Page 55 of Debt of My Soul

Heat floods my cheeks.Like I had a choice, I want to yell at him. Instead, I drop my gaze to a cup in his hand.

He squats down into a crouch. Using one hand to steady himself, he grips a bar, and despite being half his height, he still demands presence and space.

The grating of metal on the concrete floor snaps my attention from his impressive body to where he pushes a metal cup into the cell.

My eyes flick to his and I catch him watching me. He gestures with his chin to the cup on the floor. “Water.”

Before the word is even fully out of his mouth, I fly off the bed, drop to the floor on my knees, and snatch the drink off the floor. My head pounds and the dryness of my mouth I’ve managed to avoid dwelling on, rushes back at me. I don’t care how half-human I look. I gulp the water down. It’s cold and refreshing. The water works its way down my raw throat, quenching my thirst and settling into my empty stomach.

All too soon, it’s gone. And I set the cup down on the exact ring of condensation where it was placed before.

He’s studying me, still crouched low, and I suddenly realize how close we are. A muscle in his jaw ticks, and I shuffle back, my movement pulling him out of his thoughts, and he stands.

I open my mouth to say something but snap it shut. What do I say? Thank you? Absolutely not. I don’t care how loyal of a brother he is. It’s clear he now enjoys his position in Darrin’s world. It’s his actions now, not what he did four years ago.

Liam turns, but I catch his gaze flick to the upper corner of the hallway, opposite my cell, before his back is to me and he strides away.

When the door closes, I make my way to the bars, using them to pull myself up. Squinting, I make out a small red dot. It’s blinking. I release the bars, backing up until I run into the wall.

A camera.

Was he trying to point it out to me? Or did he instinctively look at it?

Moving back to the cot, I lie down, testing my tongue in my mouth. That wasn’t nearly enough water. Feels like I’m chewing on glass with how parched I am.

I turn, making sure my back is to the camera, needing to block out whoever is lurking behind the lens.

I shiver. What the hell am I going to do now?

A door slams and I bolt awake. Zero light filters down here and the hours are beginning to blur together. I’d fallen asleep ticking through mental checkboxes, unsure what my next steps would be.

Even if I somehow managed to escape this cell, I have no idea where I am. Regardless of that, Ruin is crawling with Darrin’s men. Mr. and Mrs. Northgate are probably the only ones I could flee to. I’m sure River would help me, but I know her brother is involved and she might not want to risk pushback.

Footsteps once again sound in the hallway. This time they’re hurried and I clamber to sitting. The man named Blitz comes into view. His lofty body is more monstrous in the weak light.

My eyes flit to the camera, noticing the red light is no longer on, and my stomach roils. I swallow, catching each movement, each twitch or lift in his face as he stares at me. Holding my gaze, he pushes a key into the iron door, and when I hear the click, bile rises in my throat.

The door swings open and I stomp down a whimper as I stand, keeping my chin high. A repulsive grin stretches across his mouth, and my eyes narrow on a black piece of food between his teeth.

Allowing the door to screech shut, it slams, the noise causing me to jump despite it being anticipated. He steps toward me, palming himself.

“D says to leave ya alone until Adam pays up, but the boss has left, and I’d like to get my fill.” He snickers, a cruel smile falling in time with his eyes as they morph to undress me.

“Where’s Liam?” I ask, backing into the corner of the cell, utterly helpless.

“Busy,” he spits.

My eyes dart back and forth between the camera and the door, willing the light to turn on again.

“W-where is your boss?”Distract him, Fleur. Think, think!

He snorts. “Had to leave town to meet with the Cartel leader. Guess who’s in charge?” He moves to me, grimy hands reaching for my already ripped shirt. His hand yanks the fabric down and a sharp tearing noise echoes off the walls.

My shirt falls away, exposing my nude lace bra underneath. His eyes drop down, combing over my body, and when he drags a finger across my chest, I smack his hand away.

He retaliates, grabbing my wrist and smashing it against the wall. I scream, as he takes his other hand and helps himself to a handful, and I reach to smack his other hand away. He holds it down along his thigh and rubs my fisted hand there, moaning into my ear.

Too much cologne invades my nose as he licks my cheek and I jerk.

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