Pennies (Dollar #1)(73)

My teeth clacked together as he wrenched me down the staircase. I lost my footing, bouncing downward as he clutched the noose, choking me as I came to a stop in a jumble of body parts at the bottom. My joints bellowed but I never let go of my dollar butterfly.

“Get the f*ck up.” Tugging the rope, he forced me to my knees.

I flicked through the almanac of my pain, seeing if there were new entries to fear. My broken hand screamed, but nothing else seemed to be shattered.

“I’m going to teach you—”

Bing bong.

He froze as the doorbell tore through the house.

I panted, unable to stop the torrent of tears now they’d begun.

He came back!

Thank everything that’s holy, he came back.

However, while I celebrated with relief, Master A grinned with depravity. “Ah, perfect timing.”

Wait, what timing?

Who’s at the door?

Panic hissed through my blood as more terror than I’d ever known befell me.

No!

Stop!

My fingers flew to my neck (broken hand and all), clawing at the tight coarseness.

Get it off!

I can’t do this anymore!

Master A jerked the rope hard as if I were an unruly horse tethered with reins. “Stop that!” He headed into the lounge, dragging me behind him—cutting off my air supply as the noose grew tighter and tighter.

My eyes bugged as pressure built in my already throbbing head.

Wrenching me into the middle of the space with tight little jerks, he tied me to the coffee table leg. “Stay.”

I couldn’t stop my satanic hope as he disappeared to answer the front door.

Please, let it be him.

Every click of his shoes, I begged for it to be Mr. Prest.

Was it wrong that I’d given up hoping for freedom and would settle for a new master instead? Freedom was unattainable, but a new owner might be feasible.

If he returned for me, he could keep me. I wouldn’t try to run or kill him.

Just save me and I’m yours.

But I was stupid.

Instincts knew the truth. Master A was happy not furious.

Tony lurked in the kitchen, watching me with nefarious eyes. “You ready for some fun, Pim?”

I clutched my folded dollar as male voices sailed to my ears, echoing with two sets of footfalls.

“I’m glad you’re here.” Master A appeared, smiling at his friend.

Every last hope and stupid notion of a pain-free end evaporated.

Darryl.

“Hey, mate.” Tony slithered toward him, slapping Darryl on the back.

“Gonna have us a party, huh?” Darryl grinned. “Where is the little fiend?”

“Right there.” Master A pointed in my direction.

Darryl’s gaze fell on me, his fingers tightening around the black duffel he carried. “Hello, Pimlico. Been a bad girl, I hear.” His dirty blond hair matched Master A’s, making them brothers in sin if not in blood.

“Very bad, I’m afraid,” Master A muttered. “The minute that bastard delivers what I paid for, he’s dead. If I didn’t need his product so much, I would’ve killed him the second he entered my house.”

“What’s so good about what he can make, anyway?” Tony wiped his nose with the back of his hand. “It’s just a boat.”

Master A snarled, “It’s not just a boat. It’s a floating city. No, it’s more than that. It’s an ark, you idiot. And I need f*cking protection.”

Darryl smirked. “You finally run out of money, A? Loan-sharks gonna come knocking?”

“None of your damn business.” Master A suddenly laughed. “Let’s just say, the only sharks I want around me are the ones beneath my fully armoured yacht where I can nuke the shit out of them.”

“Good one.” Tony guffawed.

Their voices were as nauseating as razors on glass.

I hated this part. The anticipation of what they’d do. The ease of conversation between friends before they hurt me just for fun.

I looked behind them, tensing for Monty to join in. But there were no more visitors.

I should be glad. Today, I only had to entertain three instead of four.

You can do this.

You’ve done it a hundred times before.

So why did this feel so much worse?

“Right, enough chit-chat. Let’s get started.” Undoing the rope from around the coffee table leg, Master A hoisted me upright with a yank and a well-placed kick to my thigh. The moment I went from ball to straight, he let the rope dangle between my naked breasts. “I can’t believe that bastard. He touched Pim. He touched my Pim. He was about to f*ck her, the cunt.”

That’s not true.

And I couldn’t unscramble why I was frustrated with that. Why did he threaten me with sex but never follow through? Had I failed in some way? Did he decide I was too high risk to sleep with?

If he was wary of sleeping with a slave girl because of diseases, he didn’t have to worry. I’d lost my virginity to this ogre and his friends all underwent tests before Master A let them near me.

“He’s gone now. It’s time for her to pay.” Darryl licked his lips, pacing away with Master A and Tony, their heads bowed together, discussing my punishment.

They loved this part—making me stew, building my terror.