Perfect. Just him and his brother and the rope that bound him.
Avery was on the floor. Her face turned up, so gorgeous, so vulnerable. “Li.”
Rory chuckled. “Lee? Oh, dear, do you even know his real name?”
Liam waited, praying she would follow along.
Avery turned from him to his brother. “He’s Lee Donnelly.”
Good girl. A fierce pride threatened to take over. He had no doubt she had been calling out for Liam, not Lee.
Rory rolled his eyes and got to one knee. Condescension dripped from his mouth. “His name is Liam O’Donnell, you dumb bitch. He’s my brother.”
“I don’t understand any of this. I thought Brian was your brother. Why are you walking so well now?” She turned back to him, playing her part beautifully. Or was she? He hadn’t told her his suspicions. Was she shocked that his brother was an arms dealer? Would it affect the way she saw him? “Is it true? Did you lie to me?”
“You were a means to an end, love.” She was the reason he was breathing, but he couldn’t let his brother know.
“Was she?” Rory asked.
It was time to act a little and to lean on what his brother knew about him. “Please. Do you really think she’s me type, Ror? I like ‘em a little prettier than that.”
Rory shoved a hand into her hair and forced her face up. Liam could see the pain in her eyes. Fuck, he was going to make his brother pay. “I don’t know. She’s quite pretty in a very innocent ‘I never had a cock up me ass’ way. Don’t you think? Of course, appearances can be deceiving.”
He pulled Avery up by her hair, using her weight against her. The little moan of pain that came out of her mouth hit his soul.
“Stop!” Avery struggled, her feet kicking, trying to find the ground.
And Liam had to pretend not to care. If he gave in, even for an instant, Avery would hurt in ways she couldn’t imagine. He knew he was likely giving up any hope of a future with her, but he would do anything to save her. “She’s got a nice tight ass, brother. You should try it.”
Bile rose in his throat but his fingers worked hard, and he could feel the knife in his boot with his foot. They’d taken his gun and another knife, but the stiletto was still there.
“No!” Avery started to fight. Her fists came out, but it was an ineffectual thing against Rory’s strength. She hit his chest, but he just laughed and held her away from him.
“Maybe I will, brother,” Rory replied. Shrewd eyes slid his way. “I was listening the whole time, you know.”
A slippery slope. Another piece of the knot fell free. He had a little room to work now, but he had to be careful. It was also easier to move his arms, and that would give away the whole game. “I was acting the whole time. You’ve been out of the game for a long time if you think I have a real emotional attachment to her. She was the mark, mate. You remember how that is. I do admit that she was a rather dull lay.”
Avery gasped, her face turning to him. Tears fell from her eyes. She was never going to forgive him. He wouldn’t be able to explain why he’d turned away from her when she was at her most vulnerable. She would hate him. She would loathe and despise him, and he couldn’t take it back. He kept his face cold, blank. Like he didn’t love her. Like she wasn’t the best part of his soul.
“I wonder,” Rory said, twisting his fist in her hair and forcing her face to his. The gown she was wearing slipped off one shoulder, the top of her breast rounding over the material. “She sounded really hot on those tapes. She loved when you spanked her.”
“No,” Avery said, her voice tortured as she struggled against him.
“Some subs just say they like it. They’re just desperate for a cock. They can’t get one so they go along with anything that will get them a man. And when you look like me, well, I can get a girl to do just about anything.”
Tears rolled down her cheeks. His heart was breaking, but he had to save her even if it meant he lost her. He would watch over her for the rest of her life, but he meant to make sure that was a long time. He wouldn’t take another woman. He belonged to her. If she never touched him again, he would be alone. He would still love her.
Another piece of the rope came loose. Fuck. There was still so much rope between him and Avery’s life. He was getting close to losing it. How much damage could he do while tied to a chair? He could head butt the fucker, maybe give Avery a chance to run, but how many thugs were out there waiting?
Rory had a gun in his shoulder holster. He could shoot Avery in the back. Liam had to be patient. He had to make sure he could protect her. The pain she endured in the meantime would mean she might live through this.
“Are you desperate for some cock, girl?” Rory’s vicious laugh filled the room. “I have some cock for you. Do you know why I hired you, bitch?”