Trust (11 page)

Chapter 11

“What did you do to her, you
animal!” The sound of Becca’s voice screaming out snapped me back to reality as Lance shoved me into my cage, locking me in.

I look
ed over at Becca, my eyes wild with panic. Becca never got worked up or called attention to herself like this. I looked back at Lance, who was glaring at Becca, his jaw clenching.

“I’ll give you one opportunity to shut your fucking mouth
, slave, or I’ll come in there and show you the consequences for shouting at your master.”

“
Becca please. No!” My back hurt, burning and stinging along the deep gashes. And the gashes were itchy, I wanted to claw wildly at my back, but forced myself not to. It was bad enough without making it worse.

Becca
looked from my pleading face to Lance and then snapped her mouth shut, retreating back to her cot, but refusing to lower her gaze, instead glaring at him, challenging him to follow through with his threat.

“Please, it’s not worth it,” I whisper
ed to her.

She seemed to give my plea consideration and then h
er shoulders went slack and she dropped her chin down, eyes lowering to the floor.

“That’s more like it.” Spinning on his heel he left the dungeon
, his two rifle-toting men trotting behind him.

“What happened to you
, Gwen?” she whispered, turning her head and lifting her eyes to look at me.

“I was punished.”

“Did he rape you?”

I cringed
, not liking that word linked to Lance. It was hardly rape, but we’d had an agreement and our stories had to sync up. The story was that I attempted to escape again, I didn’t get far, he had no choice but to show me once and for all who the master and who the slave was.

“
Ohmygod, but weren’t there orders you weren’t to be touched?”

I shrug
ged. “What happens if they disobey an order?”

“When I first got here there was a girl similar to you, virgin,
The Boss didn’t want her touched. One of the guards snuck in, took her away for a little bit, raped her and returned her the night before the auction. I guess he hoped they wouldn’t notice she wasn’t a virgin any longer.”

“So what happened?”

“I never saw him again.”

A million scenarios rushed through my head, invading my state of serenity that the drug he’d given me produced. I was beginning to understand why people who had issues turned to drugs, they helped take the pain and anxiety away. I really didn’t want to think about the possibilities, but knew until I saw him again I’d have this feeling of dread within me. I
didn’t think I’d be able to survive here or anywhere else for that matter without him.

If they killed him then they might as well kill me too.

~*~*~*~*~

“
Wakie, wakie sweetness.” A deep male voice broke through my dreams, pulling me awake.

I opened my eyes and screamed as I saw Connor staring down at me, his face only inches from mine. I looked around frantically, but there was no escape. He had me cornered on my cot.

“What are you doing? Where’s Lance?”

A sinister smile spread across his lips. “It’s my understanding that you’re no longer untouchable.” His eyes wandered down the length of my body as his hand cupped my mound.

“My master will kill you if you touch me!” I growled.

“I don’t think I need to worry about that.” He thrust a finger into me and I screamed out clawing at him, catching the side of his face with my nails, leaving a long angry gash. “Fucking whore!” Removing his finger from my core he raised his hand to me and I closed my eyes waiting for the blow to come.

It didn’t come.

“She’s already in bad enough shape, don’t damage her face.” I opened my eyes to see Tanner behind Connor, grasping his wrist and keeping him from delivering the blow. “I told you to come get her for the auction not rape her. Fuck. I can’t trust you for a fucking second.”

Connor grunted, lowering his hand and leaning into me
, his lips brushing my ear. “After the sale, baby. I’m going to fuck every one of your holes before you leave here.” His whisper was only loud enough for me to hear and it caused my entire body to tremble because I knew he’d follow through with the threat. He straightened and took a step back so Tanner could hook a leash to my collar.

“Where’s Lance?” I ask
ed Tanner.

Tanner chuckled. “Where he is isn’t any of your concern, but you won’t be seeing him again.” He gave the leash a tug, pulling me from the cot. “Now come on. It’s your turn up at auction.”

As I walked behind Tanner and Connor I felt numb. I didn’t even care what happened to me, all I wanted to know was that he was okay. Could they have killed him like they killed the other guy? Would his own father kill his son over me? It was insanity, but then again The Boss and the men working for him were hardly sane, sane people didn’t kidnap, rape and sell women as if they were just another good to be bartered.

