Page 161 of Stone: The Precursor

She looks at me, and there are so many words I want to tell her. I want to tell her I’m sorry. I want to tell her to fight back, but then I look at her tummy. She’s trapped. Just like I’m trapped. Walking to her, I hug her, and she freezes, surprised. “Thank you. Thank you for being kind to me.”

She pats my back, and when I pull away, there are tears in her eyes. “If you do what he says, you will survive. Just think of something happy while he hurts you.”

“What do you think of?”

“My family. My family before I came here.”

I want to ask her more, more about them, but the door opens with a thud and an armed guard walks in, a wicked-looking gun strapped to his chest. He doesn’t look at Cara or me, but stands off to the side, staring straight ahead.

Next in walks El Jefe. He is dressed in a thick robe with a fur-lined collar, complete with slippers, as if this is some Victorian wedding night.

Cara looks down and away from him.

He steps to her and pats her head like a dog. That must be his dismissal, because she scurries out, throwing me one last look over her shoulder. The guard leaves as well, closing the door.

He walks toward me, and I stand perfectly still, glaring at him. He unties my makeshift cape and tosses it on the floor.

“Lay down Stone’s woman.”

Chapter 75

“My name is Camryn. Use it.”

He gives me that same sinister smile. “Lay down.”

“Or what?”

“Or I will have my men rape Cara. All 20 of them. Then they will shoot her in the head. The baby will die and her body will be burned.”

I try not to flinch at his calm proclamation. “You would kill your own child?”

“I have over forty children, Ms. Park. Half of them are probably dead already. I have no sentiments.”

He says it flippantly, with zero emotion. His callousness shouldn’t be shocking, but it is. When I don’t move his arm, it snakes out, lightning fast, and he drags me to the bed. I kick and scream. He slaps me, and I still keep going, pushing the stinging pain away. He yanks my arms above my head and hooks the shackle around my wrists. I pull and tug, but he’s too heavy, and my other hand is also attached to the wooden frame.

He walks around the room, like he has all the time in the world to violate me.

“You know I am quite shocked that you chose a man like Dr. Hayes.”

He must see the surprise in my eyes because he laughs. “Ah, yes, I know who your Stone is. I’ve known for a while. I admire him. If he wasn’t a thief, I could use a man like him. Efficient. Brutal. He’s quite good at what he does. And it would seem he, too, likes beautiful things.” This time, he leans over and touches my hair, dragging a strand across his nose.

“His other woman was not nearly as much fun. Or as valuable. She begged for me not to hurt her, you know.”

There’s a pang in my heart hearing about another woman that Stone may be involved with. “Who?”

“Ahh. So your man didn’t tell you about her? Interesting. She looked like you. I made sure of it.” He smiles evilly, and it tells all I need to know. He hurt her, and I have no doubt she’s dead. His smile communicates that what he did to her was heinous. Cara’s stories only add to the feeling.

“I wonder if you will scream for me to end it the same way she did.”

“You’re sick.”

“Am I?” He shrugs, negligently, unbothered. “Your man is far worse.”

I want to ask him what he means, but something tells me I don’t want to know.

“But she doesn’t matter. She served her purpose. The same way you will. Did you wash?”

“Wash? You’re disgusting. You want me clean so you can violate me?” I spit at him.