Chapter 12

Q

~The sun warms my feathers, the updraft in my wings, linked souls for eternity, you’ll now wear my ring~

~*Five minutes after capture*~

~Fucking bastards.~

Low life scum. They thought they could come into my life and fucking march me away like some weak prick?

Every step traded my sadness and sense of duty to protect Tess and turned it into livid rage. I saw red. I tasted blood. My body burned for retribution.

I’d done all I needed. We were out of sight—away from Tess. I could strike. My hands balled by my sides as a man with brown hair and wrinkles prodded my ribcage, forcing me off the elevator.

My thigh was sticky with blood, seeping into the fabric, but the pain was absent. I had too much else to focus on.

~You’ll be the first to die.~

The lights of the lobby hurt my eyes—stabbing me with the knowledge I was letting go of the good inside me. I didn’t need to unlock the cage this time...the beast took complete control.

I was surprised I still thought in words and sentences and not in blood and gore.

I wanted them all dead. Every single one.

I wanted their souls for scaring Tess after everything I’d done to fix her.

Leaving the brightness of the lobby, I slammed to a halt as two non-descript sedans pulled up to the curb. I wouldn’t be getting in the car.

Spinning around, I punched the man behind me. My knuckles smashed against cartilage and I smiled. Payback.

“Ah, fuck!” He stumbled backward.

Blood spurted from his nose. The crunch of bone resonated sweetly in my snarling brain. He cursed in Spanish, waving for two men to grab my arms.

I ducked, swinging in their direction, but a third man grabbed me from behind. No doorman saw, no pedestrians passed.

Our fight went unnoticed as the men wrenched my arms behind my back, deliberately tugging too far. My shoulders bellowed. The old gunshot wound in my bicep from Red Wolverine screamed.

“ ~Je peux encore vous tuer avec mes mains liées derrière le dos, bâtards. ~” I can still kill you with my hands tied behind my back, you assholes.

I’d let myself be corralled from the hotel room to protect Tess. It didn’t mean I’d go any further without a fight. It would be their blood drawn first. Not mine.

“Stop talking in French. How about we just kill you now—save the trouble?” The man I’d punched fisted me hard in the stomach. I doubled over, winded. Sucking in air, I swallowed the pain.

Shitless, gutless prick.

“You do and how do you explain that to Lynx?”

He froze. “How did you know it was—lucky guess, you bastard. But you’re right. Lynx would be pissed.”

My voice was breathless, raging with anger. “Let my arms go and we’ll have a fair fight. If I win you fuck off. Tell Lynx you had your ass handed to you by a bigger bastard than him.”

The man shook his head, eyes cold and flat. “You know how this will go, Mercer. Stop fighting and get in the fucking car.” He punched me again, right in the gut. “Call that incentive.”

My stomach throbbed thanks to his knuckles but I refused to buckle. “My incentive is to see you split open and screaming.” I stood taller, wishing my arms were free to deliver my threat.

“You’re right—I do know how this is going to go. And it won’t end well for you.”

The guy grabbed my hair, tugging hard as if I was a truant schoolboy and not the man who would sever him into pieces.

~Kill him.~

Wrath steamed my blood, coiling my muscles. I no longer felt any pain—just a cold-hearted need to end them.

He ducked his head, whispering in my ear, “You cause a scene out here, and I’ll go back up to that room and put a bullet between the eyes of the slave you were fucking.

“Rumour has it you have feelings for her. And I bet it would hurt you a lot more watching her die than anything we could do to you.” He pulled away.

“You disobey and we’ll take our frustration out on your woman. Do you want that?”

Love and hatred became the same debilitating emotion.

I loved Tess.

I hated her, too.

She’d bound my hands more effectively than the two bastards holding me.

I had no fucking power. None. All because I would give my life to make sure she was never hurt again.

It didn’t matter we were out of sight—she was still vulnerable and the perfect leash to make me obey.

My head grew heavy with defeat. I refused to put her in harm’s way. Not for anything.

Looking up, I muttered, “Give me your word you won’t go back for her. Give me an oath you’ll leave her alone, and I’ll go with you willingly.”

~I’ll trade my life for hers.~

I knew what my future held.

Lynx would live up to his predator name. He chose the feline hunter because of what he liked to do with his victims: play. He loved to drag out their torment.

Tearing the tail off the mouse, ripping the ears off a rabbit, draining whatever fight his prey had before snapping their neck. Devouring with no remorse.

I’d witnessed it first-hand. I’d seen the damage he caused. And I would fucking kill him for it.

The man holding my hair glared into my eyes—there was no intelligence but plenty of greed. Suddenly, he let me go, nodding at his men to do the same.

The moment my arms were free, I brought them to my front, rolling my wrists, taunting them with my decision. They eyed me warily, expecting me to strike again. But I’d already played my cards.

They knew I wouldn’t fight—not here. Not with Tess so close.

The man muttered, “If you come to Spain with no disobedience. You’ll have our word.

“Our orders were to bring you—not to hurt anyone more than necessary.” He held out his hand, his lips twisting cruelly.

“Shake on it, or I’ll have a man go and collect her—she might be good collateral to keep you in line. Unless your honor will do that for you.”

Fuck. He knew me better than I liked. If I shook his hand, I would honor the agreement. I wouldn’t try and kill them until I’d slaughtered Lynx and dismantled his operation from the inside out.

~Protect Tess.~

Gritting my teeth, I shoved my hand into his. His dry fingers wrapped around mine, shaking once with a fierce squeeze.

“You don’t touch her. I won’t touch you. You have my word, and that is law.” The phrase I used to say all the time echoed with my past. My law. It was different to the law of society.

Mine gave me freedom to be the devil in disguise. It gave me the right for vengeance.

I would be kept alive for now—at least until I arrived in Spain. Lynx would drag this out—toying with me, trying to make me crack with his fucking mind games. I was his prized accomplishment.

He’d become the reaper who destroyed Q Mercer.

All the goodness Tess instilled inside me slowly trickled out, leaving my conscience like a dry riverbed with nothing but daggers for thoughts.

Ending the handshake, I turned and climbed into the back of the vehicle. I kept my temper hissing in the background of my mind. I would be prepared to strike—but not yet.

A gun pressed against my side as a man settled in the seat beside me. His tanned Spaniard skin melted into the darkness of the evening.

“Lynx will be honored by your presence, Mercer. I believe he has a night full of festivities.”

My gut churned, but that was the extent of my fear. I refused to let the useless emotion dictate me. Fear wouldn’t stop the future. Fear would only ruin my chance at ~saving~ my future.

I embraced livid anger, nursing it, flaming it.

The cars pulled away from the curb; I didn’t look back. I didn’t glance up to our room or try to glimpse a tearful Tess. I didn’t focus on what I was leaving behind.

I focused on what I would become in order to survive.

No one said a word as we navigated the streets of Rome, heading toward the private terminal at the airport.

The journey didn’t last long. Too fast.

We pulled up outside a private hangar and a gun prodded my side. I climbed out of the car.

A captor demanded, “Hold out your hands.”

I expected restraints, so I didn’t resist as a cable-tie wrapped around my wrists. Once disabled, they marched me toward a small jet. I glimpsed my plane a few meters away.

The white fuselage rested under a cloak of stars and clouds. The gold Q and sparrows on the wingtips looked as if it waved goodbye—sending me off to a battle I probably wouldn’t win.

The air crackled with testosterone. Guns pressed my lower back, shoving me up the plane’s steps. I entered the dark brown interior of the aircraft.

