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  “No, Love. When I’m here, you sleep with me. You are not an animal or a pet, no matter how much these men tried to convince you that you are. You can trust me. I will not take any more than you are willing to give, for now. You are safe with me, understand?” She nods and quietly moves to the bed, but still says nothing. Once she is settled, I hand her a plate with the sandwich and soup and place the bottled water on the floor. “I’m going to deliver the rest of the food. Don’t leave this room for any reason, and if someone comes in, I want you to scream for me. Okay?” She nods, so I move quickly to the other women.

  ∞∞∞

  What game is he playing? I am so confused by this man that I don’t know how to feel. Before, with the other guards, I knew what to expect. Present myself properly; don’t speak unless directed to do so; eat and drink out of pet bowls; sit at their feet as if I’m not worthy; use the bathroom like an animal and with no privacy; forget who I am and any plans I had for a future; don’t cry; don’t beg; rub on their legs if I’m seeking attention; don’t seek attention; pretend like I’m enjoying myself when raped by my master, even though I have no experience; eat what they feed me and be grateful; be thankful for any attention they decide to bestow on me. I can’t stand this anymore. He pulls me one way they push another. I’m being pulled apart at my very fragile seams. Why did they kill my sister? Why can’t they let me go? Why did Jax offer me covering and let me take a private hot shower? Does he think the other guards have touched me and doesn’t want their leftovers? What the hell did I do so horrible in my life, that I deserve this fate? In my frenzied thought process, I have kicked my food to the floor. I feel like I’m having an out of body experience, and before I know it, I’m standing on the bed and pulling at my hair and screaming at the top of my lungs.

  ∞∞∞

  As I help the redhead, whom I now know is Maria, move to a sitting position, I realize that none of these women have blankets. The rooms are barren, just as Tori’s room was when I arrived. It has to be 65º in these rooms, no wonder they huddle in on themselves.

  I have been in the FBI since I left the Seals at twenty-six, and in my line of work, have never seen such destitute circumstances. Yes, I see homeless people and people down on their luck. I’ve also seen people who choose not to improve their situation. These women do not have the option of improving their circumstances. They were given no means, or opportunities to make themselves more comfortable. They were beaten if they didn’t obey, and obeying meant they didn’t ask for anything. I am sick to my stomach to think that in the US, our women are being preyed upon to satisfy the sick and twisted fantasies of others. Whether that is for monetary gain or sexual satisfaction, it’s messed up.

  Spending the rest of my life, working to bring down these types of organizations, will be my lifelong goal. I will do it for Tori and her sister and these other three women who have been abused on American soil; the thought of them being sold to foreign countries, only to suffer more, makes me murderous.

  Once Maria is comfortable and eating to gain strength, I stand and move to the door, just as a blood-curdling scream rents the air.

  ∞∞∞

  Racing like a bat out of hell, I burst into my room. Tori is thrashing around, standing on the mattress, doing her best to pull her hair out of her skull. There is no one in here, so I can’t figure out what caused the mental break, but I need to stop her before she really hurts herself.

  I stand up next to her on the bed and grab her hands to stop them from doing more damage, but my presence doesn’t stop her from screaming. She is fighting me almost as if she is in a nightmare and can’t break free. Swiping my feet at hers and holding onto her upper body, I take her down to the mattress on her back. She doubles her efforts to get away, from what, I don’t know. All this screaming is going to have the other guards rushing down to get a look at this circus act, so I do the only thing I can. Covering my mouth with hers, I swallow the last of her screams as she goes motionless beneath me. A sharp pain in my bottom lip has me jerking back, and I realize this little vixen has bitten me. “What the hell, Love?” She stares eyes wide and glazed over at the ceiling. Her breathing is rapid, and I can see that her panic attack is not over. Her panting is not bringing her enough oxygen, and I know that she will pass out soon. I scramble off the bed to grab the grocery bag the water came in so I can cup that over her mouth, but as I turn around, I realize I’m too late. Her eyes are closed, and her breathing is slowing. The pulse in her neck that is returning to normal lets me know she’ll be okay; physically anyway.

  I don’t know how much longer I can keep her in this house without her losing her mind completely. Once Savage gets here, we will only have a few days to put our plan into action. Damn, I hope it works. Whispering, “I’m so sorry, Love,” even though I know she can’t hear me, seems like my only option until she wakes up.

  Feeling helpless, I curl my body around hers. I should tell her who I am and what I’m here for, except I’m having a hard enough time keeping my own cover. I should tell her of my suspicions about her sister and that I think she is safe with Derek. How can I expect this small, fragile woman to really understand what is going on and what will soon happen? I can’t risk her behavior changing so drastically that it will give us away. Her mind has to be in turmoil trying to figure out the difference in the way I treat her verses the way the other guards did. Son of a bitch! This week can’t go by fast enough.

  Chapter Five

  Perception:

  *the ability to see, hear, or become aware of something through the senses. *the way in which something is regarded, understood, or interpreted. *intuitive understanding or insight.