It wasn’t until we stopped in front of an elevator and Tanner pressed in the code that I took notice that we were in an unfamiliar area of the compound.
Asking where we were was on the tip of my tongue, but I held it back. Not like they’d answer if I wanted them to.

The elevator dinged and the doors slid open. We stepped inside and he pressed the only button available. The doors closed with a whoosh and we went up a floor. When the doors opened another door swung open revealing a home library.

What the fuck?

I felt a tug at my neck and I followed behind, trying to catch glimpses of the house as I was guided through it. This floor was nothing like the other floor. Where the other floor had been plain and cold, this section was warm and inviting, elegant in décor. When we stopped I lifted my eyes just high enough to see I was in a room with a stage in the center
. A contraption similar to the one in the BDSM room sat atop the stage, but the binds were suspended on a giant steel X.

To my left there was a giant mirror, but I knew it wasn’t an ordinary mirror. I wondered how many people were on the other side of the mirror. How many wanted to purchase me and who. I didn’t fight when they pulled me onto the platform and strapped me in. There was no point.

I noticed that Jazz had joined us in the room, with a rifle slung over his shoulder. What would it take to make him use it on me? I’d die before going somewhere else or being raped by one of the monsters working here. No, I couldn’t go down that road. As long as I was alive there was hope. I knew I had to keep reminding myself of that.

“All secure
,” Connor stated, jumping from the platform.

“Good. I’ll go tell
The Boss we’re ready for the buyers,” Tanner replied.

I was thankful for the binds around my wrists because without them I would have crumbled to the floor. My fate would be standing behind that window. The lashes at my back seemed to hurt worse than ever, so I focused on the pain, anything to escape the thoughts racing through my head.

Connor and Jazz took their places on either side of the door as Tanner left. I could feel their gazes burning into me, but refused to look up, keeping my eyes downcast.

“Gentlemen, up for bids is a blonde Caucasian, eighteen years of age, in perfect health
with no STDs. No tattoos or blemishes, however there are lash marks that will most likely turn to scarring on her back. Semi-docile temperament and in need of training.” I immediately knew The Boss’s voice to be the one speaking. “Please place your bids.”

A gasp escaped me as the platform began to slowly turn so the people in the other room could get a complete 360
-degree view of my body. I felt like a fucking animal at the pet shop.

“Not a virgin.” Hearing I was no longer a virgin made my heart ache. Where was my knight in shining armour? A tear trickled down my cheek.

For a flash of a second I wondered if it was just a game, if perhaps he’d been just fucking with my mind to show all you had to do was show me a little compassion and I’d become an eager participant in any fucked-up punishment he had in store for me. The idea tore at my heart; I couldn’t for sake of my sanity entertain the notion. When I’d arrived I swore I’d never let them break me, but the thought that the only light in my life at that moment betrayed me would shatter me into a million pieces.

“Damn, bitch is getting expensive,” Jazz muttered.

I opened my eyes and listened as the auctioneer rattled off prices; $28,000… $30,000… $34,000… They kept going up and up.

“SOLD!
” The Boss announced. My life was worth $39,000, less than a sports car or a new truck.

“You should be proud
, whore, you’re one of our highest-selling bitches to date, even with a fucked-up back and having a dick in ya,” Connor commented.

“Fuck you!” I growl
ed, glaring at Connor and then at Jazz. I belonged to someone else now, I guessed they wouldn’t dare touch me until the sale was final and jeopardize the sale. “Disgusting fuckers! No wonder you have to rape women, it’s the only way to get them to sleep with you.” If I was wrong, I’d be in for the beating of a lifetime, but I couldn’t help it, it may be my only chance to at least verbalize how vile they were to me.

I could see the tension in Connor’s stance as he eyed me like I was prey. Jazz stepped in front of him, whispering something to him. It took a minute
but Connor’s stance relaxed, however he continued to glare at me. No doubt if he had a chance he’d strangle the life from me. If the buyer decided to keep me here for training I no doubt would be in for a world of hurt.

