Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 85183 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 426(@200wpm)___ 341(@250wpm)___ 284(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 85183 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 426(@200wpm)___ 341(@250wpm)___ 284(@300wpm)
"You're sick," he spits at Joe.
Joe laughs and releases me, throwing me back down on the desk. I lay on my side, curling in on myself. "You have no idea, boy." He slowly walks toward Caleb. "My hatred for your family goes back decades, from the moment my first wife decided to fuck one of my clients, your fucking father, and get knocked up. My hatred for that bastard brother of yours is something that has consumed me since the day he was born." Joe drops to a crouch in front of him, his face only inches from Caleb's. "Did he tell you what I did to your mother and sister?" He grins, and Caleb remains still. "Well, I'll tell you. First, I fucked them. I fucked your whore of a mother, and then I fucked your pretty little virginal sister." He smiles as Caleb swallows hard, his face twisting in pain.
"Oh, how she screamed," he whispers. "And when I was done, I let my men fuck them. Over. And over. Until they begged for mercy. I broke every bone in your sister's body, and I made that whore watch. I broke her piece by piece until your mother begged me to kill her own daughter."
Caleb is shaking, his teeth gritted. I can see the muscles in his arms tense and release. Joe stands up and turns his back on Caleb, moving toward me slowly.
"I filmed the whole thing." He smiles, clearly pleased with himself. "I sent it to that piece of shit father of yours!" Joe shouts, his face turning puce. He quickly reins his temper back in, smoothing the front of his suit jacket.
My stomach churns violently. Jude told me he saw that video, and I never asked the details, but hearing them now... my heart breaks for him and Caleb, for the two women who suffered at his hands. I've seen and felt the extent of Joe's hatred. I wouldn't wish this on anyone.
Joe pulls in a long breath before continuing. "And then your brother took my second wife from me as well." He breathes heavily, his shoulders tense. "My fucking pregnant wife!" he shouts, his voice showing an edge of hysteria.
I would say I feel bad for him. There was a time when I would have, but now... now, I want to smile because the sick fuck deserves everything he gets. There's a beat of silence, and the tension in the room could be cut with a knife.
He points at Caleb. "You will fuck her, and I'm going to film it. I'm going to send it to Jude." He turns to me, reaching out and stroking my face. Bile rises in my throat at his touch. "Oh, how it will break his cold little heart." He laughs to himself. "Camera!" he snaps.
I already know one of his guys is filming this. This is a drill I'm familiar with. I swallow hard as the room begins to spin. I grip the edge of the desk, trying desperately to keep myself routed. Caleb's leg bumps against mine. I drag my eyes open to find him standing over me, his expression full of turmoil.
Joe cocks his gun, pressing it against Caleb's temple. "You fuck her, or you die," he mocks.
My palms are slick with sweat, even as shivers rack my body. I press my head against the unforgiving wood and fix my eyes on the ceiling, accepting my fate, however horrible it might be. There is no point in fighting. Joe always wins.
"No," Caleb growls.
"Caleb," I rasp. "Just do it. It's okay." What I don't say is he can't possibly do anything to me that hasn't already been done ten times worse. I can see the horror in his eyes. This is my eternal nightmare, I've accepted it, and I will endure it to save his life. In Joe's twisted game of love and war, the rules are simple. Play and survive, or die.
There's a long pause before I hear Caleb's whispered voice again. "I'm not a fucking monster. I'd rather you kill me."
Joe laughs again. "Commendable. Fine. Fuck her, or I'll kill her."
I slowly glance up at Joe and find myself staring down the barrel of his gun. I smile and find the energy to slowly drag myself into a sitting position. I wrap my fingers around the barrel of his gun and press it against my forehead. "Do it," I say.
"Ria, no!" Caleb shouts at me.
I don't pay him any attention. I stare straight into the eyes of the devil, daring him to end it right here, right now. I can't remember ever wanting anything so badly... and I know Joe sees it.
He leans forward, holding the gun in place as he brings his lips to my ear. "I'm not done with you yet, princess. You're worth more to me alive." My heart plummets in my chest as all hope evaporates. He grabs my jaw, angling my face up and licking my cheek. "You should know by now not to test me, sweet Victoria."