“I bet,” I grit out.
I sound braver than I am, and he can see right through me, judging by the knowing glint in his eyes. His touch travels lower, his thumb trailing over my sensitive nipple through my clothing, and then he cups my left breast, observing my reaction closely. I try so hard to remain strong, but my chin trembles as tears gather on my lashes.
“Darian stole something of mine,” he says in a low, chill-inducing tone. “Something of great importance.”
Overhead, rain patters on the steel roof as the clinking of chains rustles in the background. Dalton continues massaging my breasts, his eyes darkening further when my tears spill over.
“Your virginity was promised to me,” he drawls as he trails his fingers lower, and I suck in my stomach. “I don’t like thieves.”
“Darian didn’t take my virginity,” I reply boldly. “I gave that away as soon as I found out about the contract between our parents.”
Seconds pass, and then Dalton’s hand flies out, quick as a flash, and he grabs my jaw, ramming the back of my head against the bars. “You’re a little whore, aren’t you?”
“No,” I sneer, baring my teeth, “I just knew I would rather die than offer you my virginity.”
For a moment, I think he might punch me, and I prepare for the impact, but then he steps back and smiles coldly. “You won’t be so brave soon, cousin.”
As he exits the cage, he orders his lackeys to fetch me.
One of them approaches with a smirk, ducking his bald head as he enters the small space. I panic and kick at him, but he overpowers me with his height and strength.
“You little slut!” He backhands me hard and then grabs my hair, pulling me out despite my struggles. Once I’m out, he drags me to a wooden cross on the floor and shoves me down. Fear washes over me as I squirm and scream, but he keeps me pinned on the cross.
The other man clamps his dirty boot down on my wrist, a hammer dangling from his hands, and then his cracked lips peel back into a sickening smile to showcase his sharp canines as he wiggles the large nail in the air for me to see.
“Wait,” Dalton speaks up, and relief floods through me with such force that I can barely suppress a sob.
“Strip her naked first.”
“What? No!” I flail, mortified, as the two men rip at my clothes, copping a feel with their greedy hands. Dalton smirks with his head tilted sideways and his hands in his pockets.
This is all a game to him.
When I’m naked, and my clothes are in tatters on the floor, he kicks my panties out of the way and widens his stance. “Yourmother did this to you when she took you and ran. She knew there was no way out of the Exodus. She knew and still took her sweet little daughter and ran away.”
One of the Pawns appears with ropes, then ties my wrists and ankles to the cross while I wriggle and pant desperately.
“And then there’s the question of your husband, of course.” Dalton sounds conversational.
The fourth man puts a tripod down and directs a camera at me.
Dalton slides his hand from his pocket and rubs his mouth, deep in thought. “Did he really think he could keep you hidden from us? It was a reckless move to steal you from beneath our noses and parade you around like some prized horse.” He wiggles his finger in my direction. “Admittedly, the eye masks at the fundraisers helped hide your identity, but it was never going to last. My father had been looking for you for a very long time. Can you blame him? A devoted uncle, searching for his niece.”
I spit in his direction, and one of the guards smacks my face with such force that my face whips to the side.
Dalton’s smirk grows, and he gestures to the camera. “I hope you don’t mind being the star in our home movie.”
I lift my head, my cheek throbbing. The camera is aimed right at me, capturing every moment of this nightmare.
“We have to send a message to traitors. This is what happens if you betray the Exodus or try to work against us in any way. We won’t tolerate uprisings.” He crouches at my feet and lets his hungry gaze feast on my naked breasts and pussy. “It’s also a message for your husband. How long do you think it’ll take him before he comes to your rescue?” His hand slides over my foot. “He’ll be filled with so much rage. So much fury. I can almost taste it.”
Dalton stands and stares down at me. “When he comes, my men will be ready for him.” He juts his chin to the men, and mybody breaks out in a vicious cold sweat. I scream and thrash, fighting with everything I’ve got, but it’s useless against four large men.
A large nail digs into my palm, and I scream in agony when he slams it down with a hammer. All I know from that moment onwards is excruciating, blinding pain.
Pain so agonizing, I soon drift in and out of consciousness.
As I speed down the country road, my vision zeros in on the horizon in the distance until it blurs into nothing.
