Page 24

24

AINSLEY

T he sound of the door opening wakes me with a start. I sit up and look at the man who stands in the doorway, and my blood turns to sludge. Relic stands there, his face a mask of evil satisfaction. I look around the room for anything I might be able to use to protect myself. Not finding anything, I pull my legs up to my chest and watch him.

“Looky, looky, who we have here? If it isn’t our little lamb left all alone.” His tone is flat and chilling.

Despite the fear clawing away at me, that damn filter malfunctions once again. “And what exactly can I do for you? Here to run me over with the bus again?”

Relic throws his head back in dark laughter. “You know, it was too easy to get those fucking dumbasses to place all the blame for Jenny’s death and the sex ring at your feet. They took it and believed it so they wouldn’t have to deal with the fact they failed her.”

He steps into the room, hands behind his back, and looks around as if this is the first time seeing the room. I watch him with my arms wrapped around my knees, trying to make myself as small as possible. Relic finally makes it over to the bed. Taking a seat, he leans his elbows on his knees, clasping his hands.

“Can I tell you something?” he asks, sounding sad.

“Is that really a question?” I snap, not in the mood to deal with his bullshit.

Relic looks over at me. “I was trying to be nice, but if you want to be a bitch, then fine. You see, you’re not going to make it out of here still breathing. Even if you try to tell them anything I tell you, we both know that they will think you're just trying to save your ass.”

“If you are aware of all of this, then tell me why the fuck you’re in my cell with me?” Frustrated, I release a sigh and point to the door. “If you don’t mind, I would like to wait for my torture appointment alone. So, if you will kindly fuck off.”

A dark look falls over Relic's eyes and before I can process what happens, he backhands me, causing me to fall over on the bed. I lay there, moving my jaw, trying to make sure that it isn’t broken.

“Don’t you want to know why we’re letting you take the fall for the brothers?” Relic asks, leaning back as if he didn’t just nearly knock me out.

I sit up so that I’m not even more vulnerable to him than I already am. His eyes scan my body, making my skin crawl with revulsion. I try to put some space between us. My instincts are screaming to run like the hounds of hell are chasing me. Relic catches the shift in my body and places a hand on my knee to keep me still.

“Aww, don’t play shy now.” He leans closer to me. “Around here we enjoy sharing.”

“That’s great for you, but I’m not like that,” I snap, glaring at him.

“Not even if it meant saving your own skin?” he tries seductively.

That statement is the final straw. This camel’s back is official broken. I surge to my feet, pointing my finger at the man.

“I wouldn’t need to save my own skin if you had just done what you said and kept my identity to your damn self. But no, you couldn’t. What I can’t figure out is why you did it.” Now I pace back-and-forth trying to figure it out, but nothing makes sense.

“You told me that as long as I did exactly what you asked, you wouldn’t say anything. That’s what I don’t get—you haven’t fucking asked me to do anything. So why? Just tell me that because we both know I’m not making it out alive, thanks to you, asshole.”

Relic stands to his feet and backs me against the wall. “ Because they were supposed to fucking die . Those motherfucking self-righteous assholes were supposed to die on the trip. But they didn’t, so the next best thing was to take out the guard dogs. And how best to do that than to flip his switch so he kills you. Then I make sure he and Blender go down for it. That’s why .”

Shaking my head back-and-forth I can’t believe what this man is saying. “Why do I have to die for whatever master plan you have?”

“Why not you? You’re the only connection these men have to the sex ring that is lining my pockets so well to turn a blind eye. I will not let them put an end to my gold mine or having whatever flavor of the night I’m feeling at my fingertips. So, if the Enforcers are arrested and being tried for murder, the others will continue to run our businesses—both legit and not. They’ll have to once again put the search for sweet little Jenny’s killer on the back burner, and my side project gets to thrive.”

Absorbing his words, I finally understand what he is telling me without telling me. It finally clicks and the tears fall once again for the unfairness of this life I’ve had to live.

“Why her? She didn’t have to die like that,” I gasp through sobs.

Relic leans even closer to me so his body is pressed flush against mine and his nose runs along my jaw to my ear. “Just like with sweet Jenny, if you had chosen the right brother, then you might not have had to die. Alas, she chose wrong and, like she paid, so will you.”

His words slice my soul like shards of glass. The need to scream at the unfairness of it all claws its way out of me. I scream and start beating Relic’s chest with everything I have. Relic grunts before catching my wrists and pins them beside my head against the wall. He glares down at me as I continue screaming and fight his hold.

“Fucking stop,” he sneers, just before I make contact with his crotch.

He lets me go, cupping his dick. I don’t think twice before I twist away from him, running for the door. I almost make it out when he tackles me to the floor. My forehead connects with the floor and stars burst into my vision. Relic sits on my thighs, pinning me down. I twist and struggle, not making it easy for him to do whatever it is he has planned.

“You stupid fucking bitch, you’re going to fucking pay for that,” he snarls as he fights to catch my flailing arms. “Now, instead of just me using you up before I kill you, I’m going to take you to one of the houses where we keep the others. By the time they’re all done with you, you’re going to pray for death.”

“Fuck you!” I scream, amping up my attempts to get away from the man.

A blow to the back of my head causes the stars to burst across my vision and halts my screams. My struggling slows as my head spins and the pain of him sitting on my legs is excruciating.

Relic leans down over me. “This will go a lot easier if you just give up and accept your fate.”

“I will never accept a damn thing from you! I will fight every day if I must, to make sure that one day you and those sick bastards pay for what you all did to sweet Jenny,” I shriek, ramping up my fighting.

Relic moves, somehow flipping me on my back and finally catching my arms. He pins my arms to my side, effectively stopping my struggling. I let myself go limp under his hold, hoping he will believe that I have given in. My plan is to surprise him enough to dislodge him.

“That’s it, Ainsley. Except what’s about to happen, and when we’re done … well … you’re going to kill yourself … so sad. Then I can take you away from the club and give you to my business partner.” Relic maneuvers my arms above my head to hold them in one hand.

When Relic has a free hand, he runs it up my body to my breast, squeezing it painfully. I bite my tongue to keep from showing any reaction to his touch, fighting the vomit that is making its way up my throat. His touch gets rougher with every inch of my skin he touches. He shoves my shirt up above my breasts. Leaning down, he bites my breast hard, wrenching a scream from my lips.

“That’s it.” He leers when he pulls back. “Scream for me, bitch. Show me how much you enjoy it.”

Without a second thought, I bring my left knee up, catching Relic in the back, and it pitches him forward. He releases his hold on me as he falls forward, shouting in surprise. Using the last of my strength, I buck the man off me, rolling to once again to get away. I don’t even try to stand, but crawl my way across the room. Relic once again launches himself at me, pushing me down on my stomach. He wraps his arm around my throat in a choke hold.

“You’re not fucking worth all this bullshit,” he growls as he applies more pressure.

The blackness I’ve become accustomed to rims my vision. As darkness is closing in on me, the door burst open with my personal avenging angel standing there. The monster is taking in the scene before him. Relic only tightens his hold on me.

“Mercy, she tried to fucking kill me. I was just protecting myself,” Relic calls to the man, fear lacing his voice.