Page 13 of Descent
Rafe had left knowing what I was facing. The knowledge sank in a little more, and my heart ached…scorched and burned as if he’d stabbed it with a knife made of ginger.
It didn’t matter that logically, I knew why he’d done it—knew that he hadn’t had a choice without harm coming to his son. I still hated him for leaving me, even though the same protectiveness for our unborn child ruled my actions.
Zach’s lips brushed my ear. “Just give in. Stop fighting. He’s not coming back for you.”
Another sob rose, became a hiccup caught in my throat. “I don’t love you. I’ll never love you.” His frustrated sigh rustled my hair, and as he rose to his feet, I pushed off the mattress and turned to face him. “Why would you want someone who doesn’t love you?”
“Even a feral animal can learn to love the hand that feeds them. I’m all you’ve got now.” Dread strengthened in my gut as he held up a remote. “And I don’t want to do it, Lex—swear to God I don’t want to hurt you—but I will if you don’t cooperate.”
“Is this the best you’ve got?” I raised my chin, clinging to false bravado. “This plan of yours to keep me prisoner in my own home? Rafe’s brother, or someone else, will find me here eventually.”
“Adam is out of town, just like Rafe’s prison buddy. We’ve got time.” His eyes darkened, taking on a stony hue. “And get this. Lover Boy has this place wired. If you go beyond the doors, you’ll wish you hadn’t, so don’t try running.”
The weight of the collar cinched like a vise around my neck, slowly squeezing the hope and breath from my being. But I had to hold on to the silver lining, because Zach wasn’t taking me off the island yet.
“For the last four days, I had to wait.” He reached for the buckle of his belt. “I’m done waiting.”
“No.” My voice was unnaturally high, on the verge of hysteria. “No, Zach. I’m telling you no.” The words shook off my lips as I placed a hand over my belly. Protecting the life growing inside me had become instinct.
His gaze zeroed in on my wedding ring. “Give it to me.”
I hid my hand behind my back, fingers locking into a fist. “No.”
“Yes,” he hissed, taking a step toward me. “Unless you want to test the effectiveness of that collar.”
My heart broke at the thought of taking off my ring. I still remembered in vivid detail the day Rafe had slid it onto my finger for the first time. Alone in the woods, naked against a tree.
It’d been one of the happiest days of my life.
“Please, Zach.”
Not my wedding ring.
“Do as you’re told, and I promise I won’t hurt you. It’s as simple as that.”
My eyes stung as I pulled the ring off my finger, but I couldn’t bring myself to drop it into his outstretched hand.
Not yet.
Eyes downcast, I fisted it, and the jade stone dug into my palm.
“Now, Lex. Hand it over.”
I lifted my arm, forcing my fist closer to his. Giving him my ring was harder than submitting to a blowjob. It was harder than standing before him naked because that piece of jewelry symbolized the commitment between Rafe and me. It made our vows real and not a figment of my imagination; reminded me that no matter what Zach did to me, no matter how long he kept me prisoner, I still belonged to Rafe, and he belonged to me.
Now that symbol resided with my worst enemy, tucked out of reach in the pocket of his jeans.
He really had won.
The only hope I had left was stalling him. “What do you want, Zach?”
He took my chin in his harsh grip. “You’re not a stupid girl. You know a smart girl is one who spreads her legs.”
Shaking my head, I broke free of his hold. “You’ll have to rape me.”
“If that’s what it takes.” He shrugged before grabbing me by the shoulders and pushing me into the bathroom. Hot tears slipped free, one after another, leaving tracks of despair down my cheeks. A loud sob escaped my throat, one I couldn’t hide, and I hated myself for that sign of weakness.
“It’s okay,” Zach said, his tone unusually soft. “You can cry and scream all you want. No one will hear you.” He urged me toward the shower stall.
“What about the collar?” My fingers shook as I ran them along the back, where the electrodes irritated my skin. “Is it safe to get it wet?”
“It’s waterproof. Says so on the device.” He flipped on the spray. “Get in there. I want every last bit of that bastard off what’s mine.”
I could fight.
I could run.
I could scream and cry and beg.
I already knew none of those things would work.
