Page 15

Emmy

Pain throbbed in my skull, dragging me from the depths of unconsciousness. My body felt heavy, sluggish, like I was wading through thick fog. As my senses slowly returned, so did the memories—the club, Riot, the shortcut, the rough hands, the bag over my head. Then darkness.

My stomach lurched as the world swayed beneath me. My eyelids fluttered open, and the interior of a private plane came into focus. The hum of the engines filled the cabin.

Panic jolted through me, adrenaline cutting through the daze. I tried to move but realized my wrists were now bound in front of me with zip ties.

A mocking chuckle made my flesh break out in goosebumps. I turned my head and saw him.

The man from the warehouse. The one with the scar. He’d stood in the background with a leer on his face while The Ghost touched me. He had to be The Ghost’s second-in-command.

He lounged in a leather seat across from me, his boots propped up on the table, a sick smile stretching his lips. His dark eyes roamed over me like I was already his.

"Look who's finally awake," he drawled.

I swallowed against the nausea rising in my throat. "Where am I?"

"Does it matter?" He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "You’re cargo, sweetheart. And cargo doesn’t get to ask questions."

I forced myself to breathe, to focus. I needed information, not threats. "You work for The Ghost."

He smirked. "Among other things."

My mind raced. If I could get him talking, maybe I could find an opening. A weakness.

"You were at the warehouse," I said, keeping my voice calm, almost conversational. "I remember you watching me."

His eyes darkened, his tongue flicking out to wet his lips. "You put on quite the show. I’m the one that dressed you. All that creamy skin on display. Soft. Tempting. Irresistible. You taste good too."

I looked down and saw I was no longer wearing Austin’s shirt. A white cotton dress had replaced it. Disgust twisted in my stomach. He wanted a reaction, but I refused to give him one. Instead, I turned my gaze to the small window beside me. Clouds stretched out endlessly below. Wherever they were taking me, it wasn’t close.

A tray rested on the table near my seat—a bottle of water and a sandwich. My stomach rolled with hunger, but I hesitated.

"Eat," he said. "You’ll need your strength."

I ignored the sandwich but reached for the water, twisting the cap open myself. If they wanted me alive, they wouldn't poison me. But drugs… I took a cautious sip, barely letting it touch my tongue before swallowing.

He watched me, a grin slowly spreading across his face. "Smart girl."

I forced myself to meet his gaze. "If you’re smart, you’ll let me go. The man who’s coming for me won’t stop until he finds me. And when he does, he’ll kill every single person who stands in his way."

The man only laughed. "Let him come. The Ghost is always two steps ahead."

I filed that away. If The Ghost thought he was untouchable, he might have gotten sloppy.

The plane landed sometime later, and as soon as the engines cut off, my captor moved. He pulled a black cloth from his pocket and approached.

"Don't fight," he warned. "You'll only make this worse."

I jerked my head away, but he grabbed me roughly, yanking the blindfold over my eyes, and darkness swallowed me whole.

The drive was long, every turn disorienting. The air inside the vehicle was stifling, laden with my own fear. The man’s hand brushed my thigh, lingering too long, and bile rose in my throat. I dug my nails into my palms, using the pain to keep myself grounded.

When the car stopped, I was hauled out, my feet hitting uneven ground. The scent of salt and tropical flowers drifted through the air. Somewhere far off, waves crashed against a shore.

Not some underground bunker or dingy warehouse. This place smelled like wealth.

The blindfold was ripped away, and I blinked against the harsh sunlight. Before me stood a sprawling estate—white stone walls, towering columns, and lush gardens that seemed out of place given the hell I was about to endure.

I was shoved forward through the grand entrance and down a series of hallways until we reached the last door. He opened it, and I glanced inside, finding a lavish bedroom. Without a word of direction or explanation, he took a knife from his pocket and sliced through the zip ties. I was thrown inside and told to undress just before the door slammed behind me. The click of the lock engaging made me jump.

I turned in a slow circle. Cameras. One in each corner. A red light blinking on each one. I swallowed hard. Someone was watching.

A voice crackled to life through hidden speakers. Smooth. Amused. A voice I recognized from earlier, The Ghost.

“You disobeyed your first order, muneca .”

I stiffened.

