My mind whirls as I try to make sense of the situation. I have no idea if Lucas will make good on his threat but he nearly killed us by cutting Hunter’s brakes. What other choice do I have but to play along?
With rough movements, Lucas binds my hands behind my back, then ties my ankles together. I keep myself tight, fight the temptation to struggle. Hunter’s life is at stake.
“Motherfucker,” Hunter spits. “Bastard. Motherfucking bastard. I’m going to kill you if you touch her.”
Lucas smirks and I throw Hunter a pleading look. Leaving me for a moment, Lucas climbs off the bed, strides over and punches Hunter. I squeal and Hunter spits blood onto the floor.
“You’re in trouble, Lucas. No way you’ll cover this up. If the police don’t get you, my buddies will. They’re trained in shit like this. You’ve fucked up big time.”
“Shut up.” Another hit.
I close my eyes to Hunter’s pain.
“Let her go and you can do what you want with me. You can be on your way. No one will follow you if you just let her go, I swear.”
“Shut up or I’ll start breaking your fingers.”
“Oh God,” I whimper.
“You’ll be hunted like an animal. They’ll kill you in a far worse way that you could imagine. We’re like brothers, see. Hurt me and you hurt them. Hurt Jess and you’ll be in more trouble than you know. Being in jail will seem like a cakewalk compared to what they’ll do to you. Let her go.”
I hear a crack and a muffled groan of pain. Hunter falls quiet and tears burn my closed lids. There’s a rustle and when I open my eyes, Hunter is gagged with a strip of red cloth.
“There,” Lucas declares and goes to lock the door. “Let’s get on with this shall we?”
I tug at the ropes and wince. My wrists are beginning to burn and my shoulders ache. I glance around the studio flat as Lucas sets up a camera. Every move he makes echoes in the small empty space. Clearly he’s been planning this for a while. The bed is made up ready for whatever he intends and he flicks on a studio light that lights the already bright white walls. I swallow and look at the door. I can make it there I think but I can’t open it without my hands. And where would that leave Hunter?
“Try anything and I’ll cut you,” he hisses while he adjusts the camera legs. “It won’t show but it will hurt.” He smirks. “Don’t want to mar you before your big performance.”
My teeth knock together as chills spread through my body. I draw my chin up and pray he can’t see my fear even though I feel like fainting. Lucas was always the kind of guy who enjoyed preying on vulnerable people. I refuse to let him see how scared I really am.
“So what are you planning to do? Shoot a film with me and what? Sell it? Put it online? You’ll just be handing the police all the evidence I need to get you convicted of rape.”
He wipes his hands over his jeans and steps over to me, a glint of malice in his eyes. “I offered you so much. You could have been famous. I gave you a job when no one else would.”
“You ruined my life,” I spit.
“I didn’t make you do anything you didn’t want to do.” He folds his arms across his chest and looms over me.
“I have no idea what I was getting into. You make me sick. You prey on vulnerable girls. You ruin their lives for profit. And what do they get? Abuse, diseases and humiliation.”
“You could have been one of the best, baby.” He curls his hands around my upper arms and hauls me to my feet. “If you’d have just played it nicely and done as I’d asked, you could have reached the top and starting earning big bucks.”
“If I’d have slept with you, you mean.”
“None of the other girls ever objected.” Lucas’s upper lip curls. “You probably would have enjoyed it, whore. But you’ll never know now. I’m afraid you won’t find much of this enjoyable.”
“The girls never objected because they didn’t want to lose their jobs. They were poor enough with the wages you paid. And I doubt very much anyone has ever enjoyed fucking you!”
He twists me suddenly, making me lose my footing and throws me back onto the bed. A muffled sound of protest comes from Hunter. My head snaps back, hurting my neck and I release a yelp as I bounce against the mattress. More scuffling sounds and Lucas whirls around to snatch a knife from his bag of tricks in the corner. “Try anything,” he warns, “and I’ll cut her.”