Page 20 of Their Stolen Obsession (Phantoms and Obsession Duet #2)

Their Universe

Liv

“ R ise and shine, Liv.”

I woke up to Zane leaning against the doorframe of my dungeon. A princess locked away in a fortress filled with demons and waiting to be saved. My dark knights would rescue me before I met a gruesome fate. But that was only a dream.

Preston’s henchman had come to order me around. The smoke from his cigar made a cloud around his face as he puffed O ’s into the air. I could smell the mix of chocolate and spice, a hint of the flavors on the tip of my tongue. God. I could use some food right now.

“What do you want?” I muttered sleepily and wiped crusty sleep from the corners of my eyes.

My stomach growled as belly pains hit from the lack of food.

I ate, but barely throughout the days that had passed.

Water was scarce, and I must look frail.

I was woozy, but still able to concentrate.

Enough to know Zane appeared impatient, almost on edge.

He had nothing for me, and I knew he needed to take me somewhere.

I could use the freedom to stretch my legs, but I’d rather get the hell out of here.

My time would come, I reminded myself as Zane stood up straight and put out his cigar. He flicked the stogie in my bucket and came over to me. Fuck. He was fast. He loomed over me in a matter of seconds.

“The brothers want to see you,” Zane answered as he held out his hand, but I didn’t take it. “Come on, I don’t have time for this shit.”

Roughly, Zane grabbed me by the arm. “Okay. Okay. Christ. Take it easy.”

Zane pulled me up from the mattress and released me, but I stumbled.

“Careful—” Zane started, but quickly changed his tune. “Quit screwing around, would ya?”

Zane shoved me forward. As frightened as I was to leave captivity, I was strong enough to keep up a hard front. Every time I left to go somewhere in this madhouse, something bad happened. I usually love surprises, but not in this place.

“I would if someone fed me proper meals around here,” I argued .

I knew I shouldn’t. Zane had the upper hand, but I was stubborn. I had a big mouth. I never knew when to shut the fuck up.

A quiet mouse scurrying away to a corner wasn’t me.

Zane grabbed my shoulders.

I stopped.

“Boss’s orders were to keep you fed enough so you’re breathing…” Zane whispered in my ear and glanced down at my chest. “And I’ve been doing a good job.”

Zane grinned down at me, and I beamed a fake smile back at him.

He cursed and pushed me forward down the hallway.

Not knowing where he’d take me, I braced myself for the worst. I shuddered as I walked with one foot in front of the other, breathing in through my nose and out through my mouth.

I had to remain calm with a rational mind in case chaos broke out.

A day in the life of a girl held captive against her will.

I had to think about something else to make the jitters stop.

“So, ah, Zane…” He followed close behind me with a gun held to my spine as I questioned him. “I saw your scar. Where did the old, nasty wound come from? ”

I only heard Zane grunt.

“Oh, come on, amuse me before I walk into the lion’s den,” I encouraged, throwing my arms up. “It’s the least you can do.”

“Once upon a time, princess, there was a battle…” Zane started as my ears perked, eager to listen. “And…”

There were closed wooden double doors up ahead.

Zane’s voice trailed off, and my eyes narrowed. “And what?”

I stopped in front of the doors and Zane leaned forward, whispering in my ear, “It’s none of your goddamn business.”

Damn.

Zane pushed the doors open to a nicely furnished room full of modern decor. Several bookcases lined the walls and there was a desk with a laptop and paperwork. I highly doubted anything legal went on in this office.

Zane’s scar remained a mystery, but I was about to find out why he brought me here.

The Pitrone brothers were in the room, deep in conversation.

They didn’t even notice me. Their evil eyes were dark, with sinister flames flickering as bright as the fire burning next to them.

The crackles of some sparks made me jump, and I wondered if they’d throw me into the fiery pit and be done with me once and for all.

“On edge, are we?” Zane asked with a brief chuckle in a low tone only I could hear.

God. I wanted to turn around and smack him, but he still held a gun to my back. Zane nudged me further into the room.

Preston sat behind the desk, smoking a cigar. Does everyone smoke around here? His rapist brother, Phoenix, leaned on the edge of the desk.

As I walked in, I caught wind of their discussion. “Fucker vanished.”

Who were they talking about?

Zane stood beside me and tucked his gun into his waistband.

Preston took a puff of the cigar and exhaled the smoke. “Are you sure?”

Phoenix answered, “Goddamn positive. No one has seen Chamberlain for weeks.”

Sebastian. My no-good idiot-to-be. The man who abused me, used me, and threatened my life along with my parents.

I saw Sebastian right before our wedding day. A moment I wouldn’t forget until he was dead, rotting in the ground. My mind might fog, but I’d never forget, and I regretted choosing to stay with him when I should’ve fucking run.

“What the hell are we going to do?” Preston asked, a hand running down his face.

Phoenix shrugged his shoulders. “Fuck if I know.”

The floor creaked below my feet. Shit. Preston saw me and he slowly stood.

“Well, well, well… Look who has joined the party.” Preston grinned as he put out his smoke and pressed down his black dress shirt.

Preston walked toward me and pushed up his sleeves.

A gold chain dangled from his neck. A pit bull came out from under the desk and anxiety crept over me.

I had PTSD from the last time I laid eyes on one of his mutts, and my arm still hurt from the bite.

The dog growled at me, salivating from the mouth.

