Chapter 6

Stephanie

My heart thundered as the sound of boots definitely was getting closer. The piercing, blazing light had finally come to a stop. The fan was no longer moving. My body no longer shivered, which sent alarm bells off in the back of my head, but I didn't have time to focus on that now. There was the scraping of metal, a lock, and several clicks. Sweat coated my body, but I only felt colder as the small door, no bigger than me, opened like an oven door.

My eyes blinked, trying to focus, seeing the man at the end. Beams of light hit him from different directions. He was tall, slicked-back hair, and so many tattoos crawled over his skin he even had them on his face and front of his neck. When he gave me a smile, I caught a flash of metal for his front teeth.

No. No. No. No.

Lock me back in here.

He pressed a button, the sound jangling before the base of my cell I lay on started to move towards him like a conveyor belt. My heart was beating like a hummingbird, so fast I feared it would escape from my chest and crash into my ribs. My eyes started to adjust, but they still held a blur, everything out of focus. The room I was in looked like a morgue as they brought me out. A metal table sat in the center of the room, several tools and medicine on the counters that made my blood freeze in its tracks. I tried to take slow, measured breaths, but as I finally came to a stop, the man to the side of me looked me over like a piece of meat.

"Pretty little thing you are." His hands touched my body, trying to pry my limbs apart. I don't know if it was the fact they felt frozen in place, either from fear or being numb from being huddled in a confined space for so long, but I couldn't move.

"Tight little cunt you have?" His face was angled between my legs as he examined me. His palm felt boiling over my frozen skin as he continued talking. I wasn't sure if it was a question or an observation, but either way I couldn't find the words to answer.

What would I say anyway? If I said no, would he check? If I said yes, would that entice him more? He moved, his eyes trailing over my body like a sick, oily film before they rested on my face once again. I was exhausted. The fight had been taken out of me. It hit me like a ton of bricks that if he tried anything, I wouldn't be able to stop him. Fear thickened in my throat until I could barely breathe, that I just waited for it to happen.

I could hardly picture Jake's face anymore. My fear was so thick and potent it weighed down on me like a riptide pulling me out to sea. "Right, let's get you ready. Boss wants to see ya." He gave me another metal grin before he yanked me off the metal slab. I screamed, my skin burning from where it felt frozen to the tray. "They all scream for Justin in the end," he grinned at my horrified expression.

He carried me through many dark hallways with flickering lights. There were no windows that I could see coming from anywhere. We must be underground. Escaping felt more and more impossible as I took in more of my surroundings. We passed many locked doors, some guarded and some not. Justin carried me further until we reached another door. He kicked it open as it swung on its hinges until he dropped me onto some cold tiled floor.

It was stained. Blood splatters were lodged into the grooves, which made tears want to spring to my eyes. Seconds later, my skin was pelted with tiny little rocks. "I'd stand up if I were you. Makes it easier to clean you." The water was freezing. I knew that because no steam was filling the air. However, it felt hot on my skin, another sign my body temperature had dropped dangerously low. Slowly, my muscles burning, I managed to come to a stand. I couldn't even find the energy to be embarrassed that Justin was seeing me naked or watching me shower.

"Need to clean between your legs. Boss's orders." Justin walked towards me, his boots splashing the water that refused to drain as he got closer. There is no way I can let him do that. They are trying to break me. I know that. "I'll—I'll do it," I stammered, stretching my arm out to take the soap.

Justin paused, looking at me skeptically. "Fine, but if you don't do it right, I will do it for you. The boss likes his pussies pristine, so make sure you are thorough." I stalled, nodding as I took the soap from him. I considered turning my back to him but decided against it. He would come and check on me, and I was under no illusion I would have any advantages. All I knew is that if I at least looked them in the eye, it would show them I'm not a coward.

I won't let them break me.

I closed my eyes, trying to picture Jake as I ran the soap over my body. When I delved between my legs, my lip wobbled and a tear slipped down my cheek. I could only hope he didn't see with the shower spray hitting my skin. I spent longer than I wanted, each second drawn out that I almost felt I was putting on a show before I moved to the rest of my body.

