24. Chapter 24

24

" L ick his cum off the ground, slut."

Embarrassment shoots through me. I stare at the small puddle of Jace's cum lying on the hardwood floor. I shouldn't be embarrassed, not after what I've been letting Ryker do to me. But for some reason being on my knees, being told to lick cum off the ground, it's different.

The flick of someone's belt being taken off has me tensing and glancing up at Jace. I know he wouldn't hit me, but Ryker would. I barely have time to prepare myself before the whip of his belt against my ass has me fisting my hands against the ground. And worst of all, being turned on again.

"Lick his cum up now!" Ryker growls.

As much as I don't mind being hit, I'm not in the mood to not be able to sit. My ass and back still hurt from the last time. Swallowing my pride, I bend my head down, my tongue darting out. Closing my eyes, my tongue swirls into Jace's cum. Why does he have to taste so good?

I shouldn't enjoy the taste of his cum, but I'm so tired of feeling like I shouldn't enjoy things because of my past. Ryker might hurt me, but I know if I want him to stop, he would. Or Jace would make him .

I'm safe with them.

I'm safe.

Suddenly it's like I'm a different person, no longer scared of what I like. Fearing that I'm ruining myself more than I already am.

I lick Jace's cum off the ground, feeling proud when there's no spot left. Swallowing the uneasiness, I crawl forward, glancing up at Jace. His pupils are dilated, and I know he's wondering what I'm doing. I don't think. I don't want to back down from this. Before I can second guess my decision, I lean forward, taking Jace's softening cock into my mouth. My eyes roll to the back of my head when I taste his saltiness.

While I've sucked Ryker's cock, it wasn't exactly willingly. Granted, I enjoyed it, but somehow Jace being the first I've initiated, it feels different. I feel strong and there's nothing more that I want then to make him cum, again.

"Fuck, you're making me hard again, pet," Ryker says somewhere behind me. I nod my head around Jace's length, flourishing that his eyes lock with mine.

"Sit on his face," Jace forces out through his teeth.

I frown, my movement stopping for a moment, until Jace grabs the back of my head, fucking my mouth.

I'm hyper-aware of Ryker moving around behind me, tapping my thigh, I try to look down, but Jace refuses to leave my mouth. I lift my hips up, feeling Ryker ease his way between my thighs.

"Sit," Jace orders.

I ease down, not fully sitting on his face. I can feel his facial hair against my thigh. His mask is off. The sudden realization hits me. I try popping off Jace's cock, but he refuses to let me.

"Blake," Jace warns. "I told you to sit on his face. He can take it."

I nod, sucking him to the back of my throat again. Struggling with the idea of finally being able to see his face. I hadn't let it bother me until now.

Ryker trails kisses along my outer lips, torturing me. I tremor above him, my arousal growing. I want to fuck his mouth. His nose runs along my seam, stopping at my clit. He's smelling me, and I can't find an embarrassed bone in my body .

I hadn't realized I stopped sucking Jace's dick until he starts fucking my mouth. My nails dig into his thigh just as Ryker flicks his tongue over my clit. I get no warning when he grabs my hips, forcing me to put my entire weight on his face. His tongue slips inside me, and I can't stop myself. Reaching down, I grip the top of his head, his hair. I lock eyes with Jace as I move my hips, rubbing myself all over Ryker's face.

"Fuck, you're so beautiful," Jace mumbles. "You're going to make me cum again."

Doubling my efforts down, I pull him to the back of my throat as I rock my hips. I feel my orgasm building, my legs shake, and Ryker, of course, notices. His tongue somehow speeds up, his hands grabbing my hips, helping me move against his mouth.

"Be a good girl and cum on his tongue. Make him taste and smell you for days," Jace coos.

I don't hold back, I let my orgasm take over, just as Jace's release fills my mouth.

"Don't swallow," he orders. I pop off, nodding my head. My legs feel like Jell-O, and I'm not sure how I'm going to stand. I pick my hips off Ryker, my head slowly dropping to look at Ryker. I need to see him. I don't get the chance before Jace is picking me up, my legs wrap around his waist.

