some fun with her tonight. Right here, in front of everyone."

There were at least a hundred people in this mansion, but not one dared to say a word against him. Neither did I.

I turned to her and reluctantly began to unzip her dress, unsure of what he had planned. Still, I knew enough that my hands shook so badly that I could barely manage my job.

…

When she noticed, she gently caught my fingers. "It's okay, Cruz."

She quietly took off her dress before looking up at me with a faint smile. "Thank you."

I clenched my jaw.

She'd thanked me a third time, and I felt worse each time I heard it.

'She came here of her own accord. I didn't force her, and whatever happens next has nothing to do with me.'

I kept repeating those words like a mantra in my head, desperately trying to convince myself they were true.

Susie climbed onto the cold pool table and lay down, trembling despite her best efforts to stay calm.

Damien picked up a cue, walked casually around the table before turning back to me with a strange smile. "Hey, Cruz. Ever heard of human golf?"

My stomach dropped.

"Oh, that's right. I almost forgot." He chuckled. "Your little sister still holds the record around here."

My entire body stiffened.

"17 golf balls. Can you believe it?" Damien shook his head, looking almost impressed. "No one has managed to beat her record thus far."

Rage surged through me.

For a moment, all I wanted was to snatch the cue from his hands and smash it across his face. Sadly, I knew I couldn't, not if I wanted to stay alive.

So, I stood there, clenching my fists until my knuckles turned pale, while Damien lined up his first shot.

The cue struck the ball with a sharp crack, sending it racing across the table. It struck Susie between the legs, making her cry out in pain and instinctively curl away from the impact.

Damien frowned. "Hey! You guys, hold her still!"

Several men immediately stepped forward to restrain her. Once she was held in place, Damien took another shot, and then another.

Susie's cries echoed through the room each time he made a move, only to be drowned out by the guests' laughter and cheers. The sick bastard was savoring every second of it.

After a while, he glanced in my direction and waved dismissively.

"Well, you brought her here. Your job's done." He flashed me a grin. "Get lost. I'm planning to go for a new record tonight."

I stood there for a moment before slowly turning toward the door. My legs felt impossibly heavy, and every step took more effort than the last.

Behind me, Susie's cries continued to echo through the room.

I kept walking, telling myself to leave, that I'd done my part and that whatever happened next was no longer my problem.

Yet, I couldn't shut out her voice no matter how hard I tried.

Finally, I stopped.

I slapped myself hard across the face before doing it again. "Fuck!"

I spun around and bolted back into the room. Before Damien could react, I dropped to my knees in front of him and slammed my forehead into the floor. "Mr. Vale! Please! Let her go!"

I bowed again, pressing my forehead against the cold floor. "I'm begging you!"

Damien looked down at me, clearly amused.

"But Cruz..." He smiled. "I was planning to finish her off tonight."

My blood ran cold.

I crawled closer, abandoning whatever little pride I had left.

"Mr. Vale, you can do whatever you want to me!" My voice cracked. "Beat me, torture me… Hell, you could kill me if you want!"

I groveled again. "She doesn't know any better! Just let me take her home. I'll make sure she never causes you trouble again!"

I saw Susie out of the corner of my eye. Her tears streamed down her face as she looked straight at me, while I could barely stand to see her like that.

He crouched in front of me and gave my cheek a patronizing pat.

"See, Cruz? I knew you wouldn't be able to walk away." Damien's smile widened. "Tell you what. I'll give you a choice."

He leaned closer and lowered his voice. "Do you want to know where your sister's body is buried? Or would you rather save this girl?"

My breath hitched.

I thought, 'My sister... He knows where she is?'

I'd searched for her for two long years. I'd wondered what had happened to her and where they'd taken her for countless nights. And now, the bastard was dangling the one thing I wanted most right in front of me.

Still, Damien obviously wasn't about to give me time to think as he grabbed Susie and roughly dragged her toward him.

"No!" she cried, desperately trying to pull away.

He shoved her against the table, ignoring her pleas.

Then, he struck her and forced himself on her without warning.

The sound echoed through the room.

She cried out in pain, but nobody moved to help her.

That was it.

Something inside me finally snapped.

"You son of a bitch!" I lunged toward him. "I'll fucking kill you!"

One of his bodyguards struck me across the back of the head with a metal baton before I could reach him. Pain shot through my skull, and my legs gave way, sending me careening to the floor.

My vision blurred, but I could still vaguely make out Susie struggling to get away. Her movements grew weaker, and her cries grew quieter. I desperately tried to get back on my feet, but my body refused to cooperate no matter how hard I pushed myself.

As the darkness closed in, I knew I was running out of time. So, I blurted out the one secret I'd sworn I'd take to my grave with my last bit of strength.