Page 22 of Waging War
There’s a mere couple inches separating us, and I’m staring into cold eyes that fear no consequence and no man. Why would he? He’s on his way to ruling this entire town with flocks of people willing to do his bidding for cold hard cash and false promises.
“You’ll have to forgive me for not wanting to watch them assault a helpless woman,” I grit between my teeth.
“Still trying to be the hero, I see.” Straightening his dress shirt, he takes a single step away. “Is there something going on between the two of you?”
“No.” Sometime between our last night together and now, I’ve chosen to end our hookups. “Though I can’t help but wonder why you’re keeping her here.”
Bruce leisurely rolls the ends of his sleeves up his forearms. He glares at where she’s now leaning against the wall, struggling to stay upright.
“I like to think of Samantha as a gift from fate. Instead of throwing her out on the streets as I should have, I decided to use her for my business.”
“As a live-in slave for these assholes? That’s hardly an upgrade.”
“Funny, you keep excluding yourself from my men as if you’re somehow better than they are. Do you forget that you’re one of them?” He tsks as he stalks a circle around me like an animal.
“I’m not an idiot, Ben. It amuses me that you think I don’t know about your little visit with Jack a couple of months ago.” He chuckles, and my gut burns. “You almost failed the test, you know.”
My body goes rigid. “What test?”
“If you hadn’t brought Kenneth’s daughter back to me the night her father was killed, you and Jack would have been as good as dead.” Bruce’s expression is sharp as a steel knife.
He doesn’t know Kenneth is alive.
“I think you’ll be surprised to realize just how much your allegiance to me has changed you.”
Yes,my demons hiss.
“You like being in control, don’t you, Ben?” He pauses to signal Alfonzo and the other man beside him. “The power is unlike any high you could ever get, isn’t it? And I think after tonight, you and I will have a much better understanding of what happens when you try to take advantage of that power.”
They flank my sides, each grabbing an arm while Bruce silences Sam’s weak protests with a single finger.
I struggle against them, bile rapidly rising in my throat.
When Bruce steps back in front of me, it’s obvious that I’ve gotten myself into deep shit. “There is no escaping, Ben. You’re here to stay, willing or not.”
I pull against his men once again, but resistance is futile. There’s nowhere for me to run.
“Turn around,” Bruce demands.
My brows pinch together, but my legs remain locked.
“Turn. Around.”
The guys yank me away from him so I’m facing the back of the room.
Not good.
I shove my shoulder into Alfonzo and use this brief moment of freedom to spin toward Bruce again. My heart slams against my sternum, surging with growing panic. “What the fuck are you doing?”
“Drop to your knees and remove your shirt.”
“No,” I grit.
The strike of a solid fist against the back of my skull takes me by surprise. It buckles my legs, and they jerk me into position.
“Don’t hurt him!” Sam shouts sloppily, but it’s too late for that.
“Not another word,” Bruce directs her.
