Page 41 of Sweet Torture (Torture Games #1)
THIRTY-THREE
CHAOS
I have been in this claustrophobic room for hours.
The decrepit detective has been grilling me in this stark white box using every known trick in the book to try and provoke me into divulging something, anything that they can use to ensnare me even further. Nothing has worked thus far.
I am aware of the fact that my situation is perilous, but I am still hoping that Claire will find some way to get me out of here.
It was after all Claire who I entrusted with this information in the first place.
She was also my only link to this precinct.
But the condemning words of the officer who put me in the back of the squad car keep coming back.
That bitch got what she deserved.
Was Claire also in danger? Was Naz still safe? I would like to think that Bastian would keep her safe till his very last breath, but what would I know? I barely know the man, and the only other men I trusted betrayed me.
No.
I am truly alone in this and if I have any hope of keeping Naz safe then I need to get my ass out of here and get back home.
The sound of the handcuffs around my wrists reminds me of where I find myself and that I have no other choice but to calmly wait for my attorney to show up.
I wanted to use my one phone call to check in on Naz, but did the smart thing and phoned Liam. Liam has been my attorney forever and has been on retainer for many years.
The phone only rang once when he answered and shouted, “I am on my way. Keep your pants up.” I put the phone down without uttering a word, and the officer staring at me had a look of confusion on his face.
“The good news has already spread. You can take me back to the interrogation room now.”
I had no inclination to talk, but the hopeful looks on the bastards’ faces when they heard the word made it worth it to sit in the ungodly uncomfortable chair.
Bastian and Claire must already be trying to get me out of here.
The men escorting me to the room exchanged furtive glances, and it spoke volumes.
The detective has left me to stew, or it just took him a long time to walk all the way here. I am awaiting his return with a bored expression on my face when the door is pushed open.
However, it isn't the detective standing in the doorway.
The attractive woman who saunters into the room has no regard for protocol.
She clearly feels superior and in control of this situation, with her pencil skirt and thin bow tied around her neck.
There is nothing I would like more than to wipe that smug grin off her face.
She is even worse than the detective. She is a deceptive siren wrapped in false morality and cheap perfume.
I would venture that she is a prosecutor for the state.
“I have anxiously been waiting for this day, Maxwell. Or should I call you Chaos?” The woman has perched herself on the edge of the table beside me. Taking her down a notch would be easy, but I consider my options and decide against them.
“You can call me Mr. Maxwell,” I reply instead.
She starts stroking my arm with her fake nails, and I can barely restrain the shudder that my body wants to release.
“Okay, if that is what you prefer. But I must tell you, it would be better for you if we became friends.” Something hitches in her voice.
I know she is baiting me. But my temper is already frayed after hours of weak interrogation. And I can't allow her to draw out a reaction from me. Luckily, years of client relationships have taught me exactly how to diffuse a narcissistic bitch.
“I seriously doubt that statement. You don’t even know what is going on at the moment,” I bait her now.
She presses her nails deeper, and I swallow the wince that wants to bubble out. “Oh, I know a lot more than you think, Mr. Maxwell.”
She bends over, and her lips touch my ear when she whispers. “…I know you will go away for a long time. Paying for the sins of others. And there is nothing that anybody can do about it,” she confidently declares.
She abruptly gets up and strolls nonchalantly to the door but doesn't leave without getting one more dig in.
“Oh, and Mr. Maxwell, if you were hoping your presence here would save her, I have some bad news for you.”
She turns around. I can see the gleaming, sadistic look in her eyes when she goes for the death blow.
"That little promise you made to keep her safe is not the only thing that will be broken by the end of this day." She sways her hips provocatively while walking out.
I get up with a roar, but officers storm past her, only to push me back down in my seat and cuff my hands behind my back.
The detective walks in and orders them to take me down to lock up to ‘cool down,’ as he calls it.
I see Bastian on my way out, and I struggle against my restraints to get to him. When I realize that isn't working, I start calling out.
“Bastian! Bastian! You need to get me out of here.”
He can see the struggle, but my words get lost in all the commotion.
I get thrown into the cell, and I land face-first because they still haven't removed the cuffs.
"Hey, this is police brutality. Don't think I won't use this to get a better deal when I get out of here," I call out.
The officers snort and exchange a knowing look before my cuffs are removed. They leave me lying on the ground and lock the cell door behind me. It is only then that I realize I am not in here alone.
The other guy kneels beside me and helps me to roll over gently.
I am still trying to catch my breath, but I already feel better looking up at his smiling face.
It could have been worse. At least I can take this guy.
He grabs my hand, pulls me to my feet, and starts dusting me off.
“Hi, I am Jerry. It's good to meet you. I can see you have already started making friends with the others.” He smiles brightly.
