Page 45 of Savage Captor (Deadly Devotion #1)

Scarlett

I n the last several weeks, I’ve experienced sensations that have readjusted my pain scale—which is saying something, considering what I went through growing up with my father. And yet, no amount of torture has ever, ever caused me the agony that twists my chest right now.

I gave myself one task in this wretched place.

A single task that, up until today, seemed achievable; protect my brother.

Keep him out of this. Sacrifice myself if it meant keeping him safe.

Today, I failed in my sole objective. I turned on the only person who’s never turned on me, even when I thought he had and assumed I was alone.

Eric protected me from afar as best as he could after he escaped, and eventually, he got me out.

He saved my life and my livelihood, and I’ve repaid that with betrayal.

I haven’t said his name, and that is one barrier no amount of torture could make me breach, but I did reveal his existence.

Judging by Monster’s reaction, he didn’t even know that I had a brother, that Luther had another kid, which means I’ve armed him with intel that could change everything, and I’ve thoroughly fucked myself .

It won’t take a genius to assume that, if my brother’s supporting me, he’s probably looking for me. Now, Monster will be looking over his shoulder. If Eric ever finds me, he’ll end up facing an uphill battle—which means I need to get the hell out of here as soon as possible .

“If I let you go, are you going to attack me again?” Monster asks.

I’m still pinned beneath him on the couch, having a meltdown in the wake of my betrayal. I don’t even care that I’m naked, and any feel-good hormones from the torture he performed have dissipated entirely.

Of course I will . “No.”

Monster appears dubious, but he slowly shifts off me and releases my arms. I watch him with a clenched jaw, trying to stop the tears that roll uncontrollably down my cheeks, attempting futilely to gain some modicum of control over myself, but I can’t.

I’ve maintained as much strength as I possibly could ever since I was taken, but now…

now I think I’ve finally reached my breaking point.

I’d have never forgiven Monster for all the terrible shit he’s done to me, for his efforts to turn me into a sex slave , but forcing me to betray my own family goes beyond that.

It’s far worse than unforgivable—I don’t know if there’s a word to describe just how deep my hatred for Monster now runs. Just how much I long to see him dead.

When Monster’s shoulders relax just an inch, I launch at him again, sitting up and attempting to smash my forehead against the bridge of his nose. He’s much faster than me, of course; he grabs a fistful of my hair to stop me, then winces when I release a cry of pain.

“Scarlett, calm the fuck down.” He’s using his dom-voice, but I’m in no mood to listen. Right now, the only thing I want to do is bash his brains in and watch his blood pool around his head. I want him to understand the misery he’s inflicted on me .

“ I fucking hate you! ” I screech, trying to hurt him in some way.

My hands are intercepted by one of his own, and my snapping teeth are held at bay with his grip on my hair.

I might not be a wild animal, but I’m certainly acting like one, and I won’t stop until Monster is dead and I’ve found my way out of here.

Monster growls another warning at me to calm the hell down, but I don’t listen.

I’m too far gone. He releases a grunt when I manage to rake my nails across his jaw.

He gets to his feet; when I try to launch up to claw out his eyeballs, he intercepts me and swings me over his shoulder, holding me in place with a tight arm banded over my thighs.

I beat his back with my fists, kick my legs, do anything I possibly can to hurt him as he starts walking us to the bedroom, and his only response is a sigh of irritation.

Then, something rumbles through his chest, and I go still as realization dawns at me. He's laughing at me!

I manage to claw up the hem of his shirt and rake my nails down his back with enough force to draw blood.

His laugh turns into a quiet hiss, but he doesn’t veer course.

My world spins as he dumps me on the bed.

I bounce once on the soft mattress, trying to orient myself, and I don’t get a moment to attack before Monster’s on me again.

He pins my hands to my sides and snarls down at me.

“Stay fucking still or I’ll tie you up on this bed and leave you here until late tonight. Keep pissing me off, and I’ll leave you spread-eagle with a dildo inside your sore pussy and a vibrator on your clit.”

I’m too far gone for the threat to take hold.

“ Fuck you! ” I struggle against him, and my vigor actually manages to buck him partially off me.

He fumbles a little, his grip on my wrists loosening, and I take the moment to drive my knee into his groin, as hard as I can.

