Total pages in book: 67
Estimated words: 63400 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 317(@200wpm)___ 254(@250wpm)___ 211(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 63400 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 317(@200wpm)___ 254(@250wpm)___ 211(@300wpm)
My mind tries to block them out… to think back to the wonderful days spent in the cabin with Z. It dawns on me that my life is a pretty high price to pay for those special days, but even now, I wouldn’t trade them away. I only wish I could have said goodbye to Z—to make sure he knows I love him.
JV’s father cuts through the insults. “You must have hated going dark on your social media accounts this last week. I’m sure your fans have been missing you and your captivating posts.” I hear him taking puffs of his stinky cigar before continuing. “ I’ve been told that people like you like to refer to themselves as ‘content creators’ so I’ve decided to help create some unique and riveting content that is sure to get plenty of likes and views.”
The click of a camera taking photos confirms my worst fears as the men surrounding me all put on ski masks to hide their faces just before their boss simply says, “Now.”
Their gloved hands are on me, spreading my body open, making it impossible to hide myself from the cameraman now coming into view above me. I fight them with every ounce of my energy, but there are too many of them to break free. I hear my own scream as pain explodes all over my body as they pinch, slap, and squeeze me.
I lose my battle not to cry when I hear one of the men talking about how much he’s been looking forward to fucking me, the sound of a zipper confirming his intentions. Despite having my eyes closed, I know old man Luciano is close because like his vile son, I smell the stench of smoke on him. It turns my stomach and I fight the urge to puke.
“Have your fun boys. Make sure you put on a good show because as soon as you’re done, Mr. Lopez will be finishing his job with his knives.”
The asshole actually chuckles… like he’s having fun.
My muscles ache from the strain of fighting against them. I keep screaming for them to take their fucking hands off me just so I don’t have to listen to their taunting words as they violate my body. By the time I hear the cameraman say, “I’m switching to video now,” I’m losing the last of my strength. The spark inside me that had served me well in my fight with JV is being extinguished, leaving just pain and suffering.
It’s a loud bang in the distance that snaps me back to the moment. I would have thought I’d imagined it if it wasn’t for Vinny Luciano asking, “What the hell was that?”
Everyone around me freezes for a few long seconds, giving me time to crack open my eyes in time to see the shock on the older man’s face as shouts are heard in the distance. A kernel of hope fills my heart at the brief flash of fear I see on his face.
“Turn that thing off,” he shouts at the cameraman before ordering other goons to, “Go check that out. How the fuck did someone get past the guards out front?”
I’m far from home free, but somehow, I just know the shouts in the distance are Z, coming to exact his revenge. Despite the pain, I roll onto my stomach, preparing to push to my feet and take advantage of the distraction, but an arm wrapping around my stomach yanks me to my feet just as gun shots ring out not far away.
I know it’s Vinny Luciano who grabs me. He stinks just like his son. Unfortunately, he’s smarter than JV in that he pulls out the gun he is carrying and jams the barrel against my temple with a warning. “Stay still, or I’ll end you.”
He’s going to end me no matter what, so his threat isn’t really a surprise. But when he cocks the gun, I decide to stop my struggling.
When Dex bursts through the door with Z fast on his heels, I cry tears of relief, but a flash of movement has me screaming out a warning instead.
“Behind the door!”
Dex swings his gun in the direction of the assassin, still holding his big knife. When Dex puts three bullets into the guy’s chest, I should be freaking out, but I can only feel relief. As I look back at Z, I see he’d never taken his eyes off me and the gun at my temple. Like a dangerous animal, he is taking careful steps toward us as several more men rush into the room behind him.
“Are you okay?” he finally asks.
“I am now,” I get out past my sore throat.
Our gaze meets briefly, and I can see his fury and for a moment I almost feel sorry for Vinny Luciano, but I push that feeling away, knowing this nightmare is far from over.