Page 59 of Protecting Bree
More importantly, her eyes homed in on the keys in his hand. She needed to get a hold of those somehow. Get them to Fiona and Julie, who could then open the locks holding them captive in their cages. But how?
Just as she opened her mouth to pretend she was having cramps or some other womanly affliction—guys always seemed to get flustered when confronted with talk of periods or cramps—the man leaned down to her cage and grabbed the lock.
He was letting her out? Just like that? Without her having to make a scene?
Glancing over at Julie and Fiona, she saw their eyes were huge and they looked both confused and thrilled at the same time.
This was it. Her chance. It might be the only one they had.
“You first,” the man told her. “Boss has special plans for you. The others are being shipped off to Russia and North Korea. Their buyers have already arranged for transportation. Butyou’regoing to his compound in Ecuador. A personal slave for his employees, he’s decided…to use whenever and however they want. Free of charge. Kind of perk for their hard work.” He chuckled. “They’ll enjoy it—but I’m guessing you won’t. That doesn’t matter though, does it? You belong to the boss. You’re his to do as he pleases. The sooner you come to terms with that, the better. You want food? Water? A place to shit and piss that isn’t your own bed? You better behave. The more you do what he wants, the better your life will be.”
“I’ll do anything!” Bree whined, trying to sound cowed and meek. “I’m so thirsty! Do you have any water?”
“What are you going to givemeif I give you water?” the man asked, straightening and grabbing his crotch suggestively. “Maybe I should have you suck me off before I bring you to the boss.”
Bree wanted to gag. Instead, she forced herself to keep her eyes downward and sit with her shoulders slumped submissively. Her fingers clutched the knife harder as she waited for him to open the cage door. She could hear her heart beating hard in her chest. Thethump thump thumpaloud reminder that she was alive. And that it was up to her to help Fiona and Julie.
“Nothing to say to that? Not a yes, sir? Please, sir?” the man asked. “Guess you aren’t getting that water then. You’ll learn. Boss is big on respect. As long as you do as he says, you’ll live. If not…” He shrugged.
He turned the key in the lock, and even over the clucking of the chickens, Bree heard it snick open. Licking her lips, she waited.
The man swung the door open and reached for her. Bree kept her muscles loose as the man grabbed her upper arm and dragged her out of her cage. It hurt to stand, and for a moment she was afraid her legs wouldn’t hold her upright. She didn’t have to fake the unstable wobble before she locked her knees.
The guy swept his gaze down her body, and it was all Bree could do not to move to shield herself from his leer. The pastel slip she was wearing didn’t hide anything. It was sheer, and she could feel her nipples tighten against the cold air coming in from behind the man.
Without a word, he brought his free hand up, the one not holding her arm—and the keys—and grabbed one of her breasts. Fondling her as if he had every right in the world.
Fuck this.
Fuckhim.
She moved without thought. Swinging the plastic knife and stabbing him in the neck as hard as she could.
His eyes widened almost comically as he instantly let go of her arm, clutching his neck with his hands.
Bree brought her knee up next, hitting him in the crotch. He reacted like any male in the same situationwould—he dropped to his knees. Hard, as he groaned loudly.
The keys fell to the floor of the truck. Bree snatched them up, turning and tossing them toward Fiona’s cage in one fluid movement.
Then without hesitation, she swung the knife again, thrusting it once more into the man’s neck.
She guessed that was the most vulnerable part of his body right now, figuring the knife wouldn’t be able to penetrate his clothes into his chest, his heart. She needed to do her best to incapacitate him—if she was lucky, kill him. But at the very least, do as much damage to his throat as possible, so he couldn’t call for help.
How many times she stabbed the man, Bree had no idea. But she felt his blood on her fingers. On her face. Stabbing someone was a messy business. She’d kind of gone into a trance while taking out her frustration, terror, and fury on this asshole who’d taunted the three of them with what was in store for each woman. No way were Julie and Fiona being shipped off to North Korea and Russia. Not if she could help it!
“You sampling the goods in there?” a voice called out from the back of the truck, snapping Bree out of her daze.
She was breathing hard, as if she’d just run for miles. And her legs felt like jelly.
A touch on her arm had her spinning around violently, knife at the ready.
“It’s just me!” Fiona told her, taking a step backward with her hands up.
“Shit, sorry,” Bree said, lowering the knife.
Then it hit her. Fiona was out. And Julie too. Theystood there, looking bedraggled and pathetic, but they were free.
Well…not free yet.
