Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 77066 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 385(@200wpm)___ 308(@250wpm)___ 257(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77066 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 385(@200wpm)___ 308(@250wpm)___ 257(@300wpm)
I beg once again before I can stop myself, but the words are just as garbled against the gag as they were before. I feel defeated already. I imagined being stronger than this, but I know better. I always ended up begging when Alessio or Marcello were hurting me.
“Walk,” he says, shoving at my back.
There are no sirens, no cop cars driving up to rescue me. Once again my breathing is all I can hear as I take a cautious step forward. The heel of my shoe sinks into soft dirt, but the man doesn’t care that it’s difficult for me to walk as he urges me forward again.
I don’t want to anger him though I doubt complying will help me in the long run. I kick off my shoes, wincing at the ground cutting into my feet.
Slowly the sound of water hits my ears, making my stumbling steps even slower. I never once considered drowning as either punishment or the way I’ll die. I mean, I fully expected to be found floating in Lake Michigan because that’s the Severinos’ favorite place to dump their victims, but I never imagined it being the weapon they’d use.
I freeze but have to keep moving as I’m shoved roughly at the back.
“Keep fucking going,” he growls, but he prevents me from falling when I twist my ankle on a rock.
I wince at the pain shooting up my leg as I take more steps. My toes sink into soft mud with one step. The next takes me to the water’s edge. I’m not a terrible swimmer, but I doubt I could even tread water with my arms behind my back. It never occurred to me to try.
“Swear to fucking God,” he hisses with another shove to my back.
Despite my fear of imminent death, the water never gets higher than the middle of my thigh. He keeps me from sinking down once more, and I can’t tell if I’m thrilled he doesn’t plan to drown me or terrified of all the other things he’d be capable of doing with me alive.
Vegetation and prickly plants scratch at my shins and calves as we make our way on to land once again. It feels like cat claws swiping out at me, and it’s a sort of torture on its own.
He’s not gentle when he shoves me into the passenger seat of another vehicle. This one is different. The seat doesn’t feel the same under me, and the smell inside, although not unpleasant, isn’t the same.
How closer is Monterrey to Texas? Did we just wade across the bordering river? I can’t even remember the damn name of it. Geography was never my strong suit, and I’m regretting paying more attention to boys in class than the teacher. Not that it would make any damn difference where he has me right now in the long run.
We don’t drive long, not even a fraction of the time we spent in the first vehicle, but I’m a nervous wreck when he slows and turns. I’m shaking when he climbs out. I’m trembling when he pulls open my door. I beg again, but my pleas go unanswered as I’m pulled from the vehicle.
I want to drop my weight to the ground but he shoves me up a few stairs. Is this his house? Is it a warehouse? Is he going to sell me back to the Severinos? Is he going to seek vengeance on me for that Ellie girl?
My worst fears hit me in the chest when I’m shoved forward and I land on soft bedding.
He may kill me. He may return me beaten and battered to Alessio, but the man is going to rape me first.
For some fucked-up reason, that’s worse than anything else. If he does do it, I pray he kills me, because it will only be saving Alessio the trouble.
I have no reason to think he won’t. He’s already gone up against the Severino family. His single bullet started a war. It means he’s just as dangerous if not more than the family I was promised to. My value, the family’s desire to get me back, has nothing to do with the money promised. At this point, I’m going to be a sign of disrespect.
They’ll look for me, but they won’t really care what condition they find me in. Their vengeance won’t be my vengeance.
I’ve heard the stories. Marcello and Alessio bragged about what they’ve done. I’ve bared witness to their brutality. This man is hurting from what happened to Ellie Baker. His vengeance is going to be much worse.
Chapter 11
Hollis
I can’t even stand to look down at her. I should’ve put a bullet in her head and left her in the car with the inefficient guard.
I run my hands over the top of my head, turning my back to her, but it doesn’t matter that I can no longer see her. The way her dress has flipped up, revealing her panties, is fucking burned into my brain.