Chapter 26

STEVIE

They were never going to give up until they got me. I knew it the moment I saw Jensen's name flash across my phone screen. The days I've spent with Lennox have made something very clear to me. He's willing to do whatever the fuck it takes to keep me safe, and while I fucking love him for it, I'm not willing to lose anyone else I love. I'm not willing to have anyone else die for me. So, I knew what I had to do. I knew even before the text from Jensen what my choice would be.

The room I'm in is suffocating, with an air of neglect and decay. Mildew stains the cracked walls, and the damp, musty scent clings to everything. The once vibrant vintage wallpaper is dull and peeling off the walls revealing the dark spots of mold lurking beneath it. The ropes around my wrists that are tied behind my back are coarse, cutting into my skin with every slight movement. They remind me of Lennox's punishment, but the punishment I'm about to endure will be nothing like his.

No, his I enjoyed.

Probably more than I should have.

But this, what Sweet Dreams will do to me for the damage I caused them, I'll be lucky to survive. Not that I'm expecting to.

Nor do I hope to.

The last thing I want is to be sent right back to the shit hole I crawled out of. I'd rather die than be sold off, having my body traded and used by whatever rich asshole is willing to pay the price.

I'm wearing a short plaid skirt and a white blouse, the same clothes I had on when I turned myself in. The fabric is now dirty and torn in places from them dragging me around, which was completely unnecessary seeing as I was the fucking one who came to them. Regardless, looking down at the once nice clothing I bought myself during my allotted amount of freedom, seeing them now destroyed only adds to the feeling of vulnerability.

Like a constant reminder of what I just gave up.

The room is dimly lit, with only a flickering lamp casting long shadows on the walls. An old, creepy country song is playing on a static-filled radio that looks like it's seen better days, the lyrics distorted and haunting. I can hear the muffled voices of the guys who brought me here just outside the door, their low laughter sending chills down my spine. My head falls back, and I sigh in impatience. I just want to get this over with. I hate not knowing what's going to happen.

The door creaks open, and Jensen steps in. I gasp at the sight of him. His face and arm are covered in horrible burn marks, no doubt from the fire I started. His tall frame steps toward me until he's looming a mere few inches from where I'm seated. His greasy black hair is slicked back and cold, dark eyes that seem to pierce right through me.

His expression is twisted with a mix of rage and sick amusement.

He's been waiting for this.

"Leave us," he orders the guys out in the hall, and they comply without a word. Closing the door before the heading down the hall, their footsteps leaving a trail of creaking food in their wake.

"Hello, Ember," Jensen whispers with a dark tone.

The use of my pet name makes my stomach lurch.

Gripping my chin tightly, he forced my eyes to his, "Well, you've been quite a naughty girl, haven't you."

"Go to hell," I spit, tearing my chin from his grasp. My voice is steady despite the fear coursing through me. I'm not afraid of Jensen. The fear I feel runs deeper than him and his pathetic attempt to scare me.

It's what his presence represents and the nightmares that return with the use of the name the monsters gave me. Who knew one little word could elicit so much trauma.

He chuckles, shaking his head. "I'm surprised you decided to come in. You must really care about this new man of yours. Too bad he'll be dead by the end of the night."

"What?" I snap, turning my eyes to his. "You said you'd leave him alone if I came to you willingly."

He smirks, "Yeah, well, I lied. Shoot me."

I shake my head in disbelief. Though I don't know why I'm even surprised. Considering I know what type of man Jensen is, I should've known better. There's no way they'll let Lennox live. He knows too much.

"Besides, that piece of shit has taken out enough of my guys at this point, he's signed his own death warrant."

What is he talking about? Lennox has been killing Jensen's men? Since when? And why didn't he tell me? The last few days slowly replay in my head like a movie. Toward the end, I had been going out of my way to avoid spending time with him, knowing what I was about to do. I didn't want to spend my last moments with Lennox knowing it would only make what needed to be done, even harder.

But it never crossed my mind that while I was pushing him away, he was over here, shedding Sweet Dreams blood.