One word out of Preston to attack, and I was as good as dead.

I better behave, or this could be the end.

“Not of my own free will,” I said.

Phoenix laughed. The sound was uglier than anything I had ever heard after experiencing what he does to women without their permission. He deserved a slow, painful death, and Knoxlee had every right to watch. A chill ran down my spine at the vengeance she’d experience.

Preston pet his dog on the head and the animal sat.

The growl stopped and the savage beast licked its jaws.

Saliva fell to the floor. I gulped down the lump in my throat and Zane remained silent.

Phoenix left the side of the desk and came in our direction.

His chin tilted downward and his eyes hooded as he ambled leisurely.

“We need to have a discussion,” Preston said as he snapped at his brother.

Before I could think, Phoenix had a knife at my jugular. The blade nicked my tender flesh, and I yelped at the instant pain. I felt blood trickle from the wound, prompting me into action and grabbing his forearm. Every inch of me tried to fight back, but there wasn’t much I could do.

I’d either have my neck slit, a pit bull eat me alive, Zane shoot me in the head, or Preston watch me burn. I was completely at these monsters’ mercy, hoping to escape this room with my life and go back to the cage they kept me locked in, where I’d wait for my phantoms to save me.

“Please. Please don’t kill me,” I pleaded, unable to stop the tears in my eyes.

No matter how hard I wanted to be a tough chick, fear consumed me.

“Then talk, bitch!” Phoenix whisper-shouted at me as he shook me, and I trembled. “Where is your beloved hubby-to-be?”

Snot dripped from my nostrils, and I cried, “I don’t know! How would I when I’m locked up in here? You kidnapped me! Remember? ”

“How could we forget?” Preston took one step forward and sniffed me. “You’ve been stinking up the place with your awful stench.”

I laughed like a crazy person who had lost my mind. “Good! At least you know I’m still here.”

The knife pressed further into my neck, cutting off my hysterics. Perspiration coated my forehead and dribbled down into my eyes. The sting from the sweat made me blink, but I couldn’t keep them shut. I had to watch the enemy.

Phoenix whispered hoarsely, “We think Sebastian is dead.”

What?

No. Sebastian wasn’t dead. These assholes had lost their heads.

Wait.

Had Sin or Saint killed him?

No. My phantoms wouldn’t do that because I had given them a strict order not to end his life. They listened to me but were insane. Maybe those fuckers had decided otherwise. Sebastian had disappeared without a trace and those damn men had sealed my death warrant. Shit! I needed to buy some time.

“Sebastian probably went on a vacation and is screwing one of his whores,” I said.

The brothers laughed in unison .

Preston pointed at me. “And you were going to marry that scum? Pretty fucking desperate, if you ask me.”

“Actually, I had a brilliant plan. Marry the bastard, take his money, and run off rich.” I shrugged.

I wasn’t lying. This was my sole intention, but I’d do justice for my family.

“Smart, but not so much…” Phoenix licked at my ear. “Because I can’t fucking wait to hear you gargle on your blood.”

In painstaking agony, Phoenix moved the blade. The sharp edge made a bigger cut, and my eyes went wide with fear. I awaited the quick slit of my throat, wishing I’d experience no more pain, and I held my breath.

Preston held up a hand. “Hold on. I have a better idea.”

“Oh, come on, now?” Phoenix exclaimed as he released the knife from me and threw his arms up in the air. “I was about to slit her jugular, brother.”

Jesus Christ. I could breathe again. I was alive. That was fucking close.

I applied some pressure to the wound Phoenix had made, and it hurt, but I needed to stop the bleeding. Let these two lunatics go off for a minute so I could regain my strength after my life was threatened. Again.

“Don’t worry. This will be fun,” Preston replied as he tapped his lips with his pinky finger, and he reminded me of Dr. Evil. “We can still make use of her.”

“What the fuck are you talking about?” Phoenix questioned as he slashed the blade through the air and tapped the tip on his head. “Have you completely lost your mind?”

Preston stared straight at me. “We’ll sweeten the deal.”

An icy chill ran down my spine.

“With the Bravata’s?” Phoenix asked with narrowed eyebrows.

Phoenix’s brow almost resembled a fucking caterpillar when pulled that close together.

“Yes.” Preston sighed with excitement at his devious plan. “If we can’t get our money back from Sebastian, we’ll just sell Liv.”

Phoenix slapped his brother on the back. “Oh, fuck! Genius!”

I panicked.

“But Sebastian—”

“Is dead. Soon you’ll be too, but you’ll wish I cut your throat instead,” Phoenix interrupted with a cocky grin .

Preston locked eyes with Zane and shot him an order. “Get her cleaned up. We need Miss Valencia here to impress our buyers at tomorrow’s big deal.”

“No! Wait! Please—” my plea ended as Zane covered my mouth and lifted me off the floor.

Zane carried me out, thrashing in his arms and kicking my legs. Anything to break free and fight for my life. The double doors closed behind us, silencing my cries, and sealing my fate.

Those bastards would sell me and leave me for more disgusting men to get their hands on. The brothers would push me further into organized crime and away from the men I loved.

I wanted to cry, but no more tears would come. Instead, I froze in Zane’s arms and became numb. I turned everything off to get through the inevitable—a world without my phantoms.

Zane placed me back on my feet after I had calmed down. “You heard the boss. Let’s get you ready for the ball, princess.”