I manage a short, tense chuckle.
He gestures to the closest bench but I ignore it and grab the bars while shouting, “I still need to see my lawyer, you assholes. Don’t think I will go easy on any of you when I get out of here.” I turn and lean against the cage I am locked in.
I need to get the fuck out of here!
The fucker behind me continues as if he is giving me a guided tour of a palace. He has taken a seat on one of the two benches and is waving his arms like a madman.
“Welcome to our digs for the next few hours, I hope. I have already been here a few days. Let me tell you. I know everything there is to know, and it would be my pleasure to guide you.” His hands shoot up in a defensive manner.
“I know you are hesitant to try our humble accommodation, but you won't find anything better. There are two reasons for that.”
Two of his fingers are thrust in the air. When he sees that I am not participating, he continues unhindered.
“Reason number one: it seems you have pissed off somebody in this station, and this here is the suite they give to the ones that they want to forget about forever.”
I snicker slightly.
Ain't that the truth.
I am sure they would actually prefer that I disappear, but I won't give them the satisfaction. Jerry continues.
“Secondly, you are stuck here with me. You will have the best company available to man. And if it helps to convince you, I don't snore at all.”
Reluctantly, I extend my hand to him to shake. It isn’t his fault that I need to get the fuck out of here and back to my girl.
“Hi, I am Griffin. And I won’t be here for long. My attorney is on his way.” I state without enthusiasm.
He shakes my hand with more vigor than needed. Suddenly, Jerry gets up and turns into a snooty concierge right before my eyes.
“Let me give you a tour of the amenities. Here, we have the elegantly shaped lavatory. You will notice the lines in the glint of the sunlight on the stainless-steel bowl could distract you from the piss odor and the leaking brown liquid on the floor. My living quarters are on the other side of this exquisite cell. It is decked out with the most uncomfortable steel bench that makes you the envy of every criminal in this place. Honestly, you will sleep better on the floor, but why risk the brown liquid getting too close to your snoring mouth?” he asks quite seriously.
This guy really is a character.
“And if you return your attention to your side of the cell, you will see that I have outfitted your bedroom in the same spectacular fashion as mine.
We get three exquisitely prepared meals a day and, of course, the pleasure of seeing each other's faces when we feel the relief and shame of taking a shit in front of each other. It only adds to the intimate atmosphere we tried to create with the decor. Are there any questions?” He elaborately gestures around the cell .
He has me fully engaged in this ridiculous skit. I take a deep breath and engage with as much enthusiasm as I can muster.
“I thought you said you didn't snore?”
He shrugs it off.
“Of course, I said that. I needed to give you some hope in this hellhole. Tell me, what are you in for today? I am guessing a man with your sophisticated palette might be here for a white-collar crime. Embezzlement, maybe?” He walks closer to nudge me with his shoulder.
I sigh deeply, as I am quickly reminded of my twisted situation again.
“No, nothing like that. There has been a mishap in an operation I was giving my assistance in. To tell you the truth, nobody has really told me what they are charging me with today.” I think back to my hours in interrogation.
“Oh, a troublemaker, hey. Well, I can respect that of a man. I have gotten myself into some innocent trouble from time to time.” He offers the information up willingly.
“Well, I have a lawyer coming if you need assistance. That is to say, if you were wrongly arrested and are really innocent.” My eyebrow pulls up, questioning his innocence.
“Oh, no. I did what the police accused me of doing.
But fortunately for me, they don't know the whole story. They found me breaking and entering a house. I disconnected the alarm, but it triggered a separate alarm system I was unaware of in the house. Besides, who has two alarms in their house? Who is that paranoid?” He scoffs as if the owners were the crazy ones.
“If they caught you in the act, how can you say you are innocent?”
He moves closer like a conspirator, finding a new ally.
“You see, I wasn't there to rob the place. I was there to find someone I love. I have been looking for her for years, and her whereabouts recently came to my attention. But I heard through the grapevine that she was in trouble. I came to help her.” I nod because I know all about helping the woman you love.
“That is pretty noble of you. Is she on her way to bail you out?” I ask, hopeful.
The sadness on his face resembles my loneliness, being so far away from Naz.
“Unfortunately, not. She doesn't even know I am alive.” The look that crosses his face is hard to look at right now.
“Why come to help her then?” I sullenly ask.
“Because she is the only woman I have ever loved.” He shrugs as if defeated.
I can understand that. I, too, would do anything for the only woman I love. Even if it means being locked up in this hellhole forever .
I slide down to the floor, narrowly avoiding the brownish water, and wonder what Naz is doing at this moment.
I am coming, Queen. I will be there as soon as I can.