Tanner entered the room and strode over to me
. I could see anger in his expression so intense it made me cringe. Quickly he released my binding and hooked a leash to my collar. “Come on.” He gave the leash a violent yank, nearly sending me toppling to the floor. I just barely caught my balance before trotting after him, ignoring the glares from Jazz and Connor.

We didn’t go back downstairs, instead he led me down a new corridor and into a small room. It was very similar to the room I was put in when I was first introduced to Lance. A double
-sized bed and a couple of chairs furnished the room, but this time the chairs were larger plush chairs and the bedspread wasn’t a plain army blanket, but a nice patchwork quilt.

He unlatched the leash from my collar and tossed me onto the bed. “Don’t fucking move, your buyer will be here in a
bit.” Without another word he exited the room and I heard the lock click behind him.

Glancing around the room I noticed there wasn’t a camera in this room. I was starting to get it. The compound was a dungeon hidden away, but on top
of it was a mansion. No one who entered would ever guess what went on downstairs. I now got why slaves weren’t allowed topside. Which led me to wonder, who was The Boss anyhow? I was coming to the conclusion that he was more than just the head of a slave trading organization.

The sound of the lock disengaging made my pulse race and I cowered to the back of the bed
, pulling my knees up to my chest and turning myself into a little ball. My body began to tense and the room felt like it was beginning to close in on me. Closing my eyes, I concentrated on my breathing. I couldn’t have an attack now. Couldn’t. I needed Lance, I needed him so much right now.

Chapter 12

“
Ohmygod! Lance!” I nearly fell from the bed in my haste to get to him as he entered the room, closing the door behind him.

He grunted as I threw myself into his arms. “Easy, easy.” He groaned again and pulled back from me.

Confused, I stepped back looking up into his eyes and gasped. “What happened to you?” He looked like he’d just gotten hit by a transport truck. Despite my question I had a pretty good idea of what happened. His face looked battered and bruised, but it wasn’t anything compared to the bruises covering his torso when I lifted his t-shirt or the way his rib on the right side didn’t quite look proper.

“I had a little disagreement about how I handled you with my father.”

“So he had the guys beat the shit out of you?”

“Considering the other guy was gutted and tossed into the ocean, I think I got off good.” He brushed past me and walked over to the bed, sitting down
with a low groan. “Family favouritism, I guess.”

“Why would you take the chance if you
knew they might kill you?” I fell to my knees between his legs and rested my head on his lap, wrapping my arms around his waist but not holding too tight, scared I might hurt him further.

“I was betting on they wouldn’t.”

“My God. But my buyer. Did you… ?” I looked up into his blue eyes and waited on bated breath.

“The Boss permitted me to bid on you.”

“Oh, thank God!”

“With some stipulations.”

“Sure, whatever.”

“You cannot come
into the main part of the compound and are not allowed to leave. Ever.”

“Ever,” I echoed. I envision
ed the cell downstairs – my home – forever. 

“And
I have to take on a more hands-on role with the organization.”

My brow furrowed. “
What do you mean by hands-on?”

He began stroking my golden locks. “I mean, I’ll be required to train and discipline the slaves
, along with my other duties. He’s been wanting that since I started working for him here, but I was putting it off, until you. Now he has you to use as leverage.”

I lowered my gaze. “I’m sorry. Maybe
–”

Capturing
my chin in his hand he forced my face up to look at him. “Don’t even say it. At least with me they won’t be brutalized like they are with some of the others.”

And you’ll have to fuck them…
I didn’t ask the question, but jealousy coursed through my veins. He was my master, no one else’s, and I didn’t want that to change. But at the same time I felt bad for being selfish, he made the deal for me and the women would be in better hands with him. Even if I had the right to protest, how could I in good conscience knowing that I could relieve some of the pain of one of my cellmates by having them handled by him?

“What are you thinking?”

I shook my head. “It’s not important.”

“Gwen…” The look of warning in his expression told me he wasn’t going to let it go.

“I just... With the other women…”

A cocky grin spread across his cut lips. “Hold on, are you jealous?”

