Rye took a step closer, and she tensed, expecting the worst.
“You caused me a lot of trouble these past few weeks, Neeka.”
She looked at Theo as Rye spoke, and although she should be surprised he was obviously involved with this, a part of her wasn’t. He was just as slimy and demented as Rye.
“What do you have to do with any of this, Theo?” She found herself moving a step back as she asked Theo the question.
He breathed out as though she were a child and what she said was frustrating. “I’ve been working with Dr. Vincent for years now. When I discovered what he had planned, I made a deal with him. I would give him the offspring you and I will produce so he can continue his work. In exchange you’ll be mine exclusively. It’s a triumph for everyone. Rye gets what he wants, I get what I want, and you get to be a mother and help better Rye’s research, Neeka.”
“I will not be having any ‘offspring’ with you, Theo. You’re both insane.”
“What choice do you have? Your father’s dead, and everyone thinks we are to wed. Trust me. I’ve been planning this for a very long time. It would have been so much easier if you were willing, but I’m not picky. I’ll take what I can get.”
“Please,” she found herself pleading. “You don’t have to do this. You can’t do this.” She was getting past the point where she was too angry to beg for her life because getting caught twice and rescued again seemed almost like fantasy.
“We already have done this, Neeka. Who will save you this time?” Theo was the one to speak. He stared at her for a long moment before continuing. “If you think he will come for you," he looked at Rye and smirked and then turned back toward her, “then you are truly mistaken. He’s been paid for his services, and men like him only fuck women to pass the time. You didn’t actually think he had feelings for you, did you?” His face showed amusement but then turned blotchy and red from his anger.
No, he’s lying. What I feel for Gage isn’t just something to shove aside. And I know he cares for me, too.
He stormed toward her and gripped her shoulders so tightly she made a small sound of pain. She didn’t know what he saw in her expression, but in that second his features had become dark and foreboding.
He smashed his mouth against hers, their teeth gnashing together at the same time he pressed his fingers inward in her flesh. He pushed her away, and she stumbled backward.
Rye and Theo started talking quietly to each other, and she took a moment to look at her surroundings. She knew exactly where she was as soon as she took the time to really notice. She stood in the center of Theo’s cabin, no more than twenty miles from her father’s home.
She’d come here with her father numerous times when he wasn’t so sick.
She knew the layout of the cabin, but guards with guns were stationed at every possible exit. Their focus was trained on her, their guns pointing to the ceiling, their fingers on the triggers. Theo and Rye continued to speak, their gazes darting over to her occasionally.
She could still feel the panic button in her pocket, the small piece of metal reminding her that help would arrive soon, she hoped. She jumped when Theo clapped his hands and looked at her expectantly.
“Well, looks like we get to play after all. No time like the present to start making a family, to finally make you mine, Neeka.”
Neeka felt her eyes grow wide at the way Theo was looking at her. Chills swept down her spine at the thought of what he was about to do. “Don’t fucking touch me.” She held her hands in front of her and slowly backed up. No way was she going to allow Theo to rape her.
She turned around, only taking a few steps before Theo yanked her back by her hair. Neeka tried to right herself, but pain crashed into her skull. Theo wrapped his arm around her middle, pulling her backward even more.
He lifted her easily, carrying her into a bedroom and slamming the door shut. She kicked and screamed, but it was no use, Theo was strong. He tossed her on the bed, and she scrambled to get away, but he grabbed her feet and tugged her down. She sat up and started swinging, hitting him in the side of the face and feeling triumphant.
She screamed when he backhanded her, the momentum sending her flying over the side of the bed and hitting the wood floor hard. She landed on her wrist and cried out. Theo grabbed her feet again and dragged her down.