Page 10 of Protection for Asher (Safeguarded By The SEAL #4)

The blindfold absorbed the tears as they spilled from Asher's eyes. She'd graduated from the psychopath's school and was moving on to live in her master's compound. They’d put her in a box in the back of a truck and she was bumping around with each pothole hit.

Though she was leaving the terrible place she’d lived since being abducted, there was nothing to celebrate. All her senses were dulled from the torture she’d endured, but heading to the unknown had her feeling emotions again.

Everything was falling apart, and she felt like she might just shatter. Being strong had gotten her into this mess. No question, she never should have stuck her nose into what had happened with Grace.

The thought of Grace made her cry harder. Her friend had probably suffered the same fate as she suffered. They were both lost to the world of slavery and abuse. Grace might even be dead by now.

Freedom was a lost concept, something she would never have again.

Grace’s cat, Jorts, would never see his favorite person again.

At least she’d arranged for someone else to watch Jorts until she moved into an apartment that would allow her to have a cat.

If she’d taken Jorts to her place, the cat probably would have starved.

Maybe Jorts would find a good home and be happy.

At least one of them would have a good life, even if it was only the cat.

The vehicle stopped, and the slam of the truck door made her jump. She didn't want to let them see her cry, but she wasn't sure she could be stable enough to stop the tears. Everything she'd ever feared in life now seemed a possibility.

The sound of wrenching metal signaled that this was her final destination. She would probably never leave this place. Fear exploded through her. This man could kill her today, or worse, start torturing her without letting her die.

The asshole who'd held her for the last month, or was it two months, she couldn't tell, had told her how the men would torture their slaves, taking them to the brink of death but never allowing them to pass away.

It would be days of terror after terror.

She didn't want to fear every second, but she knew herself well enough to know she would eventually say something or do something that would piss him off, and that would be the end of her.

She was released from the box, and a part of her wanted to take off running like a wild animal, but the blindfold was still in place and her hands were bound. She wouldn’t last long if she couldn’t see, and running would only get her more punishment.

“Nice.” The voice was male and deep. He had an accent she wasn't familiar with.

Someone grabbed her arm, and she flinched. The grip tightened on her, forcing her to move forward. Why hadn’t they removed the blindfold? And where was she? Was she even in the same country? They hadn’t driven far, or she thought they hadn’t.

No one had told her which country she was in, so even if she could run, where would she go? There were so many places on the planet where she would have few rights. If she got free, would she just become the prisoner of someone else who treated her even worse?

“Walk.”

The command was given harshly. Whoever the person was beside her they weren't nice. She wanted to pull away but stopped herself before she tried to jerk her arm from his grasp.

“Stop.”

Her foot dragged to a stop. The man holding her arm squeezed hard, and she tried to steady herself, but he jerked her back, and she lost her footing, dropping to her knees.

“Stand!”

She was pulled up harshly, and she tried to get her feet under her, but it was too hard to stand on her own. The man jerking her around was an asshole, and she wanted to retaliate, but she was at a huge disadvantage with the blindfold blocking her vision and her wrists bound together.

“You bitch!” The man kept talking, but it was a language she didn’t understand.

“Kashim, don’t be so harsh. Let me see her.”

The guy holding her arm released his grip. Then she felt another hand on her, but this one was lighter, the touch almost gentle. Hot breath on her face made her jerk back. Laugher floated around her, masculine but not harsh.

“Settle down, dove. I won’t hurt you. We’re going to have fun. You like fun, no?”

A shaky breath and a whimper was her only answer. His fingers ran over her face and down her neck. She tried to shutter her thoughts, but panic rose.

“You will be a nice addition to my stable.”

It sounded like the man turned and walked away. Then the guy with the harsh grip was back, shoving her in front of him, forcing her to keep walking.

This was her life now. She was some man’s property. Even if he was nice and said he wouldn’t hurt her, it didn’t mean she wasn’t in danger. Everything about her life since being captured was crap. She wasn’t sure if she wanted to survive.