Page 86 of Bought to Break
They rested until the sun was low, and then it was time.
After they were dressed, Viktor produced a rope to tie Lana’s hands. He hesitated as she held out her wrists.
‘I’ll have to do it properly, Lana. It won’t be comfortable and there won’t be any getting out of it. But once you’re brought to the Collector you won’t be mistreated. You’re too valuable to him.’ He cupped her face. ‘That’s the only reason we’re letting you do this.’
She nodded and he secured her hands tightly. When he looked into her eyes to gauge his handiwork she smiled, not letting him see her unease. He drew her to him and kissed her. ‘I’d be lying if I said the sight of you tied up didn’t make me want you again, though,’ he whispered in her ear.
‘Stop that,’ Kane said from the table as he slid a dagger from its scabbard and inspected the blade. ‘She already doesn’t look enough like a true captive. If the agent and his men sense anything amiss, they’ll disappear and we won’t get another chance. Bad enough that we’re trying to pretend it’s a coincidence that we’re all in the same fucking town.’ He looked up and swore again. ‘This isn’t going to work. Look at her.’
Lana scowled. ‘What’s wrong with how I look?’
Viktor drew back and scrutinised her face. ‘He’s right. Your lips are swollen and you have a look about you.’
‘A look?’
‘Well pleasured.’
Her cheeks coloured.
‘Hit her,’ said Kane absently as he continued to check his weapons.
‘What?’ they both asked in unison.
‘Not hard, just enough to swell. Then the puffy lips, grazes and bruises on her neck can be put down to a few knocks to keep her in line.’
‘No.’
The look on Viktor’s face would have made her laugh at any other time.
‘Do it,’ she said.
‘No!’
She clicked her tongue. ‘Kane, you do it. This needs to work or Sorin is dead.’
Kane left his task and approached. He raised his hand and she flinched, her stomach in knots. He hesitated, his face inscrutable.
‘Do it!’ she barked.
And he did, the back of his hand hitting her cheek, the force turning her head, though she knew he pulled back at the last moment. The sound of it reverberated through the room and she gave a small cry, tears springing to her eyes and her skin smarting. He had done it exactly as he’d said, though. It would bruise and swell, but that was all.
She turned away to dry her eyes before Kane could see, but he came with her. He put his hand over where it hurt and wiped away the tears she’d shed with his thumb. He didn’t say anything, but she put her hand over his and squeezed it to reassure him that there was no real harm done. The complete lack of emotion on his face was more telling than if he had actually looked upset, and it helped to soothe her as well. He did care for her. She could see that now. He just found it very difficult to express his feelings.
‘Is that better?’ she asked, showing her face to Viktor.
Teeth clenched, he nodded once.
‘Good.’ She looked out of the casement. ‘It’s time.’
Kane and Lanastood under the bridge in the twilight. The agent and his men had formed a line not ten paces away as they waited for the last of their party to arrive. The tide was out and it stank, as water by towns usually did. The mud squelched as she shifted, threatening to suck the sturdy shoes Vie had given her from her feet. Viktor was hidden close by in case it was a trap or they were ambushed – and to follow them as closely as he could, as he’d lost them at the town last time.
Kane, dressed in black once more as part of their ruse that they were Brothers still, made an impatient sound.
‘He will be here in a moment,’ said the agent calmly – though Lana noticed that he kept glancing around surreptitiously for whomever they were waiting for whenever he thought no one was watching.
‘He fucking better be,’ Kane growled and pulled her forward by her rope for effect. She staggered in the mud, but he didn’t let her fall. ‘You aren’t the only one interested in purchasing the witch.’
A man in long robes hobbled into view, looking at his surroundings in utter distaste and attempting to keep his clothes out of the mud.