The hit connects, and Monster releases a low grunt, losing his grip on me entirely.

When he bends over to cradle his bruised balls, I drive my fist up into his nose.

The hit is weak since I’ve lost quite a bit of muscle in my time here, but it’s enough to snap his head back and cause a thin stream of blood to run down his face. “You motherfucker— ”

“ Enough .” He recovers from my attack faster than I expected, and climbs over me once again, pinning me in place with unyielding hands wrapped around my wrists and his hips pinning my own to the mattress.

“Jesus fucking Christ,” he hisses. “Calm down or don’t.

I don’t give a fuck anymore. You just lost yourself any hint of leniency you might’ve gotten. ”

I let out a scream of frustration which he ignores. While holding me in place with one hand and his hips, he reaches over me, fumbling with something on the headboard. When I hear the telling clatter of chains, I freeze.

Shit.

Then, I redouble my fight, but Monster is stronger—and so much faster.

He grabs a leather cuff and snaps it over my wrist. I yank on it immediately, then startle when I can’t pull my arm very far.

I look up, and feel a chill raise goosebumps on my body when I see that the cuff is connected to a chain, which is wrapped snugly around the bed post to the right of the headboard.

“No!” The word is a startled shriek as he reaches for the other cuff attached to the opposite post, and secures it to my free wrist.

Now, I’m trapped. At the hands of a madman, whose balls I just bruised and nose I might’ve broken.

I’ve felt Monster’s fury before, but never before have I actually earned it by physically harming him .

If I was in for it before, I’m truly in for it now.

I jerk at my bonds, hard , testing them.

The only thing I achieve is straining my arms.

“That’s more like it,” Monster mutters. He swipes at his nose. Glares at me. Then, he shuffles back, wraps his hands around my ankles, and jerks me down the bed. When I see him retrieve even more hidden cuffs, I try to kick my legs out, but he swiftly quiets my fight and binds me down.

His earlier threat floats across my mind, and fear replaces my fury. I’m sore and swollen down there, both from last night and this morning, so if he makes good on his threat… god , that’ll hurt.

“I’ve acquired a few toys over the last couple of weeks,” Monster starts slowly, sitting back on his haunches and gazing at my naked body.

“I haven’t introduced them to you yet because you were healing.

Not ready for any hard play or punishments.

Now, though…” a dark smile pulls on his lips, and an even darker chuckles spills forth.

“Now, I don’t give a fuck about easing you into things.

I never thought I’d have to outwardly specify this rule, but you are not to attack me, ever , or it’ll earn you a punishment like this.

” He stands from the bed. “You’re going to beg me for mercy, and I’ll grant you none.

You’ll have ample time to contemplate the severity of your actions. ”

Shit . I’ve seriously miscalculated. My anger over being forced to betray my own brother got to me, and now…

now I’m at Monster’s mercy in ways I never have been.

He can literally do anything he wants to me, and he’s acquired a set of creative skills that frighten me.

He isn’t weaponizing pain; he’s turning pleasure into a far more effective torture.

I’m not just afraid right now, I’m terrified .

Monster stands at the foot of the bed, gazing at my naked body, his eyes flickering between anger and desire.

“I should fuck your sore pussy right now, just to prove a goddamn point,” he says darkly.

“Please don’t,” I whisper, all my bluster replaced by bone-chilling fear.

“How would you stop me?” Monster asks. “What the fuck would you do about it, Scarlett? You belong to me. Your body is to do with what I please. You don’t get a say or an opinion unless you’re a very good girl, and you have been nothing but a brat today.

” He crosses his arms over his chest. “Now the question is, what am I going to do with you?”

I need to backtrack fast. I’m sore beyond what I ever thought was possible, I literally could not tolerate another pounding or any more of Monster’s twisted sense of punishment .

“I’m sorry,” I rush out. “I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

“Sorry,” he scoffs. Shakes his head angrily. “ Sorry? ” he repeats. “You bruised my balls and nearly broke my nose. Sorry isn’t going to fucking cut it, Scarlett.”

I don’t know what to say. I don’t think groveling will get me very far, because Monster literally views me as property.

I don’t know if I’ve ever been a human in his eyes—maybe there have been a few moments over the last weeks—but I’m certainly not a person now.

I’m property who didn’t just disobey, but committed the sin of fighting back.