Page 432 of Coal Hearts

No one had seen me kill him.

Anyone could’ve done it.

No cameras out here—

At least, I don’t think so.

My eyes shot to the craggy roof as I followed the snaking stone path and stepped into yet another cave. No blinking red lights recorded my every move. No signs of cameras anywhere.

My torch beam skimmed this new cave, dancing over salt-encrusted stalagmites and sweeping over shadowy pockets. Seemed Victor hadn’t brought electricity any farther—

A bloodcurdling scream pierced my eardrums.

I froze.

“That’s a good girl,” a man crooned. “I love it when you succumb. Such a good, wonderful girl.” A man. A psychopath.

“Don’t!” a woman begged. “Stop. Please don’t—”

I moved before I could stop myself.

Dodging a few boulders, I followed the natural shape of the cave into another chamber.

My feet slammed to a stop as I stumbled onto a scene straight out of a dirty BDSM porno.

Two jewels. Two Masters. Coarse rope binding their prey to conveniently tall stalagmites. Neither of the jewels were shot with paintballs. In fact, they looked remarkably unbruised.

The strawberry-blonde jerked as she noticed me. Her golden collar twinkled against her throat thanks to unusable cellphone torches that the men had arranged as uplights against the cave walls.

“What the fuck are you staring at?” a bald Master spat. He stood before the pretty strawberry-blonde with his hand in his undone slacks and his hard cock in his fist. Shirtless, he showed off a gym-toned body all while his annoyance faded beneath smug arrogance. “Like what you see?”

Keeping the axe hidden behind my right thigh, I shrugged. “Where did you get the rope?”

“Always come prepared.” The other Master with receding black hair and piercing ebony eyes tapped his nose. “Once a Boy Scout. Always a Boy Scout.”

Strolling forward, ensuring I kept my posture intrigued instead of threatening, I cocked my chin at the surprisingly calm jewels. “How will you determine who’s the winner? None of them are covered in paint.”

“Meh.” The bald one shrugged. “We’re not really into competition. Penny and Abigail know they’ve got it good with us. They came to find us, didn’t you, girls?”

The strawberry-blonde, who’d practically begged at Victor’s feet for redemption before Emerald Bruises started, nodded. “We know we’re lucky.” She glanced at the auburn-haired girl. “Don’t we, Pen?”

“Master S and Master B are very good to us.” Penny nodded with a soft smile. “We’re grateful we found them so easily. We’re safe with them.”

My ears pricked for lies.

I found none.

Strange...

“Which one was screaming?” I asked quietly.

The blonde blushed. “I was, Master H. But...it’s a game, you see—”

“A game?” My eyes widened.

“A game where we’re the big bad assholes, and they’re our meek little toys.” The bald guy released his dick and pointed at his friend. “We indulge in all sorts. Have you never heard of mutual fun without pain?” He scoffed. “Stewart and I like to stick to ourselves, alright? It was pure luck we stumbled onto our girls, and we have no intention of giving them up, so run along and—”

“Did I say I wanted a piece?”