“The bitch can keep watch,” he says. “She knows what happens if she disobeys us. And considering how badly she screwed Quinn over, I’m betting Quinn’s more interested in throttling her than you.”
You’d be wrong, asshole. But you wouldn’t understand that.
Jefferson nods, looking at Jacqueline. “Sure, that’s acceptable.”
Byron reaches into his jacket and takes out a radio. “Hang onto this,” he tells Jefferson. “Call if you need anything: beverages, snacks, and so on. Or if you’d like a little extra… manpower, for a while, I’d be happy to swing by when I have a minute.”
“I’ll consider it,” Jefferson replies, taking the radio. “I’ve been thinking about this day for a while. I’ve got it planned out. You’re welcome to come watch, if you like.”
“Understood,” Byron winks. “Enjoy yourself, Jonah.”
He walks away, and Edwin releases Jacqueline, then opens my cell. I try wresting out of his grasp as he leads us all to the dungeon, but it’s futile. I’m too tired and everything hurts. The only comfort I have is that I’m already in so much pain, there’s not much Jefferson can do to make it worse — though he’ll try.
When we get to the dungeon, Edwin purses his lips, blowing me a kiss, then shuts the door behind him.
“Bitch, lean against that wall,” Jefferson orders. “Keep your hands crossed behind your back. Don’t move a muscle unless I say so.”
“Yes, sir,” Jacqueline mumbles.
I look to the security camera in the corner, thinking about all the times Reed and I were here, not caring who was watching. The red light’s off now — the camera’s not in use. I wonder if that’s because everyone’s busy preparing for the auction, or because Jefferson wanted some privacy. Is he going to maim me, or kill me? Prescott may have told him not to damage me permanently, but does that mean Jefferson will listen? After the way I ruined his face, he probably wants to pay me back in kind. Is it worth it to him to stoke Prescott’s wrath?
“Do you know what I think about most when I recollect the day you nearly killed me?” Jonah asks, peeling off the tape used to gag me.
“What’s that?” I ask, spitting a sodden cloth from my mouth.
He guides me to a steel hook hanging from the ceiling. Pulling it under the main knot binding my arms, he says, “The certainty of death. I was so sure I was about to die. Even after they pulled you off me, I had a little trouble accepting that I survived and I wasn’t just dreaming. That’s how sure I was that you’d killed me.”
Jefferson hauls the pulley chain, pulling up the ropes binding me and suspending me in the air.
“Intellectually, we all know death is inevitable. Yet, I learned that day that we mayknowdeath comes for us all eventually, but we don’tbelieveit. Only when there are hands closed around your neck, or when there’s blood pouring from a wound and the lights are starting to go out — only then do we reallybelievewe will die. And in that moment, nothing is as clear or undeniable:I am about to die. Except, I was wrong. I couldn’t have known I was wrong until the moment my life was saved, but I was still wrong. The single most inescapable belief I’d ever felt, bitterly obvious one moment, was completely wrong the next.”
I don’t know why he’s telling me this, but as I listen I start to feel a little better. Maybe it’s the pleasant thought of Jefferson dying, but my pain ebbs.
“Thanks to you, I learned that belief is a funny thing. It lies to us — it fools us. It can be exploited. I’m never going to forget that, thanks to you, Quinn.”
He runs his hand up and down my body, feeling the bruises left by Byron. “I’m telling you all this because I’m going to make you feel the same thing. I’d like you to experience what you did to me.” His fingers travel up the side of my torso, all the way up to my neck. I groan as his hands close, cutting off my air. I try to inhale, but nothing comes. Dizziness starts to take me, but then he lets go.
“How was that, Quinn? Did you like that? Byron said you’re pretty kinky. Did you?”
“No,” I choke, still trying to fill my lungs.
“No, it’s not for everyone, is it?” He wraps his hands around my neck again but doesn’t squeeze hard. “I’m going to keep doing this to you until you get closer and closer to death, but I’m not going to kill you. I’m telling you that right now — you are not going to die. But you’ll still feel like you are, I promise. And once I can’t choke you any longer without killing you for real, you know what I’m going to do?”
“No.”
Jefferson waves his hand around the dungeon. “I’ll find the biggest, most painful dildo in this place and jam it up your ass, then start choking you again. And once I’ve brought you within seconds of death once more, I’ll find something to stuff up your pussy. Then I’ll have the bitch whip your fucking tits while I choke you. And every single time you’ll be positive, without a doubt, that you’re about to die, that this will be the time I go too far and not let go soon enough. After a few rounds of this, you’ll want me to do it. You’ll hope for death each time I take you to the brink, but you won’t die.”
My eyes water, but I try to breathe deep, refusing to cry in front of him.
“Did you think I came here today to fuck you, Quinn?” he asks, once again pressing into my neck. “Did you think I was going to beat you? What a waste that would be. I can get pussy or whip some dumb cunt whenever I want. Getting revenge, on you, in the most perfect way possible? That only comes once in a lifetime.”
He lets go, allowing me a single gasp, but then tightens his hands once more.
“I’m sure Prescott will let me come visit you sometimes. I’ll bring all my fun chemicals and use them on you. Or maybe not. Maybe I’ll hold an encore presentation of my revenge so that Darren can see-”
Jefferson doesn’t finish his sentence. There’s a thump, and he lurches forward, reaching for his head. When he pulls back his hand, it comes away bloody. Behind him, Jacqueline holds a long, metal dildo, traces of crimson staining its surface.
I don’t need a clearer invitation: fueled by adrenaline, I kick hard, swinging my foot right into Jefferson’s dick. Then Jacqueline hits him again, hard enough that he goes down.