Lowering my head, I narrowed my eyes at the two men standing in the aisle. More men crowded behind me, blocking any escape.

Shit, I was in for more than champagne and soft blankets.

Calm. I felt calm.

Furious. I felt furious.

“Take my warning seriously, you cunts. Every hit you deliver, I’ll repay you a hundred times worse.” Growling low and deep, I added, “Kill me, and I’ll fucking haunt you for eternity.”

Tess.

The love for her no longer had space anymore—it was swamped with lust for murder.

“Lynx told us to bring you in one piece. But he didn’t say you couldn’t have bruises.” The two men in front cracked their knuckles, inching closer.

The cramped space of the cabin was a treasonous whore, giving them the upper hand.

There wasn’t much I could do. Hands bound. Honour bound. I would bide my time for vengeance.

The first punch came from behind, knocking me like a ping pong into the awaiting fists in front.

Cheekbone.

Spleen.

Ribcage.

Kneecap.

Fists kept swinging and I had no way to hide or reciprocate.

Grunts filled the cabin as they turned me from human to a piece of exercise equipment—pummelling from all angles.

Blackness stole my vision as a well-aimed fist struck my temple. I collapsed into a chair, breathing hard, tasting blood, hearing the yips and snarls of my inner demons.

Seven men to beat up one who was tied and defenseless.

Seven men who would have no intestines by the time dawn crested.

This was a playground scuffle.

The instant I touched down in Spain the real fun would begin.

*Two hours after capture*

“We’re here.”

The car swung into a private estate hidden down a driveway. The high hedges circling the perimeter acted as a natural fence.

The property was nowhere near as big as the Mercer chateau, but it nevertheless housed fifteen rooms, numerous lounges, and at least three dungeons to rent.

I’d been offered the use of one with any girl I wanted more than once.

From here it looked quaint and picturesque, with lights glowing warmly from rounded sash windows, and trees swaying in the night-time breeze.

The vehicle came to a stop outside the entrance. Someone wrenched open my car door; leaning in, he cuffed me around the back of the head. Fuck me, I ached.

My entire body was bruised, hurting even worse than the gunshot in my thigh.

“Get out, Mercer.”

I hadn’t been cuffed since I was a fucking six years old. I wasn’t about to take it when I was almost thirty.

I couldn’t stop the cold smile stretching my lips.

Grave mistake. ~Huge~ mistake.

We were in a completely different country to Tess. My honor didn’t cross borders—I’d kept my vow to go to Spain willingly. But we’d arrived and all promises were over.

Elegantly—or as much as I could with a beat-up body—I stepped from the car. The guard moved away, grinning at my obedience. I grinned back. Another man grinned. Fuck, we all grinned at each other.

Fucking pricks.

I struck.

With my bound wrists, it didn’t give me the leverage I wanted, but I managed to splay my hands on either side of his skull and tear. I jerked fast and hard as if I uprooted a tree from dirt.

And in a way—that was precisely what I did.

The ~snap~ of his neck echoed in the night sky before his body fell like a useless piece of timber.

“What!” The man who was in charge stomped forward, hands raised. “You fucking—”

I propelled both arms forward, forming one giant fist. The strike caught his chin perfectly, propelling him upright, sending him slamming onto his back.

I stood over him, ignoring my bruises, cut lip, and swollen eye, and invoked more anger to flow. It was the best painkiller—it would keep me free from agony until I had the luxury of relaxing.

“Don’t ~ever~ think you can touch me without paying. It comes with a price and you can’t afford it, you fucking scum.” I spat on him, kicking dirt over his groaning body. ~And I want everyone to know.~

I knew I’d been stalked. I’d taken precautions but not enough. Deliberately. “Touch me again and I’ll send you straight to hell.”

A strike landed on the base of my skull. I stumbled forward, cursing the rush of sickness and pounding headache. At least I didn’t have a migraine.

A migraine only came when I tried to rein in the evilness inside.

Tonight I was free. I’d let my humanity go the moment I said goodbye to Tess.

My muscles seized as a gun bruised my spine. “Move, cocksucker.” Someone shoved me forward, giving me no choice but to limp ahead with my vision sputtering in and out from the blow to my skull.

The house loomed. I knew without a doubt if I went in there I wouldn’t be coming out. But there was no other option.

~Trust them. Franco knows what to do.~ Franco had a to-do list and he would get it done.

My wrists rubbed together, searching for the hard node beneath my skin. It’d hurt like a motherfucker having it inserted.

A small tracking device fully equipped with GPS, different frequencies, and indefinite lifecycle. I’d had the same doctor who’d tended to Tess insert it the morning I got her home.

At the time, I thought I’d gone overboard with precaution, but now I thanked my foresight. This would’ve happened regardless—I’d pissed off too many people to think I wouldn’t suffer.

But I would use it to my advantage. I intended to make an example of them. Slaughter their entire business—send a message to the remaining cocksuckers out there that I wasn’t weak.

That I wouldn’t be killed easily. Lynx would be my announcement to anyone stupid enough to come for me. They would know exactly what I would do to trespassers.

I just had to stay alive long enough for back-up to arrive.

The asshole wielding the gun in my spine pushed hard.

I snapped.

Splaying my legs for balance, I spun around, slapping the gun away. The heavy weapon clattered to the driveway.

The guy’s nostrils flared as he bent to pick it up.

~Kick. Kill.~

My leg twitched, and I couldn’t stop the urge. My muscles bunched; the tip of my black dress-shoe connected with the underside of his chin.

His head snapped backward, sending him sprawling to the irregular stonework of the driveway.

Blood instantly flowed from his mouth, eyes flickering closed.

“For fuck’s sake—get Mercer inside!” The leader stalked toward me.

Instead of standing still, waiting for punishment, I prowled forward, pushing my taller form against his in a blatant threat. “I’m capable of stepping into a house on my own accord.

“I don’t trust you and your fucking imbeciles with guns.” Muttering under my breath, I said,~“Tu as environ six heures à vivre. Vis les pleinement.”~You have about six hours to live. Enjoy them wisely.

Not waiting for a reply, I headed toward the entrance.

Once again, I pressed the hard node under my skin. A small smidgen of relief soothed my anger. I calculated how long it would take a rescue party to turn up.

If Franco had put the plan into effect before they took me, it would be anywhere from six to eight hours before the team would be mobile and on Lynx’s doorstep.

~I’ll go with six hours.~

Six hours to keep Lynx talking and away from any particularly life threatening tools.

Raising my bound hands, I knocked on the old-fashioned stained-glass door. The glass depicted a bare forest—tree skeletons in burnt oranges, browns, and blacks.

A memory of coming here thirteen months ago to collect a slave filled my mind—the games I played. The role I embraced of sadistic master buying a woman as if it was a normal transaction.

My heart sped up as the door swung open. I kept my features blank. Disdain dripped from every pore, no longer hiding how much I fucking hated the retard in front of me.

Lynx smiled, his tanned skin gleaming against the dark red of his suit. A black mandarin shirt, coupled with bright crimson shoes, made him look fucking ridiculous.

His hair was the usual black mohawk, gelled into submission, while the shorter sides mirrored the same dark red of his trousers and blazer.

“Going on a date, Dante?” I raised an eyebrow. “Dressed like that, I’d say you’re fishing for cock, not pussy.” He wasn’t gay—just a fucking tosser trying way too hard.

