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The idiotic belief that he might—just might—step in and do the right thing. Or at least turn a blind eye while we made a desperate bid for freedom.
Even though I’d been scheming from day one, something in Benji’s eyes had held me back. Begged me to stay. To hold on. To be patient. Assured me that attempting to escape too soon would only get me and the rest of the captives executed. Or worse. Backing up that silent warning had been a conviction in his gaze that couldn’t be denied. A stout belief that help was coming.
Well, where the fuck was that calvary, huh? Where were the knights in shining armor who were supposed to be charging to our rescue? Nowhere, of course. Because they didn’t fucking exist.
I’d been fooled by the oldest trick in the book. The good guy, bad guy routine. Chains, President of the Bone Crushers MC, was a ruthless cunt. I was starting to suspect he’d posted this prospect as our guard—one who’d seemed to have our backs, who’d pretended to care—as a way of securing our unwitting cooperation.
Benji’s fresh face and haunted but determined eyes had tricked me into believing he was an ally. That he’d seen the horrors the leaders of this MC were capable of and couldn’t bring himself to be part of their foul deeds. That not only did he know that what they were doing was wrong, but that he was determined to set it right.
Yet, he’d watched the day’s preparations and hadn’t lifted a finger to help.
Like the rest of us, Talia was now dressed in bling—a disgusting bikini set and hellish high heels sparkling with glitter. Limp as a doll, she hadn’t moved as Viola, Louise and I had gently dressed her under Addy’s hovering gaze. Better us than them. Before the sneering members dropping off our “costumes” had left, a tiara had been roughly shoved on Talia’s head as a joke. I’d winced at the sight, knowing the combs had to be digging into her scalp but she hadn’t even blinked.
Of all of us, Talia had withered the fastest. Retreating a little more inside of herself every day we were held captive in that dank room with its moldy mattress and stinking ensuite.
At night, we slept in a pile on that bare mattress to conserve heat—we weren’t allotted a blanket—and we ate the gruel and rationed the water we were delivered. Benji snuck us the occasional extra serving or a hunk of stale bread. A pack of cards to relieve the boredom. Some gum to stave off the hunger.
Small but vital offerings to hold back the spiraling panic.
Once, he’d even slipped Talia a candy bar. As soon as he’d left, she’d promptly handed it off to Addy who’d shared it with all of us. That kid was as generous as she was fierce about protecting her weakening sister.
The shower head and taps had been removed in the bathroom so we bathed our essentials as best as we could by sharing a rag dampened in the dripping sink. At least the toilet was functional. You learned to be grateful for small mercies in a situation like ours.
I could’ve sworn—after his small but constant offerings—that Benji felt something more for her. A deeper pull than just pity or the need to subjugate and possess. I’d told myself it wasn’t lust or desire, though both occasionally peeked through until they were quickly banked out of respect for our miserable condition. Instead, I’d convinced myself that it was love softening his inhuman gaze.
That one unifying force that might have been able to shine a conscience into this dark madness.
No such luck. At best, Benji’s interest in Talia had turned out to be circumstantial. At worst he was part of a larger con to gain our compliance long enough to keep the merchandise fresh.
It was a bitter pill to swallow. Knowing I’d fooled myself into thinking we’d had a chance, when in reality I’d merely forgotten the first rule of survival. Depend on no one but yourself. Because no man—not even your own flesh and blood—will put you above his own best interests. Period.
Even now, I could see Benji’s desperation rising as my determination to throw caution to the wind grew. He was begging me with those puppy dog eyes to play along. To not do anything stupid in case I got us all killed. No, scratch that, got Talia or Addy killed. Clearly, he didn’t give a fuck about the rest of us.
As the clock ticked down and the last rays disappeared beyond the horizon, I catalogued his weapons. Could I disentangle myself fast enough to wrestle that piece from his belt? Maybe. Of course, it wasn’t the knives or guns I had to fear. His whole body was a weapon which could turn into a slathering beast at the drop of a hat. He’d probably shift before I even finished launching myself through the air.
Gods. Not for the first time, I found myself wishing I’d been born a wolf. At least then I’d be armed with a predator’s claws and teeth. Though I would’ve taken no pleasure in it, I would’ve gladly ripped this pup’s throat out if it meant getting my people to safety.
Heavy footsteps approached the door and Benji’s Adam’s apple bobbed convulsively. He instinctively rounded his body and shoulders away from the approaching alpha, baring his neck. I didn’t miss the way he angled his body to hide the bulk of Talia in the corner, though. Little good it would do him if he let her be auctioned off to the animals downstairs.
The door kicked open with a crash.
Unfortunately, Benji’s movement left me in the direct line of sight of the newcomer. Still comforting the weeping Addy who was draped over me while the rest of the girls—and a few boys, gussied up like the rest of us—cowered as best as they could.
Chains would’ve found me anyway. I was a thorn in the Prez’s side because I hadn’t broken. I’d refused to gift this scum with my fear. A man as low as this only got my disdain. He swaggered into the room with his two toadies, Venom and Crusher, in tow.
While the Prez was loud and obnoxious and Crusher was the muscle, the Vice President was the silent but deadly type. A snake I always made sure to keep an eye on when his presence was forced upon us. I let my gaze slide from Chains to Venom, drawing a satisfying snarl from the alpha.
The VP was carrying something dull and heavy in his hands. Holding my defiant gaze with vicious delight in his dead eyes, Venom dropped the object at my feet without a word.
“Put it on, fresh meat,” Chains spat. “Or I’ll have my VP or Enforcer do it for you.”
That’s what the Prez called us. Fresh meat. He never used anything else.
I kept my face blank and lowered my eyes to take in the object at my feet. A dog collar. My body stiffened. These fuckers actually expected me to wear a fucking collar? I wasn’t the animal in this room.
“Do it,” Venom growled, low and lethal. No doubt smelling my defiance on the air. “Or we’ll take your pretty pet first.”
Addy, who’d frozen the moment the Bone Crushers had entered, didn’t let out a peep but her nails dug into my skin in terror. There was no way in hell I’d let him take our youngest out first to the slaughter. No fucking way.