"Undress," the voice continued, "or you will be of no use to me, and I’ll have no choice but to give you to my men. A woman with spirit is worth far more than one that’s broken too soon."

Terror unfurled inside me, but I fought to keep my face neutral. I wouldn’t let him see my fear.

My chin lifted. Silence stretched between us.

The voice hummed in approval. "Good. I like my pets with fight in them."

I turned away from the cameras, my mind racing. I had to survive. I had to play the game long enough to figure out where I was—and how to get out.

Austin was coming for me. I had to believe that. And until then, I had to be strong.

I sat on the edge of the massive bed, my arms wrapped around myself as I tried to keep my breathing steady. The voice had gone silent, but I knew he was still there, watching.

I felt stripped bare, even though I still wore the flimsy white dress. The fabric clung to my skin like a ghost of my dignity, a mockery of purity. There were no undergarments beneath it, and I had no doubt that was intentional.

The walls of the sumptuous bedroom closed in around me. It wasn’t a prison in the traditional sense—there were no chains, no bars—but the cameras in every corner reminded me that I wasn’t free.

I forced myself to scan the room, cataloging details. A king-sized bed with silk sheets. A luxurious bathroom with an open glass shower. A vanity lined with expensive perfumes and jewelry as if I were expected to play a role.

The door and windows were locked from the outside. Of course they were. Who has locks on the outside of windows? Someone with regular guests they don’t want to leave.

My palms brushed down the fabric of my dress. How long would I be here? Was Austin coming?

No. Not was. When. He would come. I just had to survive until he did.

The speaker crackled again, making me flinch. “I can see you thinking, muneca. But thinking won’t get you out of here. Obedience will.”

I didn’t answer. He chuckled yet I felt not an ounce of humor in it.

“Good. You’re learning.”

I clenched my teeth, fury burning beneath my skin. I wanted to scream, to curse him, to demand answers—but what would that accomplish? He held the power right now. I had to be smart.

“Get some rest,” he said. “Tomorrow will be a long day.”

Then… silence.

I exhaled shakily and curled up on the bed, wrapping the silk sheets around me. I told myself I wouldn’t sleep. I would stay awake, alert.

But exhaustion pulled at me, and against my will, I drifted into uneasy darkness.

A loud click startled me awake. The lights in the room dimmed, replaced by the eerie glow of the cameras.

His voice came again. “Wake up, muneca .”

My pulse pounded.

“Did you dream of your lover?” he asked, his voice laced with sly pleasure. “I bet you did. I bet you thought of his hands on you instead of mine.”

I swallowed hard, my body tense.

“Take off the dress.”

I squeezed my eyes shut. The threat from earlier hung in the air. Be of no use to me, and I’ll give you to my men.

Slowly, I sat up, my hands shaking as I reached for the hem of the dress. I pulled it over my head and let it slip to the floor.

“Good,” the voice praised.

I wrapped my arms around my body.

“Now,” he said, “touch your breasts. Imagine it’s your lover’s hands. Pinch your nipples. Make yourself ache for him.”

The rush of nausea I felt was overwhelming, and I didn’t move.

“Disobedience has consequences,” he warned.

Tears burned in my eyes.

I forced myself to think of Austin. His touch. His voice. The way he held me like I was his.

I let my hands move, not for The Ghost, not for his sick enjoyment—but to survive.

I kept my eyes closed, picturing Austin’s rough hands instead of my own. I thought of the way he whispered my name against my skin, how he made me feel safe, worshipped.

“Good girl,” the voice murmured. “Now, between your legs.”

I froze.

“No?” He chuckled malevolently. “Then perhaps my men will assist?—”

“No,” I whispered. I couldn’t let them touch me.

Teardrops slipped down my cheeks as I obeyed, my mind a battlefield between shame and survival. I focused on Austin, on the memory of his mouth on me, the heat of his body, the way he made me feel like the only woman in the world.

My body trembled as I reached the edge, and when I shattered, I bit my lip to keep from screaming his name.

But he heard.

“Oh, muneca ,” he sighed, satisfied. “You please me.”

I collapsed against the bed, my body wracked with silent sobs.

“Get some sleep,” he said. “We’ll play again soon.”

The speakers clicked off, and the room was silent once more.

But inside me, the war raged on. What had I just done?