Lynx pursed his lips. He hated that I knew his real name: Dante Emestro.

When he’d contacted me five years ago, asking for help with planning permission for an illegal racetrack in a low-density area, I’d done my usual background checks.

I’d jangled every skeleton, knew every torrid secret. I also knew he’d sold his sister when he turned eighteen, all to gain access to the underbelly of trafficking.

Nasty piece of shit.

His black, soulless eyes glanced at my ruined dinner attire. A smile spread across his lips, no doubt taking in the swelling of my face and the multitude of bruises sustained from the journey.

“You better thank your fucking stars I’m not gay, Mercer. Or tonight might’ve ended in a completely different way for you.” He licked his lips.

“However, I could add something along those lines to the activities if you wish?” He had no facial hair apart from a ridiculous chin strap.

I would happily carve it from his face and shove it in his mouth for such a comment.

“I’d be careful, Dante. Don’t want another curse added to your reputation.”

“What other curse?”

I shrugged. “The curse you’ve brought upon yourself by bringing me here against my will.” I leaned closer, noticing he looked older than his thirty-one years—mainly thanks to cocaine abuse.

“I plan on killing you tonight. You’re my trophy to show other cunts like you that I’m not going to put up with turf wars or killings.”

He laughed loudly. “~You~ plan on killing ~me~? I think you have it the wrong way around, Mercer.” Losing his mirth, he snapped, “You’re a fucking fake.

“And I don’t play well with fakes.” Looking over my shoulder, he ordered, “Help bring Mr. high and mighty Mercer inside.”

A kick landed on my lower back, sending me careening forward. With my hands bound, I couldn’t keep my balance and sprawled at his feet. My thigh screamed as the wound sent more blood seeping.

A steel-capped boot crunched against the back of my leg, smashing my kneecap into the stone floor.

Fuck! I wanted to howl. But I didn’t. I ate the pain. Devouring it just like I would him.

But I couldn’t kill him—not yet. I had no way of winning against his crew. My only chance was to drag this out until support arrived. I wouldn’t sacrifice myself—not now I had so much to live for.

Tess. Shit, her scent filled my nose. Her cries echoed in my ears. I would see her again. ~I will.~

A foot kicked my jaw. “Payback, asswipe.” A river of blood ran down my throat—I’d bitten my tongue. I kept my lips smashed together. The agony fed my anger, wreaking havoc on my nervous system.

“Alright, enough. I need him conscious for the rest. Pick him up,” Lynx snapped.

Wrath built faster. I warmed my hands by its licking flames. Patience. Fucking patience.

Two men hoisted me under my arms, dragging me upright. My eyes latched onto the closing door. The moment it locked, I mentally began a countdown.

Six hours and counting.

~Don’t do anything reckless. Keep him talking. Stay alive.~

I had a fucking wedding to go to tomorrow.

Shrugging off the men, I stood tall, taking in the foyer. The typical signs of drugs, weapons, and broken women were prevalent.

“Like my latest editions, Mercer?” Dante pointed at two girls crawling into the entrance hall wearing nothing but a collar and pair of crotchless knickers. Their eyes were down, their skin pale.

My hands curled. Purple bruises marked their ribcages, yellow stains of old abuse, and malnourishment glazed their eyes.

I doubted they’d been there for long but already they existed in a grave, waiting for their soul to give up so they could be free.

“They’ll be mine by the end of the evening.” I already pictured the tenderness of Mrs. Sucre feeding them and the friendship of Suzette putting them back together. And Tess.

She would be there—my queen—the woman who glued every part of me into a better human being.

Dante smiled—it was cold, malicious, and if I hadn’t dealt with bastards like him all my life, I would’ve shit myself. But I had. I no longer felt their evil.

I absorbed it—waiting till I could boomerang it back, making them suffer.

I liked to think they’d invited the grim reaper into their home.

“So proud. You won’t be walking away with any of my merchandise, Mercer.” Dante laughed.

“Your pride on the other hand will be a worthwhile acquisition.” Striding past the two collared girls, he kicked one in the thigh. “This way. We’ll have a chat before we begin business.”

My hands almost broke I fisted so hard.

The girls never raised their eyes, instantly following, crawling into the room off the foyer. The walls were bare of any artwork or personality, painted in garish reds and golds with black carpeting.

It was all one level—a sprawled out estate ensuring rooms were far enough away from the business hub so prospective buyers weren’t distracted by other women’s screams or the growls of rutting animals.

Following, as if this wasn’t the end of my life and just a normal business meeting, I passed through the familiar double doors and into a large lounge.

A huge painting of a gun dripping red hung above a fake fireplace with melted candles. The room had three semi-circle couches, all with a small podium and pole bolted into the ceiling before them.

The perfect viewing for pricks and paedophiles.

Lynx sat down, patting the red leather beside him. I winced at the aches in my bones, taking a seat on the end of the couch. My thigh still bled, but I had nothing to wrap it with.

I needed to put pressure on the wound—stop any more blood loss.

Hiding my pain, I linked my hands between my legs. “The welcome committee isn’t needed.

“I don’t want to watch any of your sick fetishes,” he’d made me watch the first time, and I’d yet to burn the image from my retinas. The girl had been one I hadn’t been able to save.

She’d died that night from what he did.

Dante threw his head back, chuckling as if I were a world-renowned comedian. “Always such a fucking prude.” Waggling his finger in my direction, he added, “I know you’re not, Mercer.

“I’ve heard the rumors. Paying women to do tame things in relation to what you could do to a girl you own.” He shook his head.

“I think it’s time you stopped lying to everyone—including yourself—and give in.”

Snapping his fingers, the man who’d squeezed Tess’s breast and put a gun to her head appeared. Grabbing one of the girls from the floor, he threw her onto the podium in front of us.

Her face contorted as the pole slammed against her hip. Her hands slinked around the silver structure, eyes downcast and lost.

A rush of bile threatened to fill my mouth—bile filled with blood and the need to butcher everyone here. No one deserved to live.

They deserved to be chopped up, turned into worm food, and eventually reincarnated as bird shit.

Bird.

My eyes locked on the black-haired slave, stretching her atrophied muscles, bending around the pole.

Her ribs stuck out, breasts were small with large prominent nipples, and she had no hair between her legs—showing bite marks on her inner thighs and a piercing through her clit with a small chain leading to a piece of jewelry wrapped around her waist.

Her eyes met mine briefly. There was nothing left but hatred and contempt.

Looking away, she gyrated on the pole, flowing like a broken girl rather than a sensual mistress.

~Five hours and fifty-five minutes.~

Lynx leaned back, eyes glued to the girl. He snapped his fingers again, summoning the other slave to go to him. She crawled over, keeping her head low, showing the beads of her spine.

Her brown hair was cropped to her skull, highlighting shadows of fingers around her throat and multiple ear piercings. She was the curvier of the two but still looked unhealthy.

Fucking animals.

The girl positioned herself between Lynx’s legs, reaching to his fly without a word. He arched his hips for the girl to unbuckle his trousers, sighing deeply as she pulled out his bent, foul erection.

It took all my willpower to stay sitting and not throw myself at him. Four guards loomed around me—two in front, two behind.

I couldn’t do a thing as the girl spat on her hand, smearing her saliva over his cock and stroking him.

“Suck it.” He grabbed the back of her neck, bringing her face to crash against his crotch.

Her mouth opened, swallowing his putrid length with no complaint.