  As I come to, I become aware of several things: My body is warm and being covered by a human heating blanket; my situation and location still have not changed; no matter my behavior, it will not change my fate; It doesn’t matter the type of guard they pair me with until sold or whether they treat me like an animal or with kindness, this is my lot in life. My education tossed out the window; my ability and need to help others never will be attained; my desire to find a love of my own and have children someday will not come to fruition.

  Why have I cowered for so long if I couldn’t change the outcome? I may have spared myself some pain, however, the humiliation will always be there. My sister had the last laugh by escaping this fate worse than death. With my own need for survival, I didn’t even try to venture out of my room to see if other woman were here, only their soft cries gave them away. Where did they keep my sister? I pray to God that it wasn’t in the dreaded master bedroom that I have been threatened with. Why was she in a car to get involved in an accident? Were her last days worse than mine? I am resigned to my fate now; no getting my hopes up that someone will save me. From now on, I am nothing, I am no one, I am Pet.

  ∞∞∞

  She slept longer than expected but I know she has come to by her accelerated breathing. I am waiting for her to show any sign of life other than basic function, but nothing comes. Leaning up on my elbow and peering over her shoulder, I see her eyes open, except she is staring at the wall, almost sightlessly. Dammit!

  “Love,....We need to talk.” Nothing. “Listen,...There are a lot of bloody things you don’t understand, and I can’t tell ya right now. I know I’m asking a lot, but I need you to trust me so we can get out of this situation safely,” still no reaction. If I have to force her to respond, it may cause her to sink further into herself. Why can’t I detach my emotions from this woman? Why isn’t getting her safely out of here good enough for me? No, I have to worry about her mental and emotional state as well. Bloody ell!

  Just then, a knock on the door has me sitting up. “Come in.” Slim walks in with another tray loaded with five plates. This time, he brings scrambled eggs, bacon, hash browns, and toast. He carries another grocery bag with a carton of orange juice and plastic cups.

  “I see she still hasn’t eaten.”

  He points to the spaghetti plate he brought las
t night and the turkey sandwich he’d brought yesterday afternoon that was dumped on the floor still sitting next to it.

  “What did you do to her man? She has already lost ten pounds since her arrival, and I don’t think the buyer wants her half dead and skin and bones.”

  I know her physical condition has nothing to do with me, but I still feel guilty about her current state of mind. I have gone over in my head, multiple times, anything that I may have said or done to send her over the edge, but come up with nothing.

  “Don’t bloody worry over her, Slim,” I sneer, “I’m still tryin’ to fix what you boys screwed up. Now take that food to the others and don’t touch or talk to them. They are finally healing from the damage you and the other guards inflicted. Who the hell taught you men how to train a submissive anyway?” He looks to the door as if that will help him leave any faster and then backs away. “On your way back, take these plates out of here, they stink.” If these men see me as the badass of the group, it will serve me well. When Savage comes tomorrow, together we will rule The House.

  ∞∞∞

  Jax’s strong arms pick me up and place me on his lap. After hearing his conversation about my weight, I’m sure he is more determined to get me in top physical appearance for my sale to a master. My heart hurts over the fact that this man, who can show such kindness at times, can detach himself from this lack of humanity business.

  “Love, you need to eat today. An IV bag will be our next option, do you want that?” She barely shakes her head no. Thank the heavens, a response. “I’m going to feed you, and I won’t take no for an answer. Just let me take care of you.”

  She eats more than half of her food and drinks a full glass of orange juice, plus the full bottle of water from yesterday. Slim finally returns to the room with a garbage sack and the look on his face, as he sees her nestled in my lap, is comical. I’m sure he thinks I’m whipped, but I’m not sure he isn’t right. I feel like a caveman protecting his territory. Her body is stiff the whole time he is in the room picking up plates; she doesn’t relax again until he’s gone. What have they threatened her with? Why is she having a hard time trusting my kindness? Most women would be all over this shit. Not Tori, she’s leery of every action and word.

  It is still too soon to tell her why I’m really here. I won’t be able to disclose that until we are ready to leave. Will she grow to hate me beyond repair? Will the emotional damage be too great that she will never forgive me, even once she knows why I did what I did? I want to think that I will be able to take her to Derek’s home to be with her sister once we leave here, but now I’m not sure I can. Every time I touch her I feel more tightly bound, like our souls are connected and the thought of losing her tears me up inside.

  ∞∞∞

  Sir has left, but Jax calls him Slim. Why does he show a personal connection to this bastard guard? Oh right, they are working toward the same goal, selling women to make money. I need to keep reminding myself that they are one in the same. Jax stands and carries me with him into the hall and towards the bathroom. He sets me on my feet, opens the door and ushers me through.

  “I’ll be right outside the door.”

  He closes the door behind him, and I am allowed to do my business on a regular toilet for the fourth time in over two weeks. How is it that just this simple thing brings tears to my eyes? I am an emotional mess; that’s how. The first time I was in here was a little overwhelming, so I didn’t pay attention but stalling so I don’t have to return to my cell has me glancing around. The shower has light pink tiles, with what I assume used to be white grout, however, it is now spotted with mold. The toilet and sink basin are also pink. The floor is bare concrete, and it seems like they started to finish the basement in the 60’s but only got halfway through then ran out of money. Deciding to take another shower, punishment be damned, I drop my sheet and climb inside the small space. Once the water is hot, I sink down in the corner, pull my knees to my chest, and let the tears fall. Time has no meaning to me anymore, so I don’t know how long I was in there before Jax comes to get me.

