AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Don’t even think about trying to run,” I growled.
Glancing at him as I circled around the bed, I expected a verbal answer, but he shook his head. Good. Progress. Unlocking the left handcuff from the headboard, I held onto it, like a little metal leash, and led the way to the bathroom.
“Get in.” I slid a pointed glance at the tub/shower combo.
Expelling an irritated huff, he stepped into the tub as directed.
“Take it off.” I jerked my chin toward his dirty shirt. I suppose I should have been happy he was doing what he was told for a change, but it was like dealing with a toddler. I shouldn’t have to instruct him every goddamn step of the way.
There was still no verbal reply, but he didn’t jump to and follow the order, either. He watched me warily, as still as a statute.
“Or I’ll rip it off,” I added.
His blue eyes dropped to the discolored tub. For a minute I thought he was going to keep refusing, but he finally moved. With the one hand still handcuffed, he reached behind his head and gathered a fistful of fabric, peeling it over his head and shaking his right arm free.
I purposely kept my attention on the shirt and not the outline of his abs. Exchanging my hold on the extra handcuff for his actual wrist, I slipped the t-shirt off the rest of the way and dropped it on the floor before securing the cuff to the fall handle in the shower.
“What?! No!” He yanked against the cuff. Thankfully the cheap plastic rod held. “How the fuck am I supposed to take a shower wearing handcuffs?”
“Figure it out.” I stomped out of the room, leaving the door open, to which he also protested. Snagging a conveniently pre-packaged bag of toiletries I picked up at the store, I marched back into the bathroom and crushed it against his chest. “You have ten minutes. And the next time I hear anything out of your mouth, I’ll carry out Yuri’s threat.”
“You’re going to fuck my face until I gag?” He lifted a challenging brow before his gaze drifted to the bulge in the front of my pants. It wasn’t a full-on erection, but it wouldn’t stay that way for much longer if he didn’t stop looking at me like that, like he was fucking daring me.
Slamming my forearm against his chest, I heaved my weight against him, pinning him to the shower wall. “What the fuck did you say to me, you fucking queer?” I meant cut his tongue out! Had I fucked up the English translation that badly? No. No, IknowI didn’t. That’s what Yuri said he was going to do. Cut his tongue out and make him eat it. I heard him.
Roan’s blue eyes flashed, surprise and stubbornness at the same time. “Thatwas Yuri’s threat right before you shot him. And if you’re planning the same thing, then I’m pretty sure that makes you the—”
My first blow was a closed backhand across his mouth. One way or another, he’d learn to shut the goddamn thing. Threats of violence obviously didn’t work. It was time to show him I wasn’t fucking around.
The second and third blows landed in the center of his diaphragm, dropping him to his knees with a ragged gasp for air. I didn’t let him have it. Seizing him by the throat, I bent my face close to his, watching red-tinged saliva rush over his bottom lip and drip down to his bare chest.
“You better pray to God your father comes through, because if he doesn’t, I’ll be all too happy to break your fucking neck.”
His lashes fluttered, but he didn’t look afraid. Instead, he laughed, his white teeth outlined by blood.
I squeezed harder, but he didn’t stop laughing, even when he was gasping for air.
“Just kill me then,” he rasped. His watery eyes found mine and stayed locked in place, not fearful, not angry — resigned. A memory I’d long since buried flashed to the forefront of my mind, another blue-eyed boy staring up at me, waiting to die.
I jerked my hand away and climbed out of the tub, storming out of the bathroom as quickly as I could.
17
Roan
I spatout a mouthful of blood and watched the red swirls slink down the side of the tub. Heaving a breath, I coughed it all back out, only to repeat the process until oxygen actually made it into my lungs.
At least now I had my answer.
They took me for ransom.
They must have figured out who I was after the robbery and thought I’d be an easy payday. Too bad nothing in life was easy. My father would never pay, no matter how little they asked. Like the US government, he didnotnegotiate — with anyone, for anything. Mom had zero financial control, so she was of no help. At least now I knew I was living on borrowed time. Cold comfort.
Another laugh spilled out of me, until the absurd reaction turned to tears. Smashing the heel of my hand against my eyes did little to stop the dampness. Dad was as likely to go to the police as he was to pay the ransom. No one was going to swoop in and rescue me. I was completely and utterly on my own.
I should have pulled myself together and showered, like I wanted. But I couldn’t. I just sat there with blood in my mouth, one arm dangling in the air, staring at the shower curtain and trying not to think about what sort of STDs were crawling all over the yellowed plastic.
The enormity of the situation was crushing and I was powerless to do a goddamn thing.