Justin grunted, clearly disappointed. I wasn't fooled for a second that this man wouldn't hurt me or break the rules. I just knew that the longer I could put off the inevitable, the more time I gave Jake to find me. If he finds me.

Hope is a dangerous thing. It sparked in my chest, lighting up my numb body, making me far more bold and confident than I had any right to be. Sucking in a few deep breaths, trying to remember that I should really just focus on the present and what is in my control rather than let my mind wander down two very dangerous paths.

Justin had disappeared before he returned with a white mesh strapless dress. Why even bother giving me something to wear?

Still, I pulled it on, wanting something covering my skin from Justin's oily gaze and hands. He pulled out a small scrap of white fabric. "Put your foot through," he ordered as I did, and then the other. When I went to pull the thong up myself, he batted my hands away. "I told you I need to check." For the first time in days, my cheeks burned. Justin nudged my legs apart until he had a clear sight of my core. It was a mild blessing he only looked before he pulled the thong into place. The dress fell to my ankles, but that was again the only thing going for it.

"Follow me," he ordered, and I complied with the resistance of a feather. It was what I needed to do to try and survive this place, but I hated that I gave in so easily. Time would only tell if this was the right thing to do or not.

My steps faltered as we walked, my limbs still waking up, and I was so exhausted even my adrenaline wasn't able to keep me awake. Justin keyed in a pin that opened another door leading to some stairs. The steps carried a thick carpet as I walked up behind him. The walls were painted in rich velvet colors with ornate picture frames hanging on the wall. Each of the paintings inside were more and more disturbing by the second. One featured a gruesome battle where blood splattered everywhere, limbs hanging off in all directions. It was barbaric. The next was a wild orgy, bodies wrapped around one another with one woman having what looked like two men and a woman toying with her. Then there were torture paintings so dark and twisted I halted my steps, not wanting to see who the boss is.

I knew who it was.

Yet all my memories felt hazy. My wet hair dripped over my bare skin of my back and shoulders. The little warmth I had from moving was slowly being cooled by the icicles forming in my hair.

We reached the top of the stairs. A roaring fire pulled my focus, its heat thawing me even from the other side of the room. "Thank you, Justin. That will be all," a deep man's voice spoke, but all I could see was the fire. Justin shoved me forward, nearly tripping me over as I took in the rest of the space. It was a den of sorts—rich velvet jewel drapes, plush pillows, throws and cushions, a chaise lounge, and several other armchairs. What caught my focus was the large low table in the center where multiple dishes were being displayed. The rich aromas greeted me, making my mouth water. When was the last time I even ate?

"Something take your fancy?" the voice called again, and as I scanned the table, my eyes rested on the man at the end. He wore a custom-made suit, looking sleek, sharp, and deadly. His face morphed into a grin as everything flashed back to me.

Carter Dickson.

The kidnapping. Him drugging me. Torturing me.

I scanned the room for another exit, only seeing bookshelves and other ornate dark wooden furniture highly polished—I could see my reflection.

"Come sit down, Stephanie. You must be hungry," he grinned, and I wondered if he had poisoned any of the food. Maybe he was going to finish me off before Jake even had the chance to find where I was.

I decided that wasn't his plan when his gaze lowered, crawling over my skin and flesh. His eyes lingered on my breasts before dropping lower. He brought his fist to his mouth and bit down hard before his gaze snapped back up to me. "You're far more beautiful than I thought," he gushed like this was some romantic date and he hadn't taken me here against my will.

"What am I doing here, Carter?" I asked, my voice sounding more confident than I felt. I knew Carter. I knew what he wanted, and whilst he was far more dangerous than I could have believed, at least it wasn't the complete unknown. That had to count for something. He grinned at me, releasing his fist.

"You promised me a dinner, remember?" He arched a brow at me as I stared at him blankly. "I gave you the money back. That voided our agreement," I stated slowly, but it didn't make any difference. His face changed 180 degrees like a light switch being flicked. In its place was nothing but cold, lifeless eyes.

I scanned the room again. There were so many curtains—one of them must be concealing a door. "I wouldn't do that if I were you?" I heard his slow drawl, but my legs were already running to the other side of the room. It was stupid, so incredibly stupid, but I had to try. I reached the first drape, pulled back the thick fabric to reveal—no.