He slapped me on the cheek, and I jerked as pain exploded in my head. I tried to speak, but nothing emerged from my mouth except a croak.
He picked me up and threw me over his shoulder like a sack of grain then carried me down a hallway. The light blinded me, and for several minutes I was unable to see anything except a bright yellow blurriness. It burned my eyes, and I had to close them until the pain eased.
“Hang her up there.”
I winced as I opened my eyes again, looking up toward where the voice had come from, but it was dark on the other side of the room, and all I saw was the outline of a man standing near the wall. I was placed on my feet, and instantly they gave out, and I crumpled to the cold tiled floor.
I managed a moan while looking up at the man. “Please. Water.”
His broad face was like the front of a Mac truck, flattened nose, wide cheeks and forehead, and beady green eyes. He stared at me for a second, and then a cruel grin appeared just before he raised his foot and kicked me in the ribs.
I screamed, trying to crawl away, the pain plunging into my chest over and over again as he continued his assault until I rolled up into a ball and tried to protect my chest and stomach from his foot.
“Enough. We don’t need her face accidently bruised.”
The kicking stopped. Flat-faced guy picked me up by the hair, and I scrambled to get to my feet as he yanked hard, my scalp burning.
“What do you want? God, please just let me go.”
My mind was rolling with fear pouring down over my sanity. Were they going to rape me? Beat me to death? Torture me?
I couldn’t let this happen. I wouldn’t. I didn’t want to die like this.
My survival instinct was still strong, and despite knowing that escape may not be possible, I had to fight. Adrenaline pumped through my veins as Logan’s words during self-defense blasted through me, and I reacted.
I swung my elbow backward hard and fast. Jarring pain went through my arm as it made contact with his nose, and I heard the distinct crunch.
“Bitch.” He staggered back holding his bleeding nose. I heard a man shouting in another language as I continued my pursuit and went for flat-faced's eyes. My fingers jammed into them; he shoved me back with one arm. I was so weak and off-balance that I fell to my side, and it took me a second to gain my feet again.
I turned to run past him and banged straight into a hard, unmovable body. The man spun me around so my back was to his chest then locked his arm around my throat and squeezed. I moved my hip back behind his pelvis like Logan had taught me and was about to unlock his hold when the cold metal pressed to my head.
I froze.
“A pity I don’t have time to sample you myself. I enjoy a good fight.” His accented voice sent cold shivers down to my toes. “Alfonzo. Tie her up.” His arm loosened, and I tried to get a glimpse of him, but he shoved me forward into flat-face—who I could only assume was Alfonzo—and walked away.
Alfonzo had blood dripping from his nose, and his eyes were bloodshot. He grabbed my wrists, and I felt the heavy, thick manacles clasp around them.
“You’ll pay for that, bitch,” Alfonzo said beneath his breath as he pulled me in close.
I jerked my knee upward, but he was ready for it and jumped back. I felt the burning pain in my cheek as he slapped me.
“Not the face,” the accented man shouted. “Dios.”
Alfonzo crudely pulled my arms above my head, and I felt pressure on my wrists and heard chains clank. I looked up—the manacles on my wrists were hooked onto a chain dangling from the ceiling.
Oh God. No. Don’t do this. The sobbing began again as I kicked, and my body swayed back and forth, the chains jangling.
“Please. No!” I cried. Tears I thought had dried up now streamed steadily down my cheeks. The man chuckled then strode away, and I heard him talking with the other guy, but I couldn’t understand them.
I was facing a brick fireplace with my feet barely able to touch the floor. Completely helpless.
Fear crept across my skin. What were they doing? Why were they doing this? Who were they?
“Give her water.”
My head jerked up at the word water, and I tried to swing around, but the man grabbed my hair and jerked my head back then started pouring warm water down my throat. I didn’t care if it was the filthiest water in the world, just the sweetness of something gliding down my throat was heaven.
It drizzled out the corners of my mouth, and I choked a few times as he continuously poured. I swallowed as fast as I could, afraid I wouldn’t get any more.
I heard a door creak open then slam shut. Alfonzo shoved my head away from him so hard I swung back and forth on the chains.
Then—
“Are you screwing up our deal already, Raul? She is mine. That was non-negotiable. I believe I made myself perfectly clear.”
I broke. Logan’s voice swam into my trembling body and wrapped me in its warmth. I started sobbing, my head falling forward making my arms and shoulders scream in pain as I shook. Logan had come for me. He’s here to take me away. To stop the pain.
“She’s yours when I tell you she is. And lose the attitude or our deal is finished.”
Silence. I could hear the wind whistling through the cracks in the window frames.
“Our deal is solid.”
Logan? What were they talking about? What deal? A deal to get me out of here? I tried to turn around to see him, but I couldn’t get enough of a foothold to swing myself around.
Laughter. Cold. Violent. Sinister. It was like the crackle of fireworks mixed with the screech of tires on wet pavement. “She likes to fight.” His accented tone deepened, and all amusement left it. “You’re lucky I’m allowing this. She’d make a hefty amount on the market. Would you prefer I test that theory?”