His eyes rolled back, groaning as her cheeks hollowed, sucking him hard. “Yes, that’s it. Suck. ~Suck~.” He shuddered as her lips opened wide, swallowing his entire length.

He forced her even further, suffocating her against his pubic hair, holding her until she struggled for breath.

“Stop it,” I growled, echoing with darkness.

~“I’d let you do anything, Q. Because I love you,”~ Tess’s voice whispered in my mind. Images of burning her with red wax sickened and excited me.

The room smelled of sex, feeding my sick senses with increasing lust.

Something other than anger lived in my blood now. Something twisting and tempting and entirely wrong. I had to get out of there. I had to run. Or kill. Both, preferably.

Lynx opened his eyes, piercing me with his black gaze. “You don’t tell me what to do.” To prove his point, he hit the girl on her shoulder.

She moaned, tears welling, mixing with the glistening saliva on his cock. “She’s mine to do with as I wish. I’m fucking God to her.

“And you’re a sad excuse for a prick who denies his own needs.” His hips twitched, pushing himself further into the slave’s mouth.

“You want this—just admit it and tonight could go a completely different way.”

Fuck. No moisture remained in my mouth. My heart turned into a wildebeest galloping to its death.

Locking my fingers together, I snarled, “Let’s cut the bullshit, Dante. You know I never used. I bought from you and what I did with them is none of your fucking business.

“I gave you what you asked for in return. How many buildings did I help you with? Four? Five? Stop being an asshole, and I won’t kill you.”

Lynx laughed, his hand on the bobbing head of the girl blowing him. “See—all stinking lies. You want this. You want the control. The power. Admit it.”

My eyes fell on the girl.

~I sank deep into Tess’s mouth, fucking her lips while she hung upside down. I’d never felt anything as good as driving into her throat while she was completely unable to stop me.

I groaned as the orgasm I denied forced one thick wave onto her tongue.~

Shit.

My fucking body betrayed me. My cock thickened. ~Don’t think about Tess.~ She’d loved taking me. She’d wanted it. Unlike the poor girl blowing Dante.

~Don’t confuse the two.~

Forcing Tess out of my thoughts, I muttered, “Without me, you wouldn’t have the wealth you do. Spare me the cock-swinging contest.”

His eyes narrowed. “You’re such a French idiot. You’re in denial.” Grabbing the girl’s ears, he shoved himself deeper. Her back convulsed with a gag reflex.

He slapped her. “You don’t gag, bitch.”

She nodded, resuming her task as if the glowing handprint on her cheek wasn’t burning.

I stood, towering over him, cursing my semi, hating the betrayal of my body. “Do that again and I’ll—”

“Shut the hell up.” Two men pressed on my shoulders, shoving me back onto the couch. My leg gave out, thanks to the weakness of being fucking shot.

I balled my hands. “It’s not denial. I don’t have to partake—just like I don’t use drugs or gamble. Stop trying to convert me. Let her go and let’s get down to fucking business.”

Whatever that was.

~“Q, you’re not a monster. I know the truth.”~ I squeezed my eyes, trying so hard not to let Tess into my mind. Not here. I wouldn’t taint her memories.

My eyes fell on the upside down girl on the pole. Her legs were spread, showing me every crease and fold of her abused pussy.

My cock throbbed. Fuck! Overwhelming pressure built behind my eyes. I wanted to leave before the sickness inside could grow stronger.

I would gladly walk to my torture if it meant retaining my morals and decency.

A moment ago I didn’t want to think about Tess. Now I did. ~Think of her in their place—being so badly used. You’d hate it.~

My semi turned into a full-blown fucking erection.

I’d hate it but love it.

~Tess spread-eagled on a pole. Her hair wrapped in my fingers as I forced myself inside her mouth. Her moans and pants and cries.~

Shit. I couldn’t think about anything without it lacerating everything good I tried to retain.

I scrubbed my face.

Lies.

~I fucking judge you. I’m your executioner.

Five hours and forty minutes.~

“I heard a rumour, Mercer. About the sparrows you seem to have on every logo and possession.”

I struggled to keep my face impassive. How the fuck did that piece of information get out?

Reclining in the seat, I did my best to ignore my cock, focusing on buying time for Franco and his team. “Oh? And what do they say?”

Lynx thrust his hips, his body shuddering as the girl sucked harder.

I averted my eyes. His mind games were about to get worse. I was sure of it.

Dante’s voice was lust-laden and scratchy. “That it symbolises women you’ve saved. That you think you’re a fucking hero.”

Shit. Damn news reporters and invasion of my privacy. The sparrow was a relic to me—now they’d tarnished it, brought it into the filth I lived in. “I’m not a hero.”

~Where the fuck is he going with this?~

“I also heard you~ did~ use one of the slaves you bought.” His eyebrow quirked. “A girl from Mexico—Red Wolverine gave her to you.”

I tensed. This was where the conversation went from civil to littered with minefields. I refused to talk about Tess with him. Flatly fucking refused.

I didn’t care how much he knew or how much he didn’t. None of it mattered because by the time dawn arrived I would either be dead—or he would be.

Either way, my reputation and what I did with Tess was irrelevant.

My mind filled with blonde curls, pink lips, and a strong innocence that made me bow to the woman I missed so fucking much. I better be in one piece to marry her tomorrow.

I’d fixed her but hadn’t done the one thing I wanted above all. I wanted to call her my wife.

~Hurry up, Franco.~

I nodded. Once. That was all he was getting.

“I also heard you murdered Wolverine. Hardly fair since he gave you a slave you finally enjoyed.”

My skin tingled with rage, muscles locking with the need to pummel his face. A bodyguard moved closer, sensing the fraying hold I had on my emotions.

Narrowing my eyes, I said, “Yes, I murdered that cretin. Sliced his throat like fucking caviar and I did the same to his son.”

Lynx froze, his eyes fluttering as the skilled tongue of his slave worked him closer to release. “So cocky, Mercer.”

I shrugged. “It was easy. About as easy as it will be to murder you.” My temper swelled. I couldn’t do his question and answer session anymore. “Why did you drag me here?

“I’m done watching you get a blowjob. Fucking do something or let me go.”

I was aware the question might catapult me into the killing zone, but I couldn’t sit there any longer.

I wanted to leave. I ~couldn’t~ leave. The lack of freedom made me slip from sane to crazy.

~“You came for me, Q. Je suis à toi.”~ Tess’s voice wouldn’t stop cutting through my thoughts.

Lynx stiffened, his mouth fell open as he rhythmically thrust into the girl’s mouth. She went slack as he came down her throat, shuddering with his orgasm.

The second his hips stopped pulsing, she licked him clean.

The last sweep of her tongue, Dante shoved her away and tucked his cock into his pants. Snapping his fingers, a guard handed him a lit cigarette.

Taking a puff, he murmured to the girl, “Did you like the taste of my cum, slave?”

She nodded.

“Do you think you deserve a reward?”

She froze.

“Answer me.”

Slowly, she nodded again.

Lynx smiled, lashing out with the burning ember he stabbed the cigarette into her stomach, holding it until her lips turned white from holding in her scream.

Pulling back, he ordered, “Your turn on the pole.”

She gratefully spun around. Not touching the seeping wound, she took her place on the podium.

My mind churned with waves of ferocity.

Images of stabbing him in the heart, chopping him up, hanging him from the ceiling for his slaves to whip and abuse were the only reason why I didn’t risk certain death by hurling myself across the couch and strangling him.