  “Love.”

  He is so silent that I think he may have left, but when I finally look up, his gaze has me hooked. I can’t look away. Why in the hell do I have this connection to a man who has no soul? Why do I crave his touch? Why can’t I stop staring at his lips? I am sick of these people telling me how to feel and act. For once, I am going to do as I damn well please. Reaching up, I wrap my arms around his neck and fuse my lips to his. He doesn’t move or participate, so I lick the tip of my tongue along the seam of his mouth until he opens up and I slide my tongue inside.

  Feeling his heated hands slide under my arms and to my upper-back, has my whole body breaking out in chills. As he slowly stands up, my arms lock around his neck, so he pulls me up with him. He is so tall that my feet are dangling off the ground with no place for them to go. They hang awkwardly so I wrap them around his waist, and he groans into my mouth. This encourages me a little more, so I lock my ankles at the small of his back, bringing my body flush to his abdomen. The bathroom was warm from my shower, but now it feels like a freakin sauna. I am naked and wet in more ways than one, but I have no experience to know what to do next or what to ask for. I may have initiated this little tryst. However, he is now taking over as he presses my back to the shower wall and presses into my body. His clothes become soaked as we continue to stand under the spray, mouths mating and hands roaming. This moment is so intense that I can’t help but moan into his kiss which causes his movements to becomes frenzied.

  Holy shit! Did I just do what I think I did? This definitely has to be a form of Stockholm syndrome. At least it was my choice, even if I’ve lost my mind.

  ∞∞∞

  Standing in the tiny shower, clothes soaking wet, I finally come to my senses. I don’t even know what the bloody hell happened. One minute Tori was crying on the floor, and the next, she crawls up my body like a spider monkey and drives me crazy. She has made me lose control twice now in my damn jeans, and she is an untried virgin. If I had the balls to take her virginity, she would never leave my bed. Fear keeps me at bay because she would become an addiction I can’t shake.

  Slowly sliding her down my body until her feet are on the floor, I proceed to wash her hair and every inch of her body. She hasn’t opened her eyes to look at me yet; I’m sure she is avoiding that part of the intimacy. Wrapping her in a towel, I set her just outside the shower while I strip off my soaking clothes. I wash quickly and step out, tying a towel around my waist. As we move to the door, a flashing green light catches my attention. Sure enough, there is a camera in the corner above the toilet. The bad thing is: they just witnessed a very intimate act that will have Tori mortified. The good thing: There was so much heat and steam that the foggy air probably prevented them from seeing everything. I’m sure they think I had sex with her against the shower wall, and the buyer will want more erotic and explicit scenes. I don’t know how you get more erotic than that. That sick bastard will probably want to see actual penetration, and that will never happen. When I take Tori for the first time, it will be in my bed and in the privacy of my own damn home. Shit, shit, shit! She will never come to my home willingly. She thinks I’m a guard and everything I say is to manipulate her thoughts and actions. Will she believe me when I finally tell her the truth? I want to tell her so badly, so she doesn’t lump me in with these bastards here, but one wrong move by any of the women could be disastrous.

  Once we are back in the room, she grabs a clean sheet off the bed and wraps it around her like armor, and climbs into the corner. I grab some clothes out of my duffel bag and pull them on. How long should I give her until we discuss what happened? The walls she’s erected only come down during sexual acts. I desperately need to find a way to reach her before our escape. Hopefully without using sexual means.

  “Knock knock, Jax?” Jones opens my door and sticks his head inside.

  “Get in the damn hall,” I yell, marching to the door. This Pe
eping Tom is about to get his ass handed to him.

  “Hey, hey, hey! I’m just bringing a message from the buyer.”

  He backs away quickly and into the living room to get some distance.

  “He just wanted me to tell you, that he really liked the bathroom scene but now would like you to try multiples.”

  How the hell did he get the video to the buyer so quickly? Live streaming? Shit! He smiles like the Cheshire Cat, and I want to knock his teeth out.

  “I have some experience with double teaming and thought I would offer my service.”

  This bugger has lost his damn bloody mind. Over my dead body, will he ever touch my Tori. Any man who tries, other than me, will die a slow painful death. The minute I stepped into this house, my threesome activities became extinct and no way in hell will I ever share her with anyone.

  “Sorry, Mate, I have a partner who’s comin in tomorrow. We work well together if ya know what I mean.”

  “Oh.....ya, ya, no problem, I just figured I’d offer.”

  His look screams there’s a problem. “Plus, I think Sully wants everyone to get tested before he lets you near any of the women.” I knew this would get his panties-in-a-wad. I’m hoping he will make a move so I can take him out now and have a good excuse.

  “You know, all the guys think you’re gonna try to pull what Mike and Gordon did and steal off with the product to make your own deal. You better watch your back because the guys here don’t like you or trust you very much.”