“No,” I snapped, not meaning to as I stood and attempted to back away from him, my cheeks burning.
This isn’t high school
, I chastised myself,
he’s not your boyfriend, he’s your…
I frowned.
Handler. Master. Captor… Pick one.

“Whoa. Just hold on.” Grabbing my wrist in his iron grasp, Lance refused to allow me to escape. “What’s going on?”

“Nothing’s wrong.”

“Then why am I getting an attitude from you?”

My temper flared; why couldn’t he just drop it? “It’s not an attitude.” I yanked my arm from his grip and I saw him cringe as he let me go.

“Then tell me. Are you pissed because I’ll be handling other women? Do you think I really want to do it?”

“I don’t know… Maybe?” My mind screamed no, I had no idea why I was being so damn combative.
He’d saved me… Again… Why was I being such a bitch?

His jaw clenched and I could see him fighting to contain his temper.
“You know what, Gwen. Yes, that was it. I took your virginity, scarred your back, got my ass beat up, broke a rib and fully indebted myself to my monster of a father just so I could do what I could have done all along and fuck and beat the shit out of the slaves.”

He quickly stood and then grimaced, grabbing his side and sitting back down.

“Shit, Lance.” I stood frozen, not sure if I should go to him or cower.

“Congratulations, you’re on to me
, Gwen.” He touched the side where I’d seen the abnormality and grimaced again. “Unravelled my master plan.”

“Look, I just…” Walking over to him, I fell to my knees between his legs and pulled up his shi
rt to get a better look at the injured rib. “I’m confused and stressed and just don’t know what to think about anything right now. I’m sorry.”

Looking up into his eyes I waited for his response. A tight smile forced its way onto his lips. “So was this our first fight?”

I held his gaze, needing a moment to process his words before laughing and leaning forward until my forehead rested on his hard stomach. I knew he was trying to lighten the mood and make me smile, but I couldn’t. It was too much. “I don’t know anything anymore. It’s only been a couple weeks and I think I’m half losing my mind. Nothing makes sense anymore.”

“Sit next to me.” Grabbing my upper arms he
directed me to sit next to him on the bed. “I have something I need to tell you.”

Last time he looked at me as seriously as he was now, with the hollow tone in his voice
, he told me I was going up for auction. I knew I wouldn’t like whatever it was he was going to say and I wasn’t sure if I could handle much more. I felt weak, so weak. Becca had been sitting in the cells, enduring so much more hurt mentally and physically than I had and she was still so much stronger. I wished I were as strong as her, had her determination.

Without Lance I
knew I’d be well on my way to breaking no matter how much I thought I knew about trafficking and how much I’d been determined for that not to happen when I’d first arrived. I’d been so naive. This was one of those instances where reading and studying about something couldn’t even begin to prepare you for the realities.

“What’s wrong?
I’m not sure I can handle many more surprises.”

“In a couple of days I’ve got some business to attend to outside of the compound so I’m going to have to leave you for two days, three days maximum.”

Horror rushed through me. The sound of Connor’s voice whispering in my ear on how he was going to fuck every hole in my body came to mind. No doubt he’d take the opportunity of fulfilling that promise with Lance not there to protect me. My body trembled at the thought.

Placing an arm around my shoulders he pulled me close to his uninjured side
, no doubt seeing the worry in my eyes. “If I had a choice I wouldn’t leave you, but this is extremely important.”

“And I can’t go with you?” I knew
the answer without even asking, but couldn’t have stopped the question even if I tried.

“No baby. The Boss would never allow that.
Besides, you’re the collateral he has that I’ll come back.”

“Why does he think I’m so important to you?”

“Because in my two years here this is the first time I’ve risked my neck to keep one of the slaves. He’s not a stupid man, Gwen. He may not be around for much of the process, but nothing slips past him. Selling women is only a tip of the iceberg for him. The main reason that slaves are kept in the dungeon area is because he has business transactions and meetings going on with lots of powerful people; people are coming and going every day from the compound. While most of his associates know what lives downstairs, they have no desire to see it walking around in front of them.”

It was on the tip of my tongue to mention Connor, but the truth was if I
was going to be there for any amount of time Lance wouldn’t be around all the time to save me. If Connor was going to do something to me he’d find a chance and take it, regardless of whether Lance was there or not – it was only a matter of time. I nodded.