Smiling, Dante wiped his lips. Crooking a finger at the black-haired girl on the pole, he summoned her from the pole.

She let go, hopping off the platform.

But she didn’t go to Lynx.

She came for me.

Oh, fuck.

I sat taller, hating the sickening panic almost as much as I hated the growing lust.

She fell to her knees, never making eye contact.

I swallowed hard.

~Five hours and thirty minutes.~

“I’ve also heard you’ve fallen for the slave Wolverine gave you. Bad form to murder him after he gave you love, isn’t it?”

My concentration split between Lynx’s taunts and the girl breathing softly on my knees. Her hot breath heated through my trousers.

“I didn’t kill him for his gift. I killed him for taking it away. If he’d never interfered, I wouldn’t have had to take his life.” I looked up, hoping my anger painted every facet of my body.

“I’m sure you can appreciate revenge. After all, isn’t this yours? Revenge for me not being a sick fuck like you?”

Lynx laughed. “This is just a get together amongst old associates. However, I must admit I am a little pissed at what you did to me a few years ago.” He leaned forward.

“I had justifiable reasons to come after you then, but I never did. Shows I’m a better man than you. Don’t you think?”

He still hadn’t got over the incident? Idiot.

“Just because I knocked you out when you tried to stop me taking fair payment for that monstrosity you built in Madrid, doesn’t mean you had reason to kill my bodyguard.” Franco had not been pleased.

Needless to say others died and not him.

“You stole an extra girl—that wasn’t the agreement.”

“The agreement was you wouldn’t torture the ones I left behind. I needed more collateral. You’re a high risk client, Dante. I’m sure you can appreciate that.”

“ ~Was~ a client, Mercer. Don’t forget this conversation focuses on the termination of our association. Ending with a few severe penalties than just parting of business.” He chuckled.

“Parting of a few other important things, too, I can assure you.”

My gunshot twinged but I kept the flash of fear hidden.

“If you felt so unjustly dealt with, why didn’t you come after me then?” I grinned. “That’s right—because you know the truth. I have more power than you.”

He chuckled, tilting his head. “That might’ve been the case, but my how the tables have turned.”

~You’re scum. Worse than scum. You’re the disease that grows on scum.~

I muttered, “If you want the award of being the biggest, baddest asshole then sure. You win.” I saluted him. “Now fucking stop with the mind-games. I’m done.”

Lynx grinned. “Sure. By all means.” Nodding at the girl between my legs, he ordered, “Do it.”

She sat up on her knees, reaching for my hastily buttoned blazer. The only thing keeping my naked chest from being on display.

My throat closed at the memory of Tess ripping my shirt, ruining the buttons in her need. It felt like centuries ago.

~“I love you so much, Q. I trust you.”~

Fuck. Tess.

I was so glad she couldn’t see me now. See a whore fumbling at my belt, her hands brushing a hard cock that I wanted to cut off for being so twisted.

Pain echoed, amplifying the punches and kicks, hacking at my willpower to keep going. Five hours was an eternity. It was life-changing—or ending. So much could happen in that time.

I shuddered with violence as the girl’s hands undid my jacket, spreading it open. The moment my tattoo was visible Lynx clapped his hands. “It’s a lot different than the rumor.

“I’d heard it was bats not birds.”

Who the fuck had spread my secrets? Only a select few knew. A few paid prostitutes at the beginning of my career—they were the only ones who would tell. I trusted my staff and confidants completely.

I couldn’t speak through my tight jaw. I refused to utter a word.

“What do you think of her?” Lynx motioned to the girl now bowing at my feet. My fly hung open, revealing the waistband of my boxers.

A sickly spasm filled me. I hated where this was going.

“She’s underfed, sad, and no doubt thinking of ways to murder us.”

Dante glowered. His mohawk bristled with gel as he stood. “I suppose you prefer overfed women who don’t obey, is that it?”

I thought of Tess. Her incredible curves. Her feisty strength. My lips twitched, allowing one ray of light into my soul. “Yes. One in particular.”

Lynx’s face darkened. “You might as well get her out of your thoughts. You won’t be seeing her again.”

I sat solid, unmovable. Not rising to the bait.

~Five hours and twenty minutes.~

“Tell you what...I’ll let you survive—after I take payment for what you cost me—if you can do one thing.” His eyes flickered to the slave, filling with smug pride.

My heart splattered into my feet.

Shit.

I looked at the girl; her eyes flickered to mine. Her plea for help pierced around the room—I heard it so clearly I was surprised the windows and mirrors didn’t shatter with her high-pitched sorrow.

“Want to know what it is?” Dante prodded.

I didn’t need to know. I already did.

“Blow down her throat. Use her like I know you want to. And I’ll let you live.”

My lungs stuck together.

And there it was.

The crux of my life. The one thing that would end up killing me. Not only my vow never to be my father but also my vow to a woman who held my fucking heart.

Either I had to hurt this woman and desecrate a body that now belonged to Tess or die.

The decision crippled me.

I would never be able to explain either situation. I wouldn’t be able to soothe Tess’s tears when she found me murdered for honoring my loyalty to her.

And I wouldn’t be able to fan her happiness when she found me alive, knowing what I’d done to stay that way.

Honor was a bitch but there was no other way. I would die with no regrets. I would die being loyal.

Cursing the forming headache, I said, “If you ask your men, they’ll kindly inform you I came rather well a few hours ago. They saw the event.

“I’m wrung dry.” My eyes sparked, hot anger trickled down my back in a droplet of sweat. Nothing hurt anymore—only my heart. “But thanks for the offer.”

The girl’s face paled. She curled her shoulders, expecting a beating for no longer having the task assigned to her.

I wanted to pick her up and drape my jacket over her nakedness. Shit, I wanted her away from this creep and safe.

Lynx’s fingers cracked, forming into fists—the first sign of aggression. “This isn’t a negotiation, Mercer.”

“I thought that’s exactly what it was. A negotiation for my life.” Glaring, I added, “Let’s cut the crap. Name a price. Wouldn’t you rather a fat check rather than a messy corpse to clean?”

He laughed. “Who said I’d be the one cleaning afterward?”

The tension in the room thickened. Dante lost his joviality, pointing at the girl. “Do it. Otherwise this nice little conversation will end, and you’ll wish you’d taken the offer.”

The girl suddenly reached for my waistband, tugging it away from my tight, unwilling body.

I stiffened as her small hand dove into my boxer-briefs, grabbing hold of a cock that had no fucking right to be hard.

~Five hours and ten minutes.~

I grabbed her wrists, shaking my head. “No, thank you. Stop.”

A cold muzzle pushed against my temple. Angry breathing hit the side of my face. “You don’t have a choice, asshole.”

Two options: die here with my pants undone and my skull shattered, or give myself another five hours for a chance at living.

A howl resonated in my soul. The monster inside couldn’t understand my hesitation, but my love for Tess was stronger. It didn’t help when voices whispered permission.

“I’d rather you live, Q. Do whatever’s necessary to survive.”

“Do it, Q. I understand.”

Tess’s voice cajoled and danced, stealing everything.

Goddammit.

Removing my hands, I shut my eyes, allowing the girl to pull my cock out with her cold fingers.

Her touch was so different. Weak, unsure, full of history of other men she’d held—other bastards who’d used her body against her will.

Tess, fuck I’m sorry.

“Suck him,” Lynx demanded.

My stomach curled as the girl bowed over my hips—her breath hot on my length. My cock lurched at the subtle sensation.

