Page 19 of Ever After
“Pets don’t talk. Do it again, and I’ll fill your mouth with something else.” I narrow my eyes and lick my lips, daring him to do it. I have no problem biting him. “I’ve got a great gag that won’t allow what you’re thinking, sweetheart. I’ll use that pretty mouth of yours and shoot everything down your throat, then my buddy will come in here and do the same.” He kneels down next to me and swipes his finger along my lips. “Be a good girl and do as I say, and I’ll make your experience enjoyable, got it?”
I jerk away from his touch and speak through clenched teeth. “No! I won’t stop fighting! How can you do this to someone? I’m a person. I have a life. My friends and family will search high and low for me. You can’t do this.” I pull against my restraints in a futile attempt to hit him.
“Sweetheart, you aren’t the first, and you won’t be the last. However, my buyers expect a certain type of woman, and that’s what we’re here to provide. You’re going to bring in so much money. You’re young, pretty, and are smart. You just need to be broken. When you leave here, you’ll be begging your new owner for pain and pleasure. If he wants to fuck your ass, you’ll bend over and take it. If he wants his friends to fuck your holes, you’ll open your legs and give them access.”
“You’re sick. You need help,” I choke on a sob.
“You’re nothing more than a wild horse, sweetheart. You all break in the end—just wait. This is my favorite part of your training. I get to watch the light—the hope of rescue—drain from your beautiful eyes. I get the feeling you’re going to take longer than my last girl, but I’ll get you there.”
“Stop calling me sweetheart,” I grit. I know he’s right about breaking me. The mind and body shut down after a while, helplessness setting in. I have to keep trying to fight if I want to get out of here alive and not sold through the black market.
“I can call you slut... or bitch, if you prefer. Either way, you’re my pet for the next several weeks until the auction. If you’re good, I may even let you see sunlight for a few minutes.”
Focus, Finley. Get information. “Why you? What do you mean, an auction?”
“Such a curious thing,” he mocks, running the back of his fingers down the side of my face. I fight the urge to pull from his touch, knowing it will only upset him. “You’re pretty and can carry on a conversation, so I’ll let your incessant questions slide. I’m actually enjoying our tête-à-tête. This,” he motions around the room, “was my brilliant idea. I always get the prettier ones. Marco gets to train the other girls, and trust me, you don’t want him getting his hands on you.”
My body trembles, and I pull in a deep breath. “What about the auction?”
“It’s my favorite night of the season. What does it sound like to you, sweetheart?”
He’s going to use that name now, just because he knows how much it annoys me. “It sounds like you’re selling me to the highest bidder.”
He smiles, but it lacks kindness. “That’s right. They will get to see every part of you. We string you up all pretty, in high heels and pearls, allow the potential owners to touch you and see you. We have many repeat clients. It’s extremely lucrative.”
“If the girls stay in the States, how are they not recognized as missing persons?”
“Who said they stay in the States?” A sly grin spreads across his face. “Oh, sweetheart, you’re trying to plan your escape, aren’t you?” He runs his fingers down over my body, and I jerk under his touch. “Since the old man is dead, nothing was stopping us from getting to you. He’s the one that saved your ass all those years ago. If he hadn’t put you on payroll, you would have been in the family a long time ago.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Nick Genova. He took you under his wing to stop you from ending up here. It was a matter of time, and he knew it. When I want something bad enough, I fight for it. I’ll stop atnothingto get it.”
“You killed Mr. Genova?”
He laughs. A deep, hearty laugh. “Dear old dad? No,Ididn’t kill him. His death worked in my favor though.”
I stop struggling and look at his features in the low light. I gasp when it hits me. He looks so much like Nick. I don’t know how I didn’t see it before.
“Y-You’re Chris, the son he disowned.” It’s a statement, not a question, and he nods his head a fraction of an inch.
“See, I always knew you were the smart one. Dad let me have my fun, but he tried to shut me down when you came into the picture. I followed you for months, and you didn’t even know. I even came in for a session once, not that you would recognize me. I had on a wig and glasses.”
“He knew you were dealing with human trafficking?” I tug at my restraints again.
He shrugs. “He found out what I was actually doing early on, and he thought he’d shut it down.” He picks up a plate with a sandwich on it. I salivate looking at it. “Anyway, enough about me. I’m here with some food. I don’t trust you won’t try to hit me, so you’re staying chained. Open.”
He holds the sandwich over my lips, and I take a bite of it. My mouth waters instantly as the flavors flood my taste buds. It’s just a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, but right now, it tastes like the best meal I’ve ever had. I chew, swallow, and wait for him to bring the sandwich back to me for another bite.
“Be a good girl and suck my finger. Pretend it’s my cock. If you dare to bite me, I’ll take this away and leave you where you are for another day.”
He brings his finger to my lips and traces them, willing me to open for him. I keep my lips pressed together in a tight line as he presses against the seam. If I don’t do this, I lose food. If I do, I lose pride and a little more of myself. He presses a little harder against my lips.
Pride be damned. I open my mouth and suck his finger.
Grayson
I haven’t heard from Miles, so I’m sitting outside the address Allie gave me. I wait in my truck—impatiently—for any sort of movement. Someone peeks out the window, and I turn my head, giving him my full attention. I’ve already tried knocking, and no one answered. The bastard is trying to wait me out.