The next morning, it happened again. He wasn’t pleased until I’d gotten myself off to thoughts of Austin. I felt like an online hooker.

That afternoon, he directed me through another deranged act, pushing me further. My anger grew with every demand, every twisted order.

That night, when a package was delivered to my room, I knew what it was before I even opened it. A vibrator.

My hands clenched into fists.

The voice purred through the speakers. “Use it for me.”

I lifted my chin, fire burning in my veins. I had obeyed to survive. But this?

I gritted my teeth. “No.”

A sardonic chuckle. “No?”

I met the camera with steady eyes. “You’ll have to kill me.”

The man hummed as if he found my declaration funny. “Oh, muneca . I’m not done with you yet.”

I didn’t know what consequences would come. But I did know one thing. I wouldn’t break.

The silence after my defiance was worse than the man’s taunts. I sat rigid on the bed, heart pounding, hands fisted in the sheets as I waited for my punishment. The cameras’ red lights blinked in the shadowy room, a cruel reminder that I was never truly alone.

Minutes passed. Maybe an hour. Could have been longer as I had no way of telling. My stomach twisted with anticipation, but nothing happened. No retribution. No further commands. I forced myself to breathe. Stay strong.

Then the door unlocked with a soft click.

I barely had time to react before it swung open, revealing the man from before—The Ghost’s second-in-command.

Again, he stared at me with that sick, hungry gaze. His eyes darkened as he stepped inside, shutting the door behind him.

“Boss isn’t happy with you,” he murmured.

“Good.”

He smirked. “I like a fighter.”

I stiffened as he moved closer. He wasn’t as tall as Austin, but he was strong. Lean muscle beneath a crisp white shirt, sleeves rolled up, exposing forearms covered in tattoos. His dark hair was slicked back, and his lips curled in a way that made me feel sick.

“I don’t know what you think is going to happen,” I said, forcing steel into my voice. “But Austin will come for me.”

The man chuckled, stepping even closer.

“You’re beautiful when you’re scared,” he said, reaching out.

I flinched away.

He grinned. “You think your biker is coming to save you? Maybe. Maybe not. But you? You belong to the Rey de la Oscuridad now.”

I swallowed against the lump in my throat. My Spanish wasn’t that good, but I roughly translated that to mean I belonged to the King of Darkness. “What do you want?”

His eyes flicked over my body, lust obvious in them. “You’ll find out soon enough.”

I forced myself not to tremble. “What’s your name?”

He tilted his head. “Trying to humanize me, muneca ?”

I said nothing.

After a moment, he smiled, slow and cruel. “Call me Javier.”

Javier. I memorized it. Names were power.

And if I ever got the chance, I would use his against him.

Javier left me alone with a sandwich and a bottle of water, but I felt his presence outside the door. He was waiting, watching, like a predator circling its prey.

I was starving. I couldn’t even remember the last time I ate. I realized I was getting weaker; that was probably their goal. I forced myself to eat the sandwich and drink the entire bottle of water, and then I paced the room, trying to think. Trying to plan.

The speaker crackled yet again. “Still stubborn, I see.”

I didn’t respond.

A chuckle. “Javier will take care of that soon.”

Then… something worse.

“I have another gift for you, muneca. You may like this one better than the last.”

The door opened. Javier stepped inside, holding a tablet. He turned the screen toward me. And my blood turned to ice.

It was a live feed. A dark room. A man bound to a chair, beaten and bloodied. His brown hair matted with blood, his face barely recognizable—but I knew him.

Luke. He’s not dead.

A choked sound left my throat. “No,” I whispered.

The man sighed. “Your brother has been very difficult. But I thought you’d like to see him before I decide what to do with him.”

Tears blurred my vision. “Let him go.”

“Ah, muneca ,” he tsked. “That’s not how this works.”

Javier wore a sickening grin. “But if you cooperate… maybe he’ll live.”

My breath shuddered out of me.

I looked at the screen. At Luke. At my big brother. Alive. But for how long?

My heart pounded. I had a choice to make and no good options.

My world narrowed to the image on the screen. Luke was barely conscious, his head lolling forward, blood dripping from a gash above his brow. His hands were tied behind his back, his entire body slack with exhaustion—or pain.

I felt like I couldn’t breathe.

“Do you see what defiance gets you? It’s such a shame. Your brother was a valuable asset. But he’s been testing my patience.”

“What do you want?” I bit out.

The man sighed, as if I was being difficult. “I already told you. Obedience. But now, I need something more.”

Javier shifted closer, and I forced myself to stay still, not to cringe as his presence loomed beside me.

“We’re going to play a little game,” The Ghost continued. “I ask questions. You answer honestly. If I like what I hear, Luke gets to keep breathing. If I don’t…”

Luke’s groan came faintly through the speaker, and a dagger plunged into my heart at the sound.

“Fine,” I forced out. “I’ll answer.”

“Good girl,” he purred. “Let’s begin.”

Javier set the tablet on a nearby table, then perched himself on the edge of the bed, watching me with an infuriating smirk.

The first question came like a bullet.

“How much do the Kings of Chaos know?”

I hesitated.

Javier’s fingers trailed lightly over my arm, his touch barely there. A warning.

“Not much,” I said quickly. “Austin knows you took me. He’ll come for me. That’s all.”

The man hummed as if considering. “And what does your brother know?”

Think.

“I don’t know,” I said carefully. “He never told me anything.”

Javier clicked his tongue, reaching for the tablet. He tapped something, and the camera feed zoomed in on Luke’s battered face.

“Lies are not a good idea, muneca ,” my inquisitor threatened.

Panic clawed at my throat. “I swear! I didn’t even know he was working for you until tonight!”

Silence.

He chuckled. “I believe you. For now.”

My body sagged in relief, but it wasn’t over.

“Tell me something, muneca ,” he mused. “Does Austin love you?”

My stomach dropped, and I didn’t answer fast enough. Javier reached for the tablet again.

“Yes,” I blurted. “I think so.”

The man’s laughter was like silk and poison. “Then we’ll see just how far he’ll go to get you back. And now, it’s time. Javier, proceed.”

My eyes slowly moved to Javier. The disgusting leer on his face was vile. He pushed up from the bed and walked toward me, stopping a foot away. I had no idea what was coming and that was terrifying. His grin widened as he reached for his zipper. Each tooth of it separating sounded like a pounding of metal on metal.

Shaking my head, I backed up until I hit the wall. My gaze stayed locked to his.

Javier chuckled. “Don’t worry, sweetheart. This isn’t going to hurt at all. Unless you want it to. Now take the dress off.”

Everything I’d been made to do up to this point I’d endured because I knew in my heart that Austin was coming for me. But how could I survive if I crossed that line? Was there any coming back from that?

Javier made the decision for me by reaching for the tablet showing my brother’s tortured body. Without another thought, I jerked the dress off and pushed my shoulders back in a sign of bravado.

“The boss wants a porn performance out of you so you better make it good, or your brother will suffer the consequences. Do you understand?”

I had no doubt they’d hurt Luke if I didn’t do what they wanted. I gave him one slight nod.

“Good girl. Now come here.”

I forced myself off the wall and took the four steps to reach him which I noticed put us in perfect position of two of the cameras in the room. The flashing red lights taunted me. He was watching, and I hated him even more.

My eyes moved up to connect with the other man I hated as he took both of my breasts in his hands. I winced when his grip tightened.

“See, that right there isn’t going to keep Luke safe.” He pinched my nipples, and the pain caused me to gasp.

“You can do better than that. Hell, look into that camera and pretend it’s your lover’s touch.”

As if hypnotized, my head moved to face the camera in the corner of the room.

“It’s Austin’s hands on your tits. He’s pinching your nipples. You know his touch. You crave his touch.” The tone of his voice lowered with each word becoming soothing, the cadence rhythmic. “You’re all alone with him.”

I was confused and appalled when my nipples hardened. In my mind, I knew right from wrong, but I was powerless to do anything other than what I was told to do.

“Good girl. Now get on those knees and take your lover in your mouth.”

I dropped and reached for his cock.

“You love his taste. Your mouth is watering for his cum.”

I grasped his cock around the base and my mouth watered as I opened and took him in. The taste was all wrong… but it was also right. Or was it? Tears formed at the corners of my eyes. I didn’t know anymore.

I looked up into Austin’s handsome face as I sucked him to the back of my throat. He hardened even more in my mouth as I swirled my tongue from base to tip just the way he liked.

“Ahhh, yes. Good girl. Now, play with yourself. I want you to get yourself off. We’re going to come together.”

Yes. I loved it when we came together. I reached between my legs and touched my clit. It was swollen, and I dipped a finger inside and then circled the sensitive bud with all the slippery wetness that had gathered there.

I was on fire from my touch. Moaning, I took him impossibly deeper, sucking with abandon to get us off.

“Let me fuck your face, sweetness. You put both those hands to work on your pussy.”

Yes! That’s what I needed. The hand that had been holding the base of his cock dropped to finger my hole while I rubbed my clit with the other.

Austin’s hands gripped my hair, and he pulled me tight until my nose was pressed against his skin. His cock was so deep down my throat I couldn’t breathe. I looked up at him as tears streamed down my cheeks, but I wouldn’t gag. I fought the need to breathe. I wanted to do this for him. I loved him.

“Good girl,” he praised as he started pumping my head back and forth.

“When I come, you’re going to take it like a good girl. Drink it down like a fine champagne. I want you to lap it all up and don’t waste a drop.”

I sucked him harder to answer. I would be a good girl. I’d take all he had. A burst of wetness coated my fingers.

“Are you ready to come, sweetheart?”

I looked up into Austin’s eyes and tried to smile. I was so close. He reached down and pinched my nipple hard, and I started to fly apart. He fisted my hair again and pressed me against his belly and then pumped one more time before coming down my throat.

I swallowed, contracting my throat, and he gave me even more. My own orgasm washed through me, leaving my legs shaking and my body humming with satisfaction. I swallowed again and then licked him clean before sitting back on my knees.

Breathing hard, I worked to slow my heart. I smiled and tipped my head upward to gaze lovingly at Aust…

The man wearing the lascivious expression above me wasn’t Austin. I blinked. My insides turned to cold, hard hatred.

Javier stood, stretching lazily as if pleased with himself. “That wasn’t so bad, was it?”

I glared at him. “Go to hell.”

He only grinned. “Already there, baby.”

Fear slithered through my veins as Javier’s fingers clamped around my chin, tilting my face up to meet his cruel, amused stare.

“Thanks for the blow job. It was the best I’ve ever had. I’d get some rest if I were you,” he said, his voice silky with mock concern. “Tomorrow is going to be an eventful day. You’ll be performing for the big dogs. No more of the little chihuahuas like you’ve been doing.”

Performing? Big dogs? What the hell did that mean?

I forced my voice to sound steady. “What are you talking about?”

Javier chuckled, the sound dripping with condescension. He brushed his thumb along my jaw as if he were fond of me, as if he had the right to touch me at all.

“Every time those cameras switch on, mi amor , you’re putting on a show for potential buyers. For days, you’ve been fucking yourself for hundreds of men who probably came right along with you,” he explained, his grin widening at my visible recoil. “But tomorrow? Tomorrow is special. Elite. The richest of the rich, the ones with the deepest pockets and the most… exquisite tastes.” His grip tightened just enough to make me flinch. “You’ll put on a very good show for them. And don’t worry—I have something extra special planned.”

A sickening wave of nausea churned in my stomach. My pulse pounded in my ears, drowning out everything but the suffocating reality of his words.

Buyers. Rich men. A performance.

My breath hitched as panic threatened to overtake me, but I refused to let it show. I couldn’t give him that satisfaction. Couldn’t let him see the way my insides felt like they were unraveling thread by thread.

Instead, I forced myself to meet his gaze head-on, even as terror scraped its nails down my spine. “You’re disgusting,” I spat.

Javier only smirked, tilting his head like I entertained him. “Maybe. But what does that make you , princesa ? You enjoyed what we just did. You got off on it. You’re the one who’s about to be sold. And tomorrow, I’ll fuck you in front of more than a hundred perverted men just like me.”

Then he released me, laughing as he strode toward the door.

I barely waited for it to click shut before I stumbled back, pressing myself against the cold wall, trying to control my breathing.

What had I done? How could that have happened?

Tomorrow. I had until tomorrow.

Whatever happened, I had to find a way out before I didn’t even recognize myself. I was losing my grasp on reality.