Page 85 of Corrupted Lies

“You understand, I'm sure, why it’s imperative I know anything your family knows before you both die,” fire man continued, talking to Jake. “We can do this the easy way or the hard way. The easy way is you just tell me what I need to know, and we can move on, otherwise, we can do this all night.”

The lighter was brought close to her skin again and held there.

For a tiny flame, it caused a whole lot of pain, and the longer it burned against her skin, the harder it got to hold in her cries.

At last, a whimper fell free, and she heard Jake growl.

“It’s so easy to hurt others when you have the upper hand, isn’t it?” Jake sneered. “Would you come at us if you didn't have a couple of dozen men at your disposal?”

“A couple of dozen?” Fire man snorted like the idea was ridiculous. “I had only a dozen and you killed two of them on the island. Ten men is more than I need to get the answers I require. In fact, I could do it on my own. All I need is to hurt your girl for long enough, and you’ll tell me what I want to know.”

“I'm not his girl,” Alannah whispered.

This time fire man gave her an almost pitying look. “Don’t lie to me, dear. I don’t like it. Now tell me, Mr. Holloway, do you have a name, or can I assure my boss he’s safe?”

Burning pain in her foot as he touched the flame to one of her open wounds had Alannah crying out before she could help it, and Jake growled again.

“We don’t have a name. Satisfied?”

“Perfectly.” Immediately, the pain withdrew, and fire man stood. “That wasn't so hard was it?” Sending another apologetic look her way, he reached out and patted her head like she was a dog to be played with. “Now I'm sorry, my dear, this won't be pleasant for you, but my boss did promise us some time to enjoy you when we caught you. Personally, I won't be partaking in it, no need, I will forever only love one woman, and the thought of touching another feels like a betrayal. But I can't say the same about my team. They’re quite looking forward to it.”

There was no way to stop the fear that churned in her stomach.

This was always what she had been most afraid of, and now it was about to happen.

Ten men or twenty, it didn't seem to matter. It was still too many.

Her breathing increased to the point where white dots danced in front of her eyes as she hyperventilated.

“I’ll be waiting upstairs. When my men are finished with their fun, I will come and end your suffering.” Fire man ran his hand down her cheek almost tenderly before moving out of her line of sight. “I’ll leave you to watch, Mr. Holloway. As punishment for all the trouble you’ve caused my employer.”

Behind her, she could hear the door opening, footsteps, and then a moment later, a different man appeared before her. This one didn't look apologetic in the least, in fact he looked theopposite, he was everything evil embodied and he was about to rape her.

Chapter

Twenty

October 21st

2:57 A.M.

Every muscle in his body tensed.

Every nerve ending stood at attention.

Every sense heightened as he bided his time.

Jake was ready to pounce, could feel the energy surging inside him, every bit of anger and fear he’d felt these last few weeks as he watched Alannah’s life get put on the line time and time again was now being channeled into something constructive.

As soon as his opportunity presented itself, he was ready to make his move.

Still, nothing was harder than hanging still in the arms of the two guards flanking him as he watched another man enter the room and walk straight to the chair where Alannah was bound.

Open hunger was on the man’s face, and because he knew it would look suspicious if he didn't at least try to get to her, Jake made a half-hearted attempt at fighting out of the men’s holds.

“Don’t touch her,” he growled.

“What’re you going to do to stop me?” The man sneered as he began to unbuckle the leather straps from around Alannah’s wrists.

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