It’s an interesting idea — and kind of romantic. The two of us driving across the country, using new names we’ve invented for each other, looking for a new home… But it’s not enough.
I shake my head, getting up from the table and crossing my arms in front of my chest. “Prescott’s not going to sponsor me for weeks. In the meantime, Byron’s going to start building an expansion to the jail. A sponsor could show up at any time and buy someone. Edwin, Hunter and Byron will continue to abuse the other women. Whatever we do, it can’t just be about me, and we can’t keep waiting for the right time to act. We have to plan something now.”
Reed pounces, grabbing me by the neck but his closed hand exerts little force — it’s for show. I step back to the dungeon wall and he follows, keeping a loose grip on me.
“Prescott, Jefferson and Byron — they all have to pay,” I growl. “I’m not going to stop until they’re dead or in jail, and the whole world knows what happened here.”
“What do you want to do, Quinn?” he asks. “None of you are getting out of here with those implants in your necks, and I can’t disable them — only Byron can. I can’t remove them — I’m not a surgeon. We could try to take the place over by force, but it’s risky. We’d get one shot, then I’m burned. If we fuck up, I’ll wind up in the lake with Corbin. Even if it goes well, people could get hurt. I’ll do it, if that’s what you want, Quinn. I’ll do anything for you. But you have to be sure.”
He makes good points — I can’t argue with them. Trying to break out by force could go disastrously wrong. Reed might be strong and a decent fighter, but so are Edwin and Hunter. The two of us barely got the upper hand on Corbin.
“No,” I sigh. “We need help.”
Like a couple dozen fed up women ready to get some payback?
Maybe. But that still depends on Reed getting us loose somehow.
“What about someone on the outