Sage

Sage

Idon’t know how much time passes before the door opens up once more, a new face I haven’t seen yet stepping inside. He’s a younger guy, probably around my age if not a little younger. The prospect patch on his vest clues me in immediately to what his place is here.

“You a prospect for Seattle or Santa Fe?” I ask.

He looks surprised that I’m willingly talking to him before he answers.

“Seattle.”

I nod like I’m interested. “What’s your name?”

“Chris.”

“I’m Sage,” I say with a soft bat of my eyelashes that seems to hook him instantly.

His eyes can hardly leave mine as I continue.

“You know you’re too cute to be hanging around these guys.”

A crooked smile spreads across his face before he ducks his head and rubs the back of his neck nervously. My god, the kid is practically a child. There is no way he’ll ever get patched in.

“Yeah?” he asks with that smile as he takes a few steps toward me.

I bite the inside of my lower lip as I let my eyes roam over him in what seems like appraisal.

“Mhmm. Do they take care of you? As well as they can for a prospect?” I ask, arching my back just barely, his eyes snapping to my pushed-out chest as he swallows.

“Sure. Yeah,” he says over another swallow as he glances to the open doorway behind him.

I nod before looking down at my feet and back up underneath my eyelashes.

“All of your needs?”

The husky lull of my voice seems to be just what he needed to hear as I watch him adjust his stance and tuck his hardening dick to the side. He takes another step toward me, I think subconsciously before he gets a little braver, bracing his hands on either side of my chair as he leans down face to face with me.

“Why, you offering?”

I feign a shy smile before looking up at him, letting my lips hover over his as I speak.

“Definitely. Want to free up my hands so I can put them to better use? I promise you won’t be disappointed.”

He curses under his breath before looking over his shoulder once more and nodding.

“We gotta be quick,” he says, as he reaches behind the chair and grabs the rope.

Excitement runs through me. I can’t believe he is actually falling for it. I can practically feel the adrenaline buzzing through my veins as I map out my next move. Once he’s undone my hands, I just need to take him down long enough to take off the rope around my feet and get the hell out of here.

When I feel the sharp fraying of the rope freed from my wrists, I let out a steady breath when he grips the back of my head, holding it in place as he begins undoing his pants. Before I can even make my move, though, he’s being ripped away from me, his grip on my hair falling instantly as a heaving Alec stands over him. He rains down punch after punch on the kid, and I know this is the only shot I have.

My hands scramble to my feet, desperately untying the knot as fast as possible as the sound of flesh beating flesh echoes through the musty, dark room. I feel my heart thundering so loudly I’m not sure if I’m hearing my heartbeat or Alec’s fists.

When the rope falls loosely around my ankles, I could cry in relief as I stand and dart forward. Unfortunately I only make it a few feet before a searing hot pain rips through my skull, yanking me backward before I land on the floor with a loud smack.

Alec’s grip tightens, and I feel my scalp burning as he drags me across the room until I’m lying next to the bleeding, unmoving prospect. Fuck. He’s dead.

“You fucking WHORE!” Alec roars into my face. “You think you can leave me? You think you can run from me? Not again! You are fucking MINE!”

The steel boot that drives into my stomach takes me by surprise, knocking the wind out of me as he repeats the move again and again before I feel the solid connection of his fist to my cheek. I see stars as he continues again and again, the sound of his consistent hits becoming a dull melody as my vision dulls, and the world around me turns black.

A sharp sting across my face rouses me. I blink hard for several seconds, struggling to open my eyes as a thick liquid cakes my eyelashes.

“Wake up, bitch,” Alec’s low voice sneers.

I can hardly react as pain radiates from head to toe as Alec moves behind me where I’m apparently sitting in a chair once more. I hear the flick of his blade before it slices through the rope tying my hands together.

“Wake up. We’re leaving. Now,” he says, freeing my feet next before forcing me to stand.

I do my best to go with him, but I crumble almost instantly. Goddamn it. I think that motherfucker broke my ribs.

“Get up! Hurry, Sage!” Alec practically roars.

“Ribs,” I wheeze.

Understanding passes over his face before he rolls his eyes and tosses me over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. I whimper at the impact it has on my already burning ribs as he smacks my ass.

“Shut the fuck up and keep quiet. They’re here.”

“Who?” I rasp, my mind foggy and whirling as I try to make sense of his words.

“Your little ball-playing boytoy and his friends. Don’t worry, baby. They won’t be leaving here alive.”