“Stand for a minute, I want to see your back. How does it feel?”

“Better. Sore. But better.” I stood and lifted my hair, showing him my back.

“Fuck. I’m sorry
, baby,” he whispered, barely loud enough for me to hear as his finger trailed along my back, avoiding the wounds. “I’ll have the doc look these over when he comes in in a few hours, a couple look like they might be becoming infected. I have to go see him anyhow.”

“
Your rib?”

“Yeah, you know what they say, you haven’t really had the shit kicked out of you unless something is broken.”

I look over my shoulder at him, frowning. “I don’t think I’ve ever heard that saying before.”

He chuckled, turning me around in his arms.

“I’ll be fine,” I assured him.

“No, you’
ll go.” He gave me a sexy, sweet grin that made my heart throb in my chest. “Don’t want my investment getting sick and kicking the bucket before I can enjoy her.”

I scoff
ed and rolled my eyes, stepping up to him and placing my hands gingerly on his shoulders. “So do I have to go back down there until seeing the doctor?”

“No.” He looked down at his watch and stretched back onto the bed, closing his eyes when his head hit the pillow. “You’re staying here with me until the doc gets in later this evening. You can go back once you’re checked out.”

I hesitated getting onto the bed next to him; his body had so many bruises I had no idea where to touch without hurting him.

Sensing my hesitation, he opened a single eye and cocked his finger at me. “
Don’t make me come and get you.”

With reluctance I laid next to him, on my side facing him, keeping my body an inch from his.

His other eye popped open and he clucked his tongue off of the roof of his mouth. “A little closer.” I squirmed closer until our bodies were touching, but didn’t snuggle tight. Grabbing my hand, he pulled me tighter and placed my arm over his chest. “Was that so hard?”

I sh
ook my head, placing my chin on his shoulder. “You’re so bruised.”

“I’ll be fine. Relax and enjoy the time we have here, while we have it.”

~*~*~*~*~

“On the table, on your stomach. Feet in the stirrups.” the
doc ordered.

I look
ed over my shoulder at Lance, who gave me a nod. Walking to the table I did as told and waited, my face growing warm. It was bad enough this stranger had examined me once, but here I was again, about to be poked and prodded.

“What happened to her?” I hear
d the snap as the doctor pulled on a pair of latex gloves and cringed.

“She required discipline.” Lance’s voice was stone cold.

“Weren’t there orders she wasn’t to be marked?”

“There w
ere. I took the initiative.”

I heard t
he sound of the stool rolling up behind me. “I imagine The Boss is pissed over this mess. Did you fuck her too?” Without waiting for an answer, the doctor spread my labia and inserted a finger deep into me.

My body tensed as I grit
ted my teeth, trying to tune out the feel of him probing me. Why did he need to be examining me down there? It was the cuts that needed attention.

“Never mind, I don’t need an answer. Who fucked her? Connor? Jazz?”

“I did. She attempted to escape and she was punished. She was disrespectful and I taught her respect. End of story.”

The doctor huffed. “I suppose that explains your face. Did she sell at auction?”

“Yeah.”

I heard the sound of his stool rolling away from me and then a few moments later returned, but this time to my side. I wanted to look over my shoulder at him and Lance, but kept my eyes firmly closed.

“To whom?” A cool liquid spread across my back and I cringed as the wounds began to sting.

“I bought her.”

“That so? Why did he allow that to happen?”

“I made arrangements with him. The details are none of your concern.” I could hear his voice growing deep with annoyance. “How is she?”

“A little infection. Not a big deal. I’ll give her some antibiotics and she’ll be fine.” The doctor gave my ass a slap and I yelped as my bottom stung. “Off the table. You’re done.”

“On your knees by the door
, slave,” Lance barked, a scowl on his face as he followed my every move until I did as told and knelt on the floor with my head bowed.

“Seems she’s quite obedient now
,” the doctor commented, watching me intently, too intently for my liking. I got the feeling that if Lance allowed it the doctor wouldn’t hesitate to give me a try himself.