That piece of meat was the reason I’d been conflicted all my life—driven by genetics I wished I could delete.

I can’t do this.

I couldn’t use a slave. It would be the slippery slope hurtling my soul to hell.

My hand landed on her chin, holding her a millimeter from sucking me. “Arrêt.” Stop.

Let her blow you. Buy some time.

No matter the voices inside my head making it okay, I couldn’t.

The gun on my temple pressed harder. Lynx demanded. “You would rather die than have some woman’s spit on your cock?” He laughed. “You’re fucking unbelievable.”

A fist landed on my cheekbone, snapping my neck to the side. Two men grabbed my arms, jerking them behind my head.

“Do it.” Lynx snapped his fingers again. The girl grabbed my cock, her mouth descending, sinking down my length.

“Fuck. Stop!” I thrashed in the chair, not caring how much I hurt. I couldn’t let this woman suck me off. I couldn’t do that to her, to me, to Tess. Fuck, Tess. I’m sorry!

I bit my split lip as the girl sucked. Her teeth stayed sheathed, her tongue shy. My hands twitched, trying to get free. “Let me go, Lynx!”

My eyes closed, fighting the beast in my blood. It couldn’t be fucking happier to have a woman on her knees against her will. My cock grew harder, swelling under her licking tongue.

I want to die. I couldn’t do this.

I turned manic, thrusting up, trying to dislodge her lips. The girl moaned as I smashed against the back of her throat. In that moment I didn’t have any urge to save her. She was on their side.

Fucking raping me of any choice or honor.

Lynx clapped his hands. “That’s it. Use her, Mercer. Let yourself go. You know you want to.

“Look how much your cock wants to.” He pressed on the girl’s neck, forcing her to sink lower, swallowing all of me—right to the base.

Fuck. Me.

My eyes wanted to roll. My balls wanted to explode. My heart wanted to fucking die.

The beast inside bayed in rapture—finally it said—~finally I get a taste of the life I’ve always wanted.~

It didn’t compute to the inner bastard inside that this was all against my will. I was the victim—just as much as she.

Her head bobbed up and down, her nose pressing against my belly.

“Stop. Just please—stop.” My quads tensed as the monster inside stole all decency. It wanted her. It wanted to abuse her. It wanted to come. So. Fucking. Bad.

~I can’t!

I’m better than that. I’m better than ~him.

My stomach clenched with nausea. I was sick, an adulterer, the worst kind of man.

Her mouth increased pressure, her fingers circling below, grabbing my balls.

Two urges ran like raging rapids in my blood. One was the master I always kept buried who wanted to thrust into this slave and take. The other screamed for retribution.

I wouldn’t stoop to ~his~ level—not even if it meant I might save my worthless fucking excuse for a life.

Tess deserved better. I would happily sign my death warrant if it meant I never had to cheat or lie or steal.

“Make him come, girl. Hurry up.” Lynx dictated her speed, wrenching her up and down by her hair, faster and faster until the prickles and tingles of an orgasm grew unwillingly in my blood.

My eyes widened as the beast growled inside, salivating at the thought of painting this slave’s throat in a way I’d never done.

I’d been so strong. Always saying no. Turning down offers. Refusing to destroy women.

~You’re breaking every code you live by.~

A groan tore from my lips as the suction from her mouth grew. The intensity of the inner fight between me and demon radiated outward. I fought harder, tearing my arms.

It didn’t do any good.

“Suck. Faster, girl!” Dante never took his eyes off my undoing as my hips surged upward involuntarily. Handing control over to the monster inside—the monster I wasn’t strong enough to fight.

The girl’s tongue swirled around the tip. So different to Tess. So unskilled and unloving compared to Tess.

My eyes burned with self-hatred. A ripple of pre-cum worked up my shaft. The girl worked harder, tasting the end, working me closer to the finish line.

The two men holding me chuckled, relaxing their hold. For a moment I hung suspended in a horrible place of ignoring my inner righteousness and coming.

It would be so easy. One thrust. Possibly two. Into the hot, wet, slippery mouth of the girl using me.

But I wouldn’t be able to live with the aftermath. I’d never forgive myself. I’d never be able to look Tess in the eye again and believe I had any goodness left for her.

The girl swiveled her head, a slice of teeth hurtling me closer to coming.

I let the monster free—but not to climax. To hunt.

Ripping my arms from the men, I kicked up at the same time. My knee connected with the girl’s chest, sending her sprawling to the floor.

My glistening hard cock stood like a traitor between my legs but I didn’t give a fucking damn because all I wanted was Lynx to die. Horribly. Drastically. Excruciatingly.

I hurled myself at him, sending us both to the floor. The orgasm that lived in my body switched to lustful need for his death.

We rolled, punching, shouting. He fought hard but he didn’t have a beast riding him—a beast that desperately wanted to come and now was fucking angry.

Lynx’s bodyguards dragged me off him, slamming me onto my back. Dante scrambled to his feet, throwing a painful kick to my ribs. “You’re a dead man. Fucking dead—you hear me?”

I shrugged. “I already was. Least this way I can die knowing I kept my morals.” My eyes landed on the girl. She wiped her lips with the back of her hand, holding her stomach where I kneed her.

~“Je suis désolée. Ce n’est pas toi.” I~’m sorry. It wasn’t you. I did up my trousers, tucking away the piece of my body that’d almost ruined me.

Her hazel eyes widened. I doubted she understood, but at least I’d said what I needed to. It would haunt me that I wasn’t able to save her.

Turns out, I couldn’t even save myself. Playing along with Lynx’s games should’ve been easy—if it wasn’t for the sins in my soul just waiting to strike me down.

I couldn’t afford to enter the darkness. I couldn’t afford to slip—regardless if it meant life or death.

I wouldn’t save my life by doing the one thing that would destroy it. Not when I’d planned on getting married tomorrow. Not when I’d had some ~small~ chance at getting into heaven.

Shoving the two idiots away from me, I stood. Facing Dante, I ignored the pain in my thigh, thankful at least that soon I wouldn’t have to suffer the slick heat from the wound. “Enough.

“Let’s get this over with.”

Lynx clenched his jaw, his eyes tight with rage. “Fine, you fucking pussy. Let’s move this conversation downstairs.”

~Four hours fifty-nine minutes.~

My time had officially run out.

My eyes refused to open.

Every sense honed in on one particular pain. An excruciating agony in the back of my skull. Pounding, clanging, throbbing.

I groaned, needing to investigate the wound, needing to touch it—to try and alleviate the pain.

But I couldn’t move.

Nothing obeyed.

Panic opened my eyes.

My vision was hazy, unfocused, especially in my right pupil. What the fuck happened?

“Ah, you’ve finally decided to stop sleeping away your final minutes, Mercer.” Lynx appeared, but all I saw were his crimson shoes.

I frowned, trying to figure out what the hell was going on. Blinking hard, I forced my eyesight to make sense of something that made no sense at all.

~I’m upside down.~

Clenching my stomach muscles, I arched upright, taking note of my bound and very naked body. Black ropes wrapped around my ankles, tethering me to the ceiling.

The gunshot in my thigh looked awful and bloody. My arms were lassoed to my sides, coiled tightly with twine.

Hot lacing terror filled my heart. “Wh—what?” My swollen tongue couldn’t form syllables. It felt as if I’d bitten it again. “Tell—”

Lynx laughed.

“If you’re trying to figure out how you came to be hanging in the same dungeon you were invited to enjoy an orgy in, then I can clarify.” His hand struck out, stroking my chin almost tenderly.

