“Of course not.” He could deny it all day, but Eve didn’t believe him.
He very likely had men like Jesse in all of the clubs, just waiting to take out Evans so Petty’s secret would finally be safe.
He’d sacrificed so many people so his brother could rise through the ranks. Of course, he’d risen, too. By making his deal with Evans, he’d practically ensured that Alex would leave the Bureau, and that opened the way for Petty to slide into his spot.
“He raped me.” Anger started to thrum through her system. “You ate at my house the night before you facilitated my rape.”
He flushed again. “I had to protect my brother.”
“Did you know what he would do? Did you sit there at my dinner table in my home and think about how he was going to assault me? I was friends with your wife. I was there when your youngest was born and you threw me to the wolves. Alex was your partner.”
He snarled a little. “And Eddie is my brother. You can’t talk your way out of this, Eve. You think that going over my crimes is going to make me see the light? I understand what a complete shit I am. I know it every day of my life. Sacrifices have to be made for great men. My brother is a great man. I’m so sorry, Eve, but I’m going to sacrifice you again.”
He didn’t hesitate this time. A look of terrible conviction furrowed his brow, and he hauled her along. She stumbled, hitting the ground, her knees scraping and pain exploding along her skin.
“Get the fuck up.”
She bit back a cry against the agony in her legs. He jerked her up.
Eve opened her mouth to scream. Maybe someone would hear her. “Help!”
“It won’t matter. The farm is closed. Do you think the livestock is going to help you?” Warren asked, his face nearly purple with the strain.
“No,” a new voice said, the sound snaking through her. “She’s doing it for me. Eve remembers how much I love to hear her scream. Hello, lover.”
Michael Evans walked out of the double doors from the hangar building. He was older, thinner, still a monster. He moved over to her, and she couldn’t help but try to get away. A primal fear took over. She pulled at the hold Warren had on her. Every bit of terror she’d gone through in those days with Evans bubbled to the surface.
He bore down on her, using his height to his advantage.
“Hello, whore. I missed you. I was so sad to have to give you up.” He reached out for her.
Scream for me, you dirty whore.
She could still hear him yelling at her as he struck her with the razor-tipped flogger.
She flinched away, her voice leaving her. Panic threatened. A muscle memory of the pain he’d given her flared, and she could feel the skin flaying off her back. She could feel the blood running down to her legs and feet. He hadn’t cleaned her up. She would smell the coppery scent for hours.
And she could feel a soft kiss to each scar. A smooth hand covering hers as words were whispered into her ear.
I loved you then. I love you now. I will love you long after we’re dead and gone.
A quiet voice took over. The screaming one didn’t stand a chance against Alex’s voice. She closed her eyes. He was with her. He was always with her.
Calm down. Be patient. What would her Master want?
He would want her to stay alive. And this time she knew that she could handle anything. She could take the pain and humiliation because Alex would hold her and love her and make her whole again.
And if he got lost, she would be strong enough to bring him back. The mistake she’d made the first time was in not telling her Master what she needed. More than anything, she needed him.
He was here. No matter what happened, he loved her.
And she would survive.
“Fuck you.” He wouldn’t get her submission. That belonged to the man who had earned it.
Evans’s dark eyes narrowed. “You haven’t aged well, whore. You seem to have forgotten your place. I will teach you again. Warren, bring her in. We’re leaving in thirty minutes.”
He turned and walked away as though he knew no one would ever disobey his commands.
“I’m sorry.” But Warren forced her up.
“My husband is going to kill you.” Eve limped along. She was bleeding from her wrists and knees. It wasn’t bad yet, just some scrapes and cuts. She had no doubt that she would bleed freely soon.
Warren stopped. “Jesse killed him.”
It was time for a little truth. Jesse had seemed so sure. And she would have felt something if Alex was no longer walking the earth. “No. He failed. Alex is alive. I was there.”
She hadn’t watched it, but she’d heard how Jesse cursed.
“You’re fucking lying, but even if you’re not, it won’t change a damn thing.”
Alex being alive changed everything. “He won’t stop until he finds me and kills you.”
Warren seemed to think about it for a moment. “He’s dead. Jesse wouldn’t lie.”