“Yes.”
“Good.” He hefted me higher on his shoulder, my ribs pressed against his back. “The hate part should be easy enough.”
“Wait, my knife!” I scanned around the area where Dylan had first found me. There was a slight glint in the leaves. “There it is!”
“What knife?”
“Please, I need it. It’s right behind you.”
“Dammit, Stella.” He whirled and knelt before standing back up, lifting my weight easily. “I got it. Hang on. This is actually a stroke of luck.” He made a fast movement and then his left hand was all over my ass.
“What—”
“It’s done.” He growled. “Now, shut up. Or cry. Either would work.”
The voices got louder. “Fuck, someone already got her.”
“Shit!” A younger man’s voice. “Hey man, you sharing?”
“No, I already bottomed her out anyway. Now I’m going to take her back and rip the fuck out of her ass.”
“Which one is that?”
“Stella.”
“Goddammit. That one was my favorite.”
As if I were a toy and he could collect them all. Rage rose in my worn-out body, but I stayed silent. I would do whatever it took to get out of here.
“Son, there’s still one more. Come on. Let’s keep hunting.” An older man’s voice, his antique drawl right out of the antebellum South. “But I am curious. Who is the lucky hunter?”
“Lucius,” Vinemont called, his steps slow and steady up the hill.
The old man cawed out a laugh. “Well I’ll be damned. The Vinemont boy caught his own goddamn Acquisition and took the cherry. Good work, my boy. Cal will definitely be impressed with that. Did she cry?”
“Of course she did. She’s weak. Begged, pleaded, and screamed when I shoved it in. Fucking bitch didn’t know when to shut up. I had to cover her mouth, and you know I hate that. I prefer it when they scream.”
“As do I. As do I. Come on, Brent, let’s get back to business. This little chat has my blood up. I’m going to tell Cal about your performance, Lucius.”
Vinemont shifted, and I felt him shaking hands with the stranger. “You do that. Sovereign would look pretty damn good in front of my name.”
Another laugh from the older man.
“You sure you’re not sharing?” The other one—Brent—spoke, and a hand ran up my leg and gripped my ass.
“I’m sure. This cunt is just sweet enough for me. Go find your own, boys. Better luck next time. But if you catch Brianne, I might just trade up.”
The man squeezed harder, and I cried out.
“Sounds good to me. We’ll take you up on that when we find her.” The hand released me.
“Good hunting.”
“Congratulations again, Lucius. Keep up the good work.” The older man said, his voice farther away now, and mixed with the sound of crunching leaves.
“Yes sir.”
Chapter Fifteen
Sinclair
I walked past the dozens of congratulations and offers to fuck Stella. The house was abuzz with a Vinemont victory. I nodded and waved, smiled at them all as I still carried her slung over my shoulder like the spoils of war.
“Take the mask off. Let’s see you.” One of the older ladies crowed as I stomped up the stairs to Lucius’ suite.
“No can do, ma’am. The mask makes her scream almost as much as the rest of me.”
She laughed and smacked Stella on the ass. “Get her.”
Once past the crone, I had one more set of stairs to ascend before she’d be safe.
“Caught your own girl?” Red leaned against the railing. From where he stood, he’d seen me from the moment I walked in with her over my shoulder.
I gave a curt nod. I wasn’t sure if he’d recognize my voice. His gaze shifted to Stella, to the blood from my palm I’d smeared on her.
“Looks like you put it to her the way she deserves.” He slid his hand up her leg and she tried to kick him. He dodged but backed up a step, still eyeing her. “I sure would like a little taste.”
I shook my head. “Not sharing,” I said as quickly as possible.
His eyes widened for a split second. Did he know who I was? I wasn’t going to wait to find out. I walked past and felt Stella’s hand pressing on my lower back. I glanced over my shoulder to see her pushing up from me so she could give Red the finger.
He gripped his crotch in response. “Next time, bitch.”
I continued toward the suite, passing an open door on my right. I glanced in. Gavin was there, his hands tied behind his back and a gag in his mouth as Judge Montagnet rutted on him like a boar. Fucking animals. I glanced away from Gavin’s mournful eyes. I had enough pain without sharing his. Stella swung hard against my back as I turned so she wouldn’t glimpse her friend.
The rest of the way was smooth sailing to Lucius’ room. I kicked the door, and he swung it open before shutting it tight behind us and propping a chair under the handle.