“I pushed you down the stairs. You hit your head pretty hard at the bottom. Smashed a tile.” He tutted as if I’d ruined his entire decor.

“However, passing out you gave us the great advantage of preparing you like this with no other issues or complications.” He patted my cheek. “Thanks for that.”

My chest rose and fell as adrenaline turned me from rational to drunk on the need to run or fight or both.

I never took my eyes off Dante as he snapped his fingers, silently ordering two men to place a small table beside my head. On it rested a small towel and a row of buckets of water.

I gulped—not that it worked hanging upside down. The pressure of vertigo made the ache in my neck and residue unconsciousness scream for mercy.

In the distance hung a sex swing with ropes, pulleys, and a wall groaning with sexual torture equipment.

The cold black tiles of the floor and the chains looping from the ceiling made it seem as if I’d stepped back in time. I’d woken in a nineteenth century torture chamber.

~“You came for me, Q. You saved me from them.”~

My eyes snapped closed at the memory of finding Tess in Rio. Those conditions had been worse. If she survived that I could survive this.

“I offered a civilized way out of this, Mercer. You’re an idiot for not taking it.” Lynx came closer, running a fingertip down my chest, swirling around the upside down sparrows.

I stiffened. I wanted to tear his body to pieces. My blood was cold and ready for his death.

He held out his hand. One of his guards placed a baseball bat into his open grip.

Oh, fuck.

My stomach muscles clenched in preparation; my entire body locking down to protect vulnerable organs.

“I think we’ll begin with a warm up—don’t you?” The~ thwack~ of the bat wrenched a groan from my lips, echoing around the chamber.

I jerked in the chains, dangling like a punching bag. I tried to double over, but my weight kept me hanging, completely at his mercy.

“Tenderize you a bit. Be a good way to relieve tension,” Lynx laughed. He hit me again on my lower belly, scarily close to my cock.

A cock that’d been sucked by a woman who wasn’t Tess. It deserved to be punished.

Lynx twisted the handle, securing a better grip. He swung hard and fast, walloping me as if I were a home run.

I cried out, groaning as something crunched inside. A rib. The sharp shooting pain compounded to all the rest—consuming my thoughts with agony.

My ragged breathing turned short and shallow, working through the wash of darkness.

Another blow. This one right on my chest.

My vision went black. Pain ebbed away as my soul tried to run.

“I love you, Q. I love your ruthlessness and strength. I love knowing you’ll always come for me.” Shit. Tears pricked my eyes. I’d broken a promise. I would no longer be there for Tess.

I wouldn’t be there to rescue her.

Be happy you fixed her mind. Before…before I was stupid enough to let this happen.

“You still with me, Mercer?” A white hot jolt seized my muscles. I turned into a plank of human flesh as Dante electrified me with extreme volts from a Taser.

My jaw locked, bones hummed. Every inch of me stood to fucking attention.

Lynx stopped the current passing through my body, trailing a fingertip around my waist to my back. “Don’t pass out. You do and you won’t wake up.”

I wasn’t weak but the sound of passing out was entirely too tempting.

The next strike came from behind. The baseball bat struck my lower back, lighting up a different sort of pain—a radiating sensation-stealing pain.

I screamed.

I wasn’t proud I screamed. I hated that he’d hurt me enough to earn it but fuck—it devastated my willpower. All feeling to my freezing legs above suddenly disappeared.

The heat from the gunshot was gone. The tingles from the electric shock existed no more. He’d either traumatized my spine or crippled me.

The thought of not being able to stand beside Tess to marry her, or walk beside her as we grew old tore my heart into pieces.

It doesn’t matter. You’re about to die anyway.

Incredibly, the thought granted peace. Dante could do whatever the hell he pleased because ultimately it didn’t matter. I would still end up in the same place.

I lost the will to tense. What was the point? It would only prolong it.

The next swing slammed into my kidneys like a bulldozer. Agony blazed in my groin and lower belly. Lynx prowled around, dragging a hand along my quivering body.

I tried to twist away, moaning at the spreading pain. I wanted to curse him—but again—what was the fucking point?

He chuckled, sounding evil in the cold black dungeon. “I’m thinking we need to get rid of this tattoo.” His hand slapped over the ink, trailing down to the ‘T’ branded over my heart.

He clucked his tongue. “What the hell is this?” He shoved me with the tip of the baseball bat. I swung backward, creaking in the chains.

~That is the one good thing in my life.~ The one redemption. My one untarnished love. Tess. She would always be the key to whatever heaven I entered.

I swallowed back my sadness—I’d never see her again. See her smile. Hear her laugh. I’d done everything I could to protect her. I just hoped she wouldn’t switch herself off again.

She couldn’t live a life removed from emotion. I’d tried to teach her that—but I wouldn’t be there to enforce it.

Lynx shoved me again, spinning me around. I closed my eyes, suffering a rush of nausea. “Answer me, Mercer.”

I kept my lips pursed. He’d torn a scream from me but he wouldn’t get another.

He huffed. “Well, it doesn’t matter. Whatever it is, soon it will be in pieces on the floor.” He spun me again, stepping away and dropping the baseball bat. “Let’s loosen him up.

“I want him screaming.”

A man stopped my pendulum swing, slapping me to a halt. He smiled, his face hideous upside down. “Say goodbye, fuckwit.”

I sucked in a breath as he placed a heavy towel over my face. Shit. It blocked out everything. My warm breathing was trapped in the material.

My hands clenched, hating the iciness of fear spiking my heart.

~“I’m never afraid when I’m with you. Because I trust you.”~

Tess filled my mind, giving me something to latch onto. I couldn’t see past the black towel, but I didn’t need to. I didn’t want to look at anything but the woman I wanted to marry.

My stomach clenched at the thought of anyone else making her happy. I couldn’t bear the idea of her falling for another or marrying someone completely unworthy.

My forehead furrowed, loving the memories of her and hating them, too. Knowing I’d never see her again hurt more than anything Lynx could do.

I’d never see my perfect ~esclave~ again.

~Je t'aime, Tess.~

Fuck, I wanted this over with. I wanted to stop thinking and just…go.

I made a vow not to scream. I wouldn’t die a pussy. I wouldn’t give them the satisfaction of tearing my life from an unwilling body.

I’d brought this on myself—I’d been too proud—too cocky, and I would pay the worst kind of price.

“Do it,” Lynx ordered.

Water poured onto my face, seeping through the towel. My heartbeat thundered in my ears as liquid saturated the material, suffocating me drop by drop.

Waterboarding.

I’d seen it done. I’d witnessed a few women die from such a simple but very effective method of torturing.

The towel went from dry to soaked instantly, clinging like a heavy film over my mouth and nose. The weight of the material increased, smothering my face, giving me nowhere to turn or hide.

My mouth gaped, sucking at nonexistent oxygen, breathing in wet towel and nothing else.

~Don’t panic. Just let it happen.~

It was fine to order myself to do something—entirely different when my body took over. Survival instincts kicked in. I thrashed, trying to dislodge the never-ending stream of water.

My stomach clenched, overriding the numbness in my spine and bruises on every inch. I hurled upright, doing everything in my power to free my nose.

But it was no use.

~Goddammit, let me breathe!~

Time ceased to have meaning as the trickle became a downpour, no longer stealing my breath but forcing a torrent of water down my throat—drowning me in more ways than one.

“More. Give him more,” Dante demanded.