"Give me a minute, Sunshine," Jace mumbles. "Kiss me."

Frowning, I lean forward, confused for a second before Jace forces me to open my mouth, making me feed him his cum. His tongue swirls around mine, his cum leaking from both our mouths.

"Hmmm, tastes good off you," Jace whispers against my lips. I nod my head, pressing my mouth against him. "Let's get you cleaned up."

Wrapping my arms around his neck, I lay my head against his chest. I don't look behind, knowing Ryker is no longer there. My heart hurts that he won't let me see his face. I want to question Jace about it, but I know he won't tell me.

I bite down on my lip, knowing that what I'm going to do is either going to get me killed or seriously punished.

The panic didn't set in until hours later while I was showering.

That's the thing about panic attacks, they hit you out of nowhere and you have no idea when it'll settle.

I can feel their hands on my skin. The roughness of their palms. The awful smell…

"Tell me, tell me where the shipments are and all this can end for you," Henry's whiskey breath hits my face.

"I…I don't know." I shake my head. My brain pulses against my skull, pounding and breaking with every second I'm here.

"I'm trying here, but if you can't tell me, then I'm not sure I can hold my friends back."

I try to pick my head up, but everything feels heavy. My arms hang from above my head, my fingertips growing numb. And the only thing I can think about is why my parents put us in this situation. Why did Dad pick Henry to be my guard?

"I'll be nice and give you one more chance." Henry grabs my chin, forcing me to look up at him. My feet dangle on the ground, barely able to keep myself up.

I must have been quiet for too long because Henry lets out a whistle. I try to peek up. What was he whistling at?

I don't have to wait long before three men step into the room, the faint sound of Gabriel yelling just before the door slams shut .

I shake my head. I know what they're about to do, and there's nothing I can do to stop them. One glance at Henry tells me he's not going to help me either. No, he's the reason I'm here. He was the one who helped kidnap the mafia's daughter.

I scream the moment ice-cold water hits me. My teeth chatter, I can barely breathe, I can't breathe.

I can't brEATHE.

I gasp for air.

Slipping in the tub, my ass hits the ground. Grabbing at my throat, I claw my skin, I can't breathe. My nails dig into my skin, digging further, needing air. Bile rises from my stomach; it's slowly working its way up. I can't swallow.

I can't breathe.

My eyes slam shut, my fingers gripping my hair. I yank, my brain needs to stop working.

Get out of my head.

All I can see is Henry. He's laughing, forcing himself into me, encouraging the others to beat me. I can feel the whips, the tearing of my skin. My body aches, my toes starting to go numb. I slam my head against the tile. I need to feel something, something else but this.

Feel something.

"Shit," someone whispers in the bathroom.

Oh, no. They're here.

I slam my head harder against the tile shower wall. I'm going to die.

I scramble forward, I need to get away. I can't let them take me again. I can't. I'll never survive, not again. I can't let them take me. I shake my head. They're dead. They're all supposed to be dead.

I slam my head against the shower wall again. Pain shoots behind my eyes, an instant headache causing me to feel nauseous.

"Bla—"

I shake my head, tilting my head down between my knees.

Breathe, breathe, just fucking breathe .

My eyes fill with tears, threatening to fall. Slamming my eyes closed, I bite down on my lip again, drawing blood into my mouth.

Just fucking breathe.

"Pet." Ryker.

I rock myself back and forth, palms pressed against my ears. I try to hold a sob back. I can't let Ryker see me like this. He'll hold it against me. Ryker is cruel, and he'll punish me for crying.

"What happened?" Ryker growls.

I shake my head. Why can't he just go away? I don't want him here.

The blood pumping in my head makes it hurt worse. Why didn't Henry just kill me? I should have died.

"Pet, look at me," Ryker's voice holds no argument. The water stops hitting my back as I feel his legs move around me. I blink my eyes open, glancing to the side. Ryker's legs rest on either side of my body.

