Marked: Chapter 27

Jimmy Blackwood has two missing teeth when he grins. I think someone punched him in the mouth, knocking them out.

I wish I could have seen it.

Or better, been the one to do it.

Zack squeezes my arm and I realize I’ve raised my gaze again. I’m doing my best to keep my eyes on the elegant black tiles of the club, but I can’t help my curiosity.

This place is a nightmare dressed up as fantasy.

Some women moan in pleasure while they’re touched and fondled by the men walking them around and sitting with them. Others are screaming and crying out in obvious pain from the tortures they endure.

“Down.” Zack points at the small cushion beside the lounge chair he’s sitting in. I lower myself as elegantly as I can, given the tightness of this dress. “On your knees,” he corrects me when I try to cross my legs over.

A quick look around, and I see that none of the women are sitting on their cushions. They are all kneeling. On display for anyone who wants to look.

I quickly move into position, just as Jimmy Blackwood sits down on the lounger across from Zack. He’s cleaned up now, with a drink in his hand.

His gaze turns my stomach, but I can’t even look up at him to show him how much he disgusts me.

“She won’t look at you,” Zack says, leaning back in his chair and hooking his foot on his knee. “She’s too well trained.”

“Hmm.” The ice in Jimmy’s glass clinks. “I like the trained ones best. I get to break them down and start all over again. It’s twice the fun.”

I swallow down the bile rising up in my throat.

“I noticed how you have your fun.” Zack reaches to me, stroking my hair. Petting me like I’m some dog.

But it works.

My stomach stops clenching and I’m able to concentrate on his touch instead of on the horrifying sounds of woman crying around me.

“Saw that, huh? Too bad Chad ruined it. But three-and-a-half million will buy me three more girls.” His glass hits the table between them. “Smart to have your own girl, better than renting from the shop.”

“My girl here? Yes.” Zack drops his hand from my head.

“Jimmy, sorry to bug you, but we got a guy who’s demanding to see you.” Their conversation is interrupted by a man in black boots.

I clench my teeth. I need to look up so I can see who’s talking.

I hide my fisted hands in my lap.

“Who is it?”

“DeMarco. Says he has the money to pay back the loan, so he doesn’t want to go through with the sale.”

“DeMarco?” There’s a pause. “Too late. That girl was picked up two days ago. Vince had a buyer right away. She’s gone.”

More bile raises.

“Shit. Okay.”

The boots are gone.

“Too bad for him, huh?” Zack says.

Jimmy hesitates a moment then laughs.

“Yeah.” His ice clinks against the side of his glass. “Are you waiting on a platform?” he questions, and my back tightens.

“I am.” Zack makes a fist in my hair, giving just enough burn that I can fall back into his voice and tune out Jimmy.

“They’ll be scrubbing mine down for a while. That bitch bled like a stuck pig when I cut her face.” He’s laughing. How can a monster like him be allowed to breathe right now? Why aren’t we cutting off his face?

My eyes settle on Zack’s black bag. A variety of knives are inside, mingled among the toys.

“I saw.” Zack twists my hair, and I groan. It takes my focus away from Jimmy, but the injustice of him being allowed to sit here and enjoy a drink while that poor girl is hurting, while Quinn is buried six feet under the ground, while I’m sitting here listening to him, is almost too much.

Pain ridden screams from the platforms behind us make my stomach quake. I can’t just kneel here and listen to this. Every one of these fucking men need to burn.

“Please! Jimmy!” A man in a polo shirt and torn jeans rushes to Jimmy’s side just as I move to get up from my space.

“Stay.” Zack’s fingers snap in front of my face. I freeze, but the anger boils just below the surface. It’s going to spill out soon.

“Eyes.” When I move them, he pats my head. “Trust,” he mouths, and the heat comes down to a simmer. Trust him. And I do. More than I hate them.

He won’t let them get away with what they’re doing. I have to be patient.

“Look. You sold her. Vince had a buyer, she’s gone. Nothing I can do,” Jimmy’s telling the man.

“Can’t you call Vince? Maybe get her back?”

Jimmy laughs.

“No, man. She’s gone. Like gone, gone. These guys who buy the girls from Vince…I told you what would happen. She’s dead, man. Gone.” His laugh sends an electric shiver up my spine.

I know that laugh.

I’ve heard that laugh. It lives in my brain. In my bones.

As soon as my head snaps up, Zack puts his hand around the back of my neck, but I’m not looking away.

Make a choice already. Which one.

It was him.

I lower my eyes before he sees me. Tears roll off my cheek and fall to my dress.

Zack squeezes just enough to remind me I’m safe. He’s here. I’m protected.

“Shit. Sorry, Jimmy. He got past us.”

“Just get rid of him.” Jimmy waves his hand.

The man, now crying, is dragged away.

“Your girl looks ready to play,” Jimmy says. His fucking ice clanks in his glass again. I want to shove each piece of it up his ass. The glass, too.

“Soon,” Zack agrees. “I’ve been wanting to take on another girl. This one is good, but I miss breaking her in.”

“I get that,” Jimmy agrees. “There’s the store here, but most of those girls are used goods. Broken in other ways, you know.”

“I do.”

“I got a guy if you’re interested. Vince.”

“The one you were just talking about.”

“Yeah. Him. He must be busy today, haven’t gotten a response back, but I understand he’s got three live ones. Brand fucking new. They’ve had a rough couple of days, but they’ll be perfect for what you’re looking for. They’ll need breaking in.”

Zack’s muscle tense. His anger rolls off of him, but Jimmy’s too enthralled with making a deal to notice.

“How old?” Zack asks.

“Two younger ones, twenty-one, twenty-two, sisters. Then the older one is forty-five. The mom, but I hear she’s a looker. I can see if he still has them available.”

“I don’t know,” Zack counters. “Oh, the platform just opened.” He moves to stand, grabbing me by the arm and pulling me to my feet. “Let me think about it and I’ll let you know. How can I get a hold of you?”

Jimmy leans out to Zack. “Here’s my card. Just text that number. I’ll let Vince know you’re interested.”

“Thanks. That would be great.” Zack tugs on me, pulling me away from where Jimmy sits, sipping the rest of his drink. I glance over my shoulder, catching his gaze for moment.

It’s just for a breath.

But long enough for the evil to resonate.

“Don’t fucking look at him.” Zack gives me a little shake.

“I hate him,” I say. “Why aren’t we taking him now?”

Zack halts, yanks me around so I’m facing him.

“People can hear you.” The fierce fire of his gaze burns me.

I lower my eyes to his chest.

“I hate him, Zack. He’s going to leave and we won’t find him again,” I whisper my worry.

“We’re not losing him, Harley. You’re going to have to trust me here. I will not let him get away.”

And he won’t. Inside my bones, I can feel his sincerity. Jimmy Blackwood will not slip through our fingers tonight. “What are you going to do?” I ask, my nerves suddenly on edge.

He yanks off his suit jacket and tosses it to the edge of the platform.

“I’m going to give Jimmy Blackwood a show.”