Page 217 of Reaper

Once again, I reach down and feel around the wire springs before giving an experimental tug. At first, nothing happens other than the spring shifting under me. I tug harder and have to tamp down the urge to do a giddy dance of happiness.

The wire moved.

A lot.

I go to tug again when I frown. It could be noticeable if I take a section of the spring from the front. Maybe I should do it from the back?

Not really wanting to look at it again, but also knowing I should play things up in case there are cameras, I make a show of scowling at the boards of pictures before turning away in a huff as I lay down. As I do so, I make sure the comforter is draping over the edge of the bed and I get to work on the spring.

I wiggle a section back and forth while trying to keep the movements to a minimum so that it’s not obvious what I’m doing. I don’t know how long it takes, but eventually, a section breaks off and I fight the urge to squeal in happiness. I shift to the spring next to it and repeat the process.

Two sections of wire in hand, I make a show of grumbling, muttering about how uncomfortable the mattress is while at the same time, scowling over my shoulder at the picture boards. If there really is a camera in here, I need to make it seem like I’m looking away in disgust at what’s behind me. Not that I’m acting in that regard. The pictures and everything Zac has done does disgust me.

I sit cross-legged again and make sure the comforter is draped all around me but that I’m able to look down easily. I bite my bottom lip as I concentrate and try to remember everything that Razor told me to do.

My first couple of tries are a bust, but on my third try, I hear a click. Yes! I double down on my efforts and a few minutes later, the padlock opens.

Fuck yeah!

I glance up, looking around while also straining my ears. Not hearing anything, I slip off the padlock and lay the chain down on the bed off to the side.

Slowly, I get up, letting the comforter fall to the bed and grin when I still can’t hear anything. Looking over my shoulder one last time, I creep toward the door opposite of the one Zac went through earlier. I nudge the door open and cringe when it squeaks. Pausing, I listen, and when I don’t hear anything, I push the door open wider and slip out, shutting it as quietly as I can behind me. Then, as silently as I can, I creep through the dark warehouse, avoiding the few slivers of light that come in through the broken windows. While my feet are cold on the concrete, not having my boots is actually helping at the moment. Though it’s going to suck once I get out of here, but I push that thought aside for now. I’ll deal with that when I get to that point.

Voices in the distance have me freezing for a second, but then I shake myself out of it. Darting behind a stack of barrels, I squat down, trying to stay out of sight. My breath catches in my throat as I catch sight of trees outside the door in the distance. My heart beats faster at the sight of freedom being so near, but then it lurches when I realize the voices are coming from around that same area. There’s no way I’ll be able to sneak past them and escape. I’ll just have to sit tight and hope no one notices me.

I strain my ears, trying to hear what they’re saying. At first, I can’t make anything out, but then they come a little closer and my stomach drops at what they’re saying.

“There are enough doses in that case to keep her under for a week,” someone says but I don’t recognize the voice.

“Same effects as before? And will it work this time?” Zac asks.

Wait… What does he mean by that? Has he done this to anyone else before? A thought comes to me and I frown. Doeshe know about Darren having those guys drug me? He couldn’t mean that though… Could he?

I chew on my lip in worry as I peak between the gaps in the barrels, wondering if I can see who this mystery guy is. Someone grunts and I can almost picture whoever it is having an annoyed look on their face.

“My associate that was with me before who gave your cousin the wrong drug has been dealt with. The drug you asked for is the drug you received. I verified it myself. One, maybe two doses and she’ll be so strung out with need that she won’t be able to think straight. She’ll give you whatever you want so long as you give her what she needs—fucking her over and over for hours while the drug remains in her system. However, be careful who you keep around her once you move her to the secured location you mentioned. She’ll be begging anyone, even a woman, to give her what she needs,” the man replies and my stomach knots at the smug, satisfaction in his voice.

Fuck. What kind of drug is in that case? It makes you horny and irrational? Wait a minute. That sounds like the drug Mary told me about. The one that Oasis was using. But that one didn’t make someone beg for sex. Is this person tied to Oasis? Or is this some other kind of drug?

A second later, my breath catches in my throat.

Not just any person.

That someone will most likely be me since Zac is inquiring about it. At least this time, anyway. Who knows if he plans to do this to someone else. A shudder runs through me at ever having sex with Zac.

A woman hums. “You’ll need to pick your words and phrase them carefully, Zac, so that she doesn’t suspect exactlywhatshe’s signingorsigning over,” a familiar voice replies, and I can almost see the smug satisfaction on her face.

Kelly Cox.

“And the other factor?” Zac asks again and the man grunts again.

“Yes, it also contains the fertility drug. She’ll be your breeding machine. Just remember our deal,” he replies and the cold hard edge to his voice has me swallowing the whimper that creeps up my throat.

“A week? That should be enough time to get that bitch to sign everything over,” another familiar voice sneers, and the level of hatred in his voice surprises me even though it shouldn’t.

Richard Cox.

“Yes. We’ll ruin her on all fronts. We’ll take everything from her, and she’ll have to watch as everything she loves is torn down and converted. That should help you, Zac, while you’re breaking her. The icing will be when that biker tosses her to the curb after he finds out what Zac has done to her,” Kelly replies and once again my anger rises even as another blade from Kelly’s betrayal slices through me.