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Chapter 2

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Still, they came, ignoring my threats as if I wouldn’t try to fillet them alive. They were so wrong. I had nothing else to lose. With my master murdered, it was to the White Room for me—the place where slaves went to pay for their crimes. To die. I couldn’t go there. I couldn’t be tortured until death for a criminal act I didn’t commit.

Torrance’s eyes flickered over to the blond. I quickly glanced over, slashing toward him as he stayed just out of reach. Adrenaline surged to an all-time high while I searched for a route that would allow me to escape. But there wasn’t any. Even if I managed to get through the door, more guards were outside.

“I didn’t do this,” I yelled, again. “I was asleep. I heard something.

It woke me.”

“You’re telling us you slept through a gruesome murder? You’re going to have to do better than that.”

I threw something between a glare and a pleading look toward the leader as he seemed to slow in his approach.

“I swear. There’s pills in my master’s lockbox under the bed. He usually gives them to me after he …” on instinct, my free hand went to raise to my eye, but I stopped it, swinging the knife in the direction of the two guards as they shifted to get closer.

“I heard nothing,” I stressed. “The pills put me into a deep sleep. You have to believe me. If you’d only go look you’ll find them there. My master, he felt bad for what he did. He just wanted me to rest. To feel better. I swear …” The words got trapped in my throat from the sob that wanted to come. I could still see him leaning over me, kissing my split lip while he begged my forgiveness. He was so unlike the other master’s here. He was different. He loved me. He told me he did.

“So if you didn’t kill your master, who did? Who else would have the motive more than you?”

My mouth opened, only to close. “I don’t know. He didn’t mention anything to me. He has friends over sometimes, but … he’s liked by everyone I know.”

Dark brown eyes swept over my face, lowering to my body before he shrugged. “Are you so sure about that?” At my confused silence, he continued. “Say I believe you, or at least give you the benefit of the doubt. You’re still going to have to face the Whitlock Board. Do you really think they’re going to believe a worthless slut like you? You’re nothing, slave. You’re a used up waste of space. Even if they did find you innocent, no one is going to want to buy you again. Why would they when they could have a virgin?” He crossed his arms over his chest, glancing at the other guards before he turned back to me. “I’ll tell you what. I’m feeling pretty generous today. You’ve been here for a long time. Why don’t you do us all a favor?” He paused. “Go ahead,” he said, flicking his wrist. “Turn the knife around.

Let’s see what you got.”

“What?”

“Don’t pretend you don’t want to leave this place. It’s okay, it’ll only hurt for a minute.”

My head shook as tears raced down my cheeks. “I wish to request a meeting with the Whitlock Board. I don’t want to kill my—”

Weight crashed into me from the side so hard that air exploded from my lungs as I connected with the floor. Even without oxygen, I scrambled to get the knife that was suddenly gone from my hand.

Whack!

Lights blinded me as the blond guard reared back and struck my cheek. The next blow was only harder. The roar in my ears was constant as my wrist was grabbed and Torrance pulled my limp frame toward the restroom in the back.

Warmth ran from my nose, tickling my top lip, somehow snapping in my survival instinct. My legs shot out and I tried twisting to add resistance. Screams poured from my mouth, ending almost immediately as the dark skinned guard kicked into my stomach. Bile surged to the back of my throat and I gagged at the impact. The room was spinning, or I was. I wasn’t sure as I fought for breath.

“Turn on the water. Let’s get this bitch clean. We don’t have much time.”

The saturated white silk camisole top I wore was torn off and the matching shorts followed. Water echoed around me, drowned out for only moments as I screamed at the hand that squeezed into my breast.

“No! N—” Whack!

“If you don’t shut the fuck up, I’m going to drown you. Do you fucking hear me?”

Torrance’s fingers pushed through my knotted hair, jerking back and forth before he pulled me to my feet and placed me in front of the ice cold water. Although my head remained immobile, I tried twisting and turning out of his hold.

“Billy,” he growled. “Keep the bitch still while I wash off this blood.”

“Get off of me! Get off!”

Louder, I yelled. Seeing the blond reach toward me, my nails tore into his bare forearms. A hiss left his mouth and I knew what was coming before his fist reared back to hit me. Pain exploded over my mouth and blood sprayed along the white shower wall only moments before the other side of my face was smashed against it. Vertigo gave me the effects of falling, but I remained erect while a muffled voice broke through the haze of my mind.

“Move. Fuck this. Good enough.”

Pressure pushed into the middle of my back and the water was suddenly off. How I was managing to stay upright was beyond me. Something told me one of them was closer now, holding me up. I couldn’t tell. I could barely see.

“Arch those hips. Come on.”

An arm was suddenly wrapped around my waist. It pulled up against my lower stomach making it almost impossible to get footing. The tip of my toe brushed against one of the combat boots and I blinked through the clarity, screaming as I tried twisting against the arms that felt all over me. One was barred over my shoulders while someone was squeezing my nipple. The arm around my waist tightened and I thrashed, yelling as pain locked up my entire body.

“Fuck, she’s tight. God dammit.”

The thrusts were brutal and fast. Air kept getting trapped in my throat. The screams that started out strong, grew raspier, and then silent through the force in which I yelled against the palm.

Torrance withdrew his cock, slamming back into me, laughing as I sobbed through the pain. “I think I might buy you. I could get you real cheap. Would you like to be mine, slave? You like this cock, don’t you?”

Again he pounded into me. Sounds went in and out as I tried to get my voice to project. Nothing left me that held the disgust I wanted Torrance to hear.

“I’m going to convince them you might not be guilty after all. Then I’m going to come back for you in that cell where you’ll be held. I’m going to—”

The hand over my mouth jerked back just as warmth gushed over my back. I collapsed to the bottom of the tub like dead weight, sliding on the crimson that flooded down on top of me. Torrance was hunched over above, his eyes bulging as a blade pulled out of the middle of his throat. The massive form of the guard dropped, hunching over the tub practically on top of me. But I didn’t see him. I saw nothing but perfect features: thin, straight nose, full lips, square jaw, and a pair of cobalt blue eyes that burned into mine. Whether it was forever or only a fraction of a minute that I held that stare, I’d never know.

“Mr. Whitlock … Main Master. I was just following orders. I was

—”

“Get out.”

The words were directed at me. The harsh tone made me hesitate for only a few seconds before I tried pushing to stand. The blond rushed from the room and I barely managed to get to all-fours before a strong hand grabbed my bicep and pulled me free of the shower, dumping me on the floor. Mr. Whitlock stepped over me and more blood. It sprayed out in all directions as strike after strike he stabbed into the dark skinned guard.

I didn’t think. I clawed along the floor, sliding and scrambling to get away. Agonizing screams mingled with gargling until they faded into nothingness behind me. Until they died, just like I was going to.

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