Page 24

You drinking already, Marcelle?

The guy was a maniac which, paired with a ruthless streak as bold as my own, always made for chaos. There was no way I was adding fuel to that fire by way of alcohol.

ME

See you all later.

I had a human tied up in my basement to deal with. A human that was quickly becoming my entire focus.

Poor Benjamin.

Chapter Nine

Benji

My arms ached where they were bound to the chair and my feet had long since fallen asleep. I wriggled my toes in my boots, but it did nothing to alleviate the numbness. I had no idea how much time had passed. There was nothing that marked the passing of seconds and I struggled to even estimate at what time it was. There was no natural light, no sounds. Just the damp walls and this bright, artificial light I was sat in. And of course, the chair. The rock hard, uncomfortable chair. Jeez, my ass was numb.

“Hello!” I shouted. “Damyr! You come back and untie me, right now!”

It was probably useless to shout. I hadn’t seen anyone other than Damyr and there was every possibility I was in a shipping container, on a boat in the middle of the Baltic Sea. The whole damp walls and mildew smell could all be a fabrication.

“Fuck you, Damyr. You goddamn fucking asshole!”

Moving my cat and my clothes like he had a right to them. Wait until I tell Maya about this.

Shit. Maya. Would she even know I was missing? I had no idea how long I’d been gone. Had it been two hours, or ten? Was it more? Fuck. She’d probably gone home with that beast of a guy she’d been dancing with, and she probably wouldn’t realise I’m missing until morning.

Why couldn’t I be more selfish? Less decent? More of a jackass? If only I’d looked the other way and left Charlie to his fate, then I wouldn’t be here, trying to squeeze some life into my butt cheeks.

I could have left him, but I’d have hated myself for it. Just like the whole thing with Dr Kingsly. That monster. Why was the world so goddamn frustrating? And now I was here, rotting in some shipping container, or whatever this room was, and trying my best to keep it together.

I wasn’t succeeding.

I pulled my wrists against the cable ties, yelling out as they cut into my skin. I pulled and pulled, not caring that my skin was shredding. I wanted out. I wanted to go home. I wanted—

“I wouldn’t do that, if I were you,” a musical voice said cheerfully from the darkness.

My chest heaved as I tried to get a grip on my sanity. “Who’s there?”

No one responded. Had I imagined it?

My skin stung where the cable ties had sliced into my wrists and blood pooled beneath the black bands. I was a fucking idiot. Now I had a numb ass, and I’d cut myself.

I pulled at the restraints one more time for good measure, but nope. They still held firmly. They really were a good tool for a kidnapper.

“They’re as bad as sharks, this lot. I’d suggest you stop injuring yourself.”

I jolted as the guy started speaking again. Shit. Was this another psycho joining my little kidnapping party? How did he even get in here? I didn’t hear the door. “Who are you?”

“That’s a loaded question, love. There are many answers and I’m not sure I know which is the truth anymore.”

The fuck was that supposed to mean?

“Do you scream that loud when you come?”

“What?” I spurted.

“Just curious,” he said, his tone smooth and calm. I could hear something tapping, like fingernails on a table.