Page 13 of Taunting Tarran
My eyes scan over the woman’s body, tracing the curves of her legs. ‘Stop the session!’ I demand, my voice trembling with disbelief.
‘Maribel’s eyes widen, ‘I...I don’t think I can do that.’
‘Do it. Do it now!’ I insist, feeling sick to my stomach.
Maribel quickly presses the intercom next to the speaker, her hand shaking slightly as she calls for the session to be stopped.
My eyes remain locked onto the girl. I’ve seen some messed up shit in my life, but nothing had prepared me for this moment. I knew taking over my father’s assets was going to be a challenging task; I firmly disagreed with many of his business deals, but I also knew clubs like The Lickerish Lounge served a purpose, but this? This wasn’t what I agreed to.
‘Stop it NOW before I thump the cunt!’ I yell, unableto contain my rage.
Ignoring Maribel’s protests, I burst into the room and quickly move to free the woman from her restraints. My heart races as I take in her bruised and battered body that’s cold to the touch.
‘What are you doing here?’ I whisper to her as I carry her out of the room.
‘You can’t do this! You can’t just barge into a session,’ The Conqueror growls, ‘Someone call security!’
His voice echoes through the room as I storm out. The Conqueror glares at me as I sternly warn him. ‘I suggest you move out of my way before…’
The girl groans in response and my heart cracks at the state of her, a small fragile creature with bruises and cuts marring her delicate features.
My hand reaches out instinctively to soothe her pain as I softly stroke her hair. ‘Come on, sweetheart,’ I speak gently, trying to wake her up from her dazed state. ‘Wake up.’
I storm out of the club clutching her frail body close to my chest, and then lower her into the back of my car. After retrieving a knife from my glove compartment, I cut through the zip ties that bind her wrists. It takes a few minutes but finally she stirs muttering through dry lips.
‘Whaaat’s g-going…on?’ she exhales, struggling to form words.
‘Where do you live?’ I ask, kneeling in front of her grasping her wrists as she tries to remove the blindfold. ‘That’s not a goodidea.’
Through swollen lips, she mutters an address. Without hesitation, I whip off my tie, retie her hands, open the car boot and carefully place her inside before slamming it shut.
‘I’m sorry, but it has to be this way.’
CHAPTER 6
THE BUTCHERBIRD
It was a bump in the road that awoke my senses. My nostrils twitch by the overpowering scent of cologne. My hands are bound, but instead of the sharp zip ties, they feel like they are now tied by something soft and smooth. My aching body lolls from side to side as I realise I am in a car, and not just in a car but in the boot. Panic creeps up inside me as I frantically start to piece together what happened. Memories flash before me like a disjointed movie reel, until one clear thought emerges – someone did this to me.
Am I safe?
The throbbing pain between my legs tells me otherwise. Mybreathing quickens in short, raspy gasps as I struggle to make sense of my surroundings.
Where am I?
Why are my eyes covered?
Who did this?
Then, a low, soothing voice breaks my thoughts.
‘Almost there,’ it whispers.
The car jolts and rocks as the tyres drive over gravel, the sound piercing through the floor of the boot. With a jolt of recognition, the familiar crunch sends a panic within me as I curse myself for revealing my address to someone.
A complete stranger.
What was I thinking?