With blurry eyes, I peer back at Ryker. "You're safe, it's just us here," he whispers.

I don't believe him. My eyes drift closed, and I slowly lower my head back down to my knees. Ryker doesn't like that; reaching around, he grabs my throat, and my eyes widen.

"I haven't lied to you since you've been here, and I don't plan to lie to you."

I blink my eyes closed, tears leaking down my cheeks.

I'm sorry, I sign.

"Not sure what you're sorry for, but it better not be for this," he mumbles into my ear.

A shiver runs down my spine. I want to question Ryker. Why is he being nice to me? But I don't. I kind of like that he's holding me, it's odd.

"When I was fifteen my parents died in a fire. My little sister, Laia, was two and because I was too young to be her guardian, they gave us to my grandma. Laia and I had our sibling fights, but I loved her. She was the reason I joined the military. I wanted to protect her. I wanted to do my twenty years and when I retired, I would be able to take care of her. I had a college fund going, I had bought a house that I was fixing up so she would have a place to live." Ryker stops talking, his chin resting on the top of my head. Turning my head, I rest my ear against his chest, my eyes drifting closed.

"I was home on leave for her tenth birthday. I bought her this set of play makeup. Grams told me she was obsessed with wearing her makeup and that she needed some of her own. I wanted to give Laia everything she wanted in life."

I listen to Ryker's heartbeat as he talks about his sister, but nothing prepares me for what he says next.

"I knew something was wrong when I couldn't get in touch with Grams. I rushed to our house. It was raining so bad, I almost crashed multiple times, but I needed to get home. I knew something was wrong, being in the military…being overseas, it did something to me. But I never expected for someone in our unit to turn."

I pull away from Ryker, turning around and I sit between his legs. He sits in the shower fully clothed, mask soaking wet and sad eyes.

Take your mask off, I sign.

Ryker tilts his head to the side, eyes dropping before he shakes his head.

"I'm not the same, pet. I've been hurt before. Shot and stabbed, but this was different. I couldn't save them, I was tied down, listening to their screams. He walked and laughed. He was the last face I saw before I passed out."

Please, take it off, I beg. I need to see his face.

"Jace saved me, did he tell you that? I didn't even know he was on leave as well. He was going to surprise Laia. They were like siblings. He even flirted with Grams, mostly just to piss me off. But he was—is family. I wouldn't be here without him. He got me to the hospital before…" He trails off, glancing away.

Swallowing the lump in my throat, I go against the nagging gut feeling to not push him. Reaching up, I touch the bottom of his mask. Ryker blinks back at me, but he doesn't stop me. Biting my bottom lip, I slowly start to pull his mask off. My hands shake the entire time, but I don't stop. I keep my eyes on Ryker, not stopping until the mask is off. Dropping it behind him, my eyes widen when I see what he's talking about.

"I was lucky, my face didn't get the worst of it. My back and arms, that's a different story. "

My eyes drop down to his gloved hands. Before I can question it, I take the mile, even if he's only giving me an inch. I grab one of his hands, peeling the glove off, and then the next. Burn scars liter both his hands, three fingers no longer have nails on them.

"I know… I used to be cute." Ryker chuckles. My eyes snap to his, shaking my head.

You're beautiful, I sign, reaching forward, my thumb brushing across the burn scar trailing down his cheek into his beard.

"You're kind," Ryker whispers.

My hands trail over his face, brushing over his scars, Ryker flinches but tries to mask it. I wonder if I'm the only one besides maybe Jace that's seen him. The real him. Am I the only one whose touched him?

"Our past doesn't define us. I'll always miss them. I lost a part of myself, but Blake…" Ryker grabs the back of my head, pulling me until we're nearly an inch apart. "Don't mistake me, I might treat you like a whore, but you're mine. Mine and Jace's. If anyone tries to take you from me, they won't see daylight again. No one will touch you again," he declares. I nod my head just as Ryker slams his lips against mine.