“Party is starting,” the Nordic guy says. “I wouldn’t count on Ezra to be too hospitable.”
Party?
There’s a party upstairs?
With people?
People that can help me?
I open my mouth and suddenly start screaming my head off, hoping they’ll hear me. “SOMEONE PLEASE HELP ME!”
But before I can scream anymore, Absolon grabs the back of my head, places his hand over my mouth, pressing both together until I’m caught in place, aware now that he could crush my head between his hands like a melon.
“Shhh shhh shhh,” he says to me, eyes glinting, hand smothering me. “You don’t want to let them know you’re here. They aren’t good…people.”
I don’t believe him.
I open my mouth, biting down on his fingers until I taste blood.
He grimaces but he doesn’t let go, keeps his gaze burning into mine.
“I don’t think you want to do that, moonshine. It might turn me on.”
“He’s right,” the Nordic guy says to me. “He gets off on freaky shit.”
Absolon closes his eyes in annoyance, shaking his head. “Wolf, please.” Then he looks at him over his shoulder. “Grab the rope and the gag. It’s time.”
I blink at Absolon, horror rushing through me.
Time for what?
Wolf goes over to the wooden crate and lifts open the lid. Brings out rope and a long piece of fabric. “Sorry to have to do this,” he says to me as he approaches.
“You’ve never apologized before,” Absolon scoffs, lifting his hand away. “Don’t tell me you’re getting sentimental.”
“Never,” Wolf says as he comes at me with the rope. “It’s always hard when it’s a pretty girl.”
I glance at Absolon, who is sucking the blood from where I bit him, blood on his lips, the same that I still taste on mine. Blood that tastes sweet. He nods at me, brow raised delicately. “My blood looks good on you.”
Then Wolf is grabbing me from behind and I’m trying to run and scream and Absolon is slipping the fabric over my mouth, wrapping it again and again, as Wolf holds my hands behind my back, binding my wrists, then my ankles.
I’m tossed onto the mattress, landing on my side, and then Wolf extends the rope into the wooden slat wall of the storage area behind me, anchoring me in place.
I lie there, staring up at these two men in their tuxedos, the footsteps getting louder above, the floor shaking.
“Time for a drink?” Absolon says to Wolf.
Wolf dusts off his hands and grins at him. “Is the Pope Catholic?”
Absolon gives him a withering look and the two of them walk toward the door, Absolon stepping out first.
He also closes the door.
His face is the last thing I see before he turns out the lights.
Chapter Six
A red crescent moon.