"You would care more about that. You're a coward, Jensen. Always have been," I snap back. "You can't even fight your own battles. Always have to send in some poor chump to do the dirty work for you."

His eyes darken, and he takes another step closer, towering over me. "You always had a sharp tongue, Ember. Maybe that's why I liked you so much." He backhands me across the face, the force of the blow making me see stars. The familiar metallic taste of blood coats my tongue as I glare up at him.

"Fuck you," I hiss, spitting in his face.

He wipes it away with his hand, then licks his fingers clean, with a dark and twisted smile on his lips. "You still taste as good as I remember. Maybe you need a reminder of how good you can be for me." He backhands me again, harder this time, knocking me off the chair. I hit the floor with a thud, landing on my stomach with my face pressed against the rotting wood.

He laughs before climbing on top of me, taking advantage of the fact that I'm restrained and unable to fight back.

Because he knows I would.

I can feel his weight pinning me down, and panic sets in as more memories begin to flood back. All the time I found myself helpless. Restrained and taken advantage of. The terror and pain I was forced to feel at the hands of men.

Sick men with cravings for things that should never happen.

Especially to innocent children.

I lost my innocence less than a week after I was taken.

At six years old, I was forced to do things not even meant for a grown woman, and if I refused or fought back, I was beaten to the brink of death.

Something I learned the hard way, on numerous occasions.

Jensen shoves me harder into the floor, pulling me from the nightmares I found myself reliving all over again. My eyes widen as the sound of Jensen belt unbuckling comes from behind me, but something below me catches my eye through the gaps in the old floor boards. A faint glow that grows by the second. Before I can make sense of it, I smell it.

Fire.

Lennox. He came for me.

Relief floods through me, mixed with fear and desperation. I know he's here, and that means there's hope. Knowing he's here and that I'm not alone, gives me strength. As Jensen looms over me, I brace myself for what's to come, because if it takes everything in me, this shit is ending tonight.

Sweet Dreams is dying tonight.

Jensen's rough hands grab my arms, but I twist away, kicking at him with all my strength in a desperate attempt to buy myself some time. His grip loosens, just enough for me to roll onto my back and kick out again, this time connecting with his chest. He staggers back, his face a familiar mask of rage and surprise.

"You fucking bitch!" he snarls, lunging at me again. But I'm ready this time. With my hands still tied behind me, I push off the floor with my legs, using the momentum to swing my body and catch him off guard. He crashes into the table, sending the flickering lamp to the floor where it shatters, plunging the room into near darkness.

The smell of smoke is stronger now, the fire spreading quickly. I can hear the crackling of flames and the distant shouts of panic from outside.

Lennox is close, he has to be.

I need to hold on just a little longer.

Jensen recovers, his silhouette looming over me in the dim light. "You think you can escape, Ember? You think your precious Lennox can save you?" He laughs, a harsh, grating sound that sends shivers down my spine. "You're mine. You always have been."

"Not anymore," I say, my voice trembling but defiant. "You don't own me."

He lunges again, but this time I'm ready. I twist my body, using the ropes around my wrists to catch his arm and pull him off balance. He falls to the floor beside me, cursing and thrashing about. In the fall my head smacks off the floor. The impact has my ears ringing, and giving Jensen the advantage he needed. He manages to pin me again, rolling me on to my stomach before climbing back on top of me as he continues to fumble with the removal of his belt.

"I'm going to kill you, you dumb bitch. But first, I'm going to hear you scream. I'm going to make you bleed, and when I'm done with you, I'll give my men free rein. You will die a used up bitch, just like you were always meant to."

He shoves me deeper into the floor, the weight of him making it hard to breathe. I try to kick him, to break loose of his hold while I wait for Lennox, but it's no use. My legs are pinched between his strong thighs, and as he shoves my skirt up my ass, and begins to pull my panties to the side, I clench my eyes tightly closed.

I think of Jesse and Micah. I think of their laughs, and the good times we had together. Anything to help me zone out.

Anything to bring me out of the moment.

Because I'd rather be anywhere, than here.