Page 35 of Clawed
Chapter Thirteen
Decimation
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CROUCHED ON THE DIRTYfloor, Hannah’s head spun.It was bad enough that she still couldn’t fathom how any of it had happened to her—sure, she could intellectualize that Lawes had been Saul all along, but her feelings hadn’t caught up with what that meant—but dealing with the hard slap in the face that was her new reality was something else.
Closing her eyes, she recalled her most recent excruciating ordeal, though the taste of mud from his shoes meant she really didn’t have to try too hard to remember it.He’d made her lick that disgusting old footwear until he was satisfied they werecleaned, a concept she wasn’t even sure the best shoe polish could have achieved.Swallowing down the grim flavor, she tried not to heave.She knew Lawes of old, and suspected there would be much worse in store for her, yet kneeling there, naked, it was difficult to see how she was going to get through it.
No choice.Her gaze flickered open to witness the same worn lino.I’ve no choice but to survive.
Hannah had achieved the feat before, thanks in no small part to the emergency services who’d eventually come to liberate her and the other survivors, but somehow, she was going to have to dig deep and perform another miracle.
If only I’d listened to my friends.
Grimacing at the foul taste in her mouth, she sniffed back the latest wave of regret.Shannon had been prepared to come and collect her from the restaurant after Saul hadn’t shown, yet Hannah had refused her.She’d thought she knew better.
On all fours in the crappy kitchen, the admission was difficult to stomach.Hannah had thought she’d been making progress, and part of that development had been her ability to make decisions for herself.
She thought she was safe.
She never noticed the predator lurking in the corner.
“The food is nearly ready.”Her captor glanced over his shoulder at her from the stove, throwing her a grin as though she was a new date he was trying to impress.
The smell of frying bacon, once a familiar friend, only tightened the tension in her tummy as she met his eyes.
“Stay where you are, little girl.”
Waiting until he turned back to the pan, she glared at the back of the bastard’s head.Stay where she was...was he trying to be fucking funny?He had her collared and leashed, the latter of which was stretched high above her head, securing her to the bloody wall.As if being forced to the floor wasn’t indignity enough, he’d had the nerve to leave her tethered as well.
Gaze narrowing, her attention flitted to the handle of the leash holding her in place.He was keeping her tied to the hook like she was a dog, the purpose no doubt designed not only to hold her but also to reinforce the lesson he’d always loved to teach—that she belonged to him.
Mulling over the humiliation, her focus drilled into the leather handle, and for the first time since he’d permitted her to come up for air, she truly looked.He’d wrapped the handle around the hook, but as far as she could see, there were no locks or additional binds securing it there.Her pulse picked up at what that meant.All she had to do was get to her feet, and she might be able to unhook the thing...
“Not thinking of doing anything stupid, are we?”
Her heart skipped a beat at Lawes’ voice, and turning, she realized he was staring at her.
“No, Mr.Lawes, sir.”Her reply was immediate, but they both knew she was lying.She had been considering acting, and to do so while he was in such close proximity was rash.
“Don’t make me regret not binding you, Hannah.”His voice had dropped to that deeper, more foreboding octave, its timbre drying her already parched throat.
“I’m not, Mr.Lawes, sir.”
She hated how pitiful she sounded, how utterly vulnerable she was as he approached with another bowl in his hand, but experience had taught her to accept the emotions.However it had happened—whether she’d played into his hands or not—shewasnaked in his kitchen.However disturbing his requests, for the time being, she needed to acquiesce.
He shook his head.“Why don’t I believe you, little girl?”
She was pleased to hear his tone had shifted from that undeniably dangerous one she’d been taught to fear to something lighter and wryer.
“I didn’t move, Mr.Lawes, sir.”It was the only defense she could muster as he lowered the bowl beside her.
“Hmmm.”He sounded unconvinced.
She hung her head, unsure how to respond without landing herself in even hotter water.
