Chosen Fool (Forever Evermore #5)(29)
When I blinked, I was in a back card room in one of the many hotels Bossman owned. I ducked, rolling toward the door as I stuffed the diamond into my back pocket, when I heard Dell, Bruno, Jasper, and many other goons behind me. I wasn’t fast enough, a brush of wind fluttering my hair across my face. I shouted, the sound frantic, as I was jerked up by a handful of my hair, instantly pulled to my feet as my head was yanked back…to stare into Dell’s surprised face.
He grinned slowly. “Well, gentlemen, look who just…flashed somehow…back into our lives.”
Fumbling behind me, I grabbed a bottle from a table and swiftly smashed it against the side of his head. I dipped and twisted away from his off-centered hold, then swiftly slammed an elbow into the back of his head. I kicked over a table onto the other men, who were just starting to stand, their shouts of surprise echoing. I turned and raced toward the door, but it slammed closed in my face, glowing golden. I hit it hard, muttering a curse before I quickly turned, my gaze swinging for another exit.
But I stopped moving.
My eyes were caught on the other side of the room…on Sin. His muscular body was clad only in bloody boxer briefs, his head hanging. He was pinned to the f*cking wall, his arms raised high and spread, with his hands staked…and a spear stuck through his stomach.
Already racing toward him, I grunted, choking, when a meaty fist suddenly grabbed my throat, stopping my progress. It lifted me high into the air as I scrambled. Bruno chuckled quietly up at me, holding me easily, before he slammed his fist into my stomach. My vision dimmed as a choked grunt flew past my lips. My body curled right before he tossed me across the room, the tables whizzing by in a blur until I hit the far wall, the crack of the plaster loud. I tumbled to the ground to land on my front, bits of the wall’s debris falling on top of me.
I blinked and sucked in oxygen, wheezing as I stared at my broken hand on the carpet next to my face. There were many black boots and shiny dress shoes walking toward me. Coughing hard, I raised myself, but I shouted breathlessly as I instantly fell back down, grabbing at my twisted leg.
Dell said from too close behind me, “Can’t move too well with a broken leg and hand, can you, bitch?” I choked on a scream when he slammed a foot down on my leg. He sneered down at me as he applied more pressure so I couldn’t move away. “God, I f*cking hate you.” But he removed his foot and…smiled. “I say we string her up like Sin.”
“Not sure if Boss would like that,” Jasper drawled, stepping up beside Dell. He opened his arms wide when Dell scowled at him. “I’m just saying that he usually likes doing it to her himself.”
“She’s trying to run,” Dell taunted in fake shock. He waved his arms where I lay sucking in air, smiling down at me with sick delight. “Isn’t that right, bitch? You’re trying to run?”
“Fuck you,” I whispered.
“Mm, please tell me that’s an offer,” Dell purred. He bent near me even as he told Bruno, “Get the other stakes and spear before Boss gets here.” As Bruno walked away to a closet, Dell’s attention swung back to me. He crouched over my form, his handsome face altering to sadistic lust as he stared at me. “What are you wearing, Caro?” He picked at my white shirt. I tried jerking away from him, but he quickly slammed me onto my back, making me shout when my broken leg twisted. He merely continued, ripping my shirt off over my head. “Since we all know you hate white clothes, I’ll help you out of them.”
“Get your f*cking hands off me!” I screamed, using my one good hand to fight him as he tried to lift me to remove my bra. “Stop it!”
“Shut. Up,” he hissed, planting his fist into the side of my face.
My vision dimmed again as my head lolled.
Jasper’s voice floated into my hearing while Dell fumbled with my bra. “Dell, torture or rape…you’ve only got time for one before Boss gets here.”
“Dammit, Jasper, you always f*cking do this,” Dell growled. My vision slowly steadied. I grunted when he dropped me onto my back, leaving me to stare up at the ceiling. “Fine, you know I enjoy making her bleed even more.”
He straightened, moving away.
I gritted my teeth, inhaling heavily before rolling onto my side. Tiny grunting whimpers escaped me while I steadied myself. Only a second later I cried out as Bruno grabbed my arms and lifted me, smashing me against the wall next to Sin.
“Is he alive?” I gasped, leaning heavily on my good leg.
Bruno snorted. “Of course he is.” A shoulder shrugged. “You know Boss likes to take you both to the brink of death before healing you up.” A cruel smile. “Just so he can do it again.” His head tilted. “I never understood how the f*ck he hasn’t earned the loyalty of the two of you by doing this over and over again.”
I choked on a heartless laugh. “Ah, Bruno, we enjoy pain.”
A tawny eyebrow cocked. “No, you don’t.” His teeth flashed. “But even I have to admit that you have a beautiful scream when you truly hate something.”
“Only to the f*cking demented,” I groaned, trying to fight his hold as he started raising my arms, which was utterly futile against his Shifter strength.
He hummed quietly. “And I’m certain we’ll be hearing it very soon.” He glanced over his shoulder as I continued struggling, my arms now fully stretched. “You’d better hurry up, Dell.”