The water level increased until I gave up trying to breathe. It was pointless. Holding what little oxygen I had, I counted the seconds until I died.

~One second.

Two seconds.~

Another wash of liquid tickled my throat, running in rivulets over my hair.

~Three seconds.

Four seconds.~

There was no point being brave. I was about to die.

My heart chased the last breath around my lungs.

~Five seconds.

Six seconds.~

My body absorbed the final dregs of oxygen—nothing remained. My body was master now—not my mind. Death throes took me hostage.

Muscles jerked, hurtling me toward death, desperately fighting the restraints.

I would’ve given every cent I owned to have one last breath. One inhale of sweet, sweet oxygen. Even Tess couldn’t distract me from the all-consuming need for ~air.~

~“I held on for you to find me. You came even when I didn’t think you would. Hold on, Q. I’m coming.”~

Tess’s voice was angelic, cutting through my panic. I wanted to tell her I couldn’t. There was no point in her coming to find me. I wouldn’t be there when Franco’s team arrived.

I no longer knew the timeframe after being unconscious.

But I didn’t need to know. I ran out of time the moment I refused to accept a blowjob from a slave.

~Air. Please give me air.~

My body danced in its chains, slowly growing weaker as blackness inched over my brain.

Then I got my wish.

The towel left my face, and I threw all dignity to the dogs. I gulped and gulped, sucking in air as if I was starving—which I was. Starved of the simplest thing a human required to live.

Then, I screamed.

The fucking cocksucker made me scream. I had no choice. I couldn’t contain the pain.

The agony came from my shin bone. Using the rapidly depleting muscles in my stomach, I curled upward, fixing onto the blood dripping from my sliced flesh.

It trickled down my skin, running toward my groin.

Lynx stood beside me with a knife. The blade smeared with crimson. “We’re going to begin a game. Every breath must be paid by a cut.” His face molded into the true devil.

He cut me again, just below the first. I bit my lip against the sharpness—refusing to scream again.

“Every breath has a price. And when we get to here—”

Everything in me froze to ice. The tip of his knife wedged beneath my flaccid cock, raising the heavy organ from my stomach. Shit, shit.~ No, don’t.~

The sharp blade exploded my heart with horror.~ Fuck, let me die.~

“When we’ve used up your legs for payment…this comes next. I don’t expect you’ll survive much longer after that.” He twisted the blade, letting my cock slap against my stomach.

Lynx pressed the serrated edge against my balls, deliberately dragging the knife lower and lower, right to the base—right where he would eunuch me and let me bleed to fucking death.

My head pounded—the need to replace air to my oxygen-deprived body forgotten. The beast inside turned feral—wanting so damn much for freedom to mutilate him in the same way.

I wouldn’t have the opportunity to pay him back. I wouldn’t be able to take payment for what he would steal.

“You know why I’ll take this as my final trophy, Mercer?”

I didn’t say a word. I didn’t need to—he was high on whatever sick power trip he existed on.

“I gave you the opportunity to use it. If you’d blown down that girl’s throat I would’ve let you keep it. If you’d fucked her in front of me, I would’ve let you walk away without torture.

“And if you’d killed her—like I know your sadistic tendencies make you want to—I would’ve forgotten this whole thing.

“Shit, I would’ve stood by you and assured the rest of the men who want a piece of you that you’re one of us. That the lies you told were for the media and not to the men you pretended to be like.”

Leaning forward, he whispered in my ear, “If only you’d played along—see how you could’ve survived?” Swirling the knife around an inked sparrow, he muttered, “Now you’ve pissed me off and I won’t be happy just taking your life.

“You think you’ll be free when you’re dead?” He shrugged.” You will be I suppose, but know this. I’m not done with you yet. I’m going to chase your little slave. I’m going to take her.

I’m going to fuck her. And then I’m going to kill her just like I killed you.”

~No!~

“Don’t you fucking touch her. You have me. Do whatever the hell you want but leave her the fuck alone!”

Rage. Blinding, suffocating rage. I couldn’t do it. He’d stolen the luxury of slipping into death.

He’d taken away my will to die, replacing it with the terror of knowing I could do nothing to stop him.

~Tess!~

“Do you hear me? You stay the fuck away from her.”

I couldn’t let them take her again. I didn’t care that Franco would never let her out of his sight. He had his orders. If he didn’t find me in time, his loyalty was to her.

He would give his life to protect hers—just as he did for me.

Lynx laughed. “You aren’t in the position to tell me what I can and can’t do. You’re going to die, Mercer, but at least you won’t be alone in hell for long.

“She’ll be joining you soon enough.” The knife pricked my cock again. “Pity for you, you won’t have a dick to use when you see her again.”

~“Ne pas la toucher. Vous ne pouvez pas la toucher.”~ Don't touch her. You can't touch her.

“Speaking in French doesn’t work on a Spaniard, idiot.” He removed the blade. “Cover him.”

I sucked in a gulp of air as the wet towel descended over my face. My heart bucked with terror. I had to warn Franco, Frederick. I had to get Tess to safety. She wouldn’t die because of me.

She wouldn’t!

“Begin,” Dante ordered.

The cascade started anew, drowning me with the aid of a simple cloth.

My lungs turned to fire. Seconds flew toward minutes as more and more water cascaded. I forced myself not to suck in the towel, desperate for breath.

Unconsciousness tried to claim me but I fought it. I couldn’t. Tess!

But no matter how hard I held on, my brain shut down, body jerked; I died with every pore.

My life didn’t exist apart from the black water-world. My thoughts scrambled. Tess. Air. Tess. Air.

I wanted both in equal measure. I wanted to run. I wanted to be free.

Tess morphed into being. Her gorgeous blonde curls, her all-seeing blue-grey eyes. A halo of light appeared behind her, fading her from view as my heart threw itself toward its last beat.

~Tess, run. Please.~

Her presence never left me as a wave of heavy water splashed over me. I toppled on the edge, gasping, choking. Lynx overestimated my lung capacity—hurtling me toward death.

The last torrent of liquid was my demise.

~Don’t give up. You can’t.~ I owed it to Tess to stay alive. I had to protect her. I had to be there for her always.

~“Come with me, Q. Let go. It’s better this way.”~ The illusion grabbed me by the hands, dragging me forward. I didn’t want to go, but I had no choice.

My body gave up. Suffocated of air, it shut down—snipping my life-force free from pain.

The agony faded, inch by inch, ache by ache, until I felt nothing.

Nothing but weightlessness... nothingness.

Sounds faded. The strain in my lungs no longer mattered.

Life tiptoed away from me, taking with it any promise of happiness I might’ve found by marrying my soul-mate.

But my soul-mate wanted me to leave with her. Her golden hand outstretched, glowing with welcome light. She wanted me to leave this black cold place.

I could be with her forever.

~I want to be with you forever~, esclave.

~“Then let go. I’m waiting.”~

I didn’t think why she appeared when she was living not dead. I didn’t stop to ponder how she found me. All I knew was what I wanted. And I wanted her.

I let go. I went to her. I obeyed my ~esclave~.

Dying was such a simple thing.

I felt no guilt, no terror, no worries. Only acceptance for something I couldn’t change.

Darkness came for me.

My golden girl stuttered out.

The light she’d teased me was gone.

The sun turned to an eclipse and... I fell. Like an unwanted star, I fell from the promise of heaven and plummeted to where I belonged.

Falling, falling.

~Falling.

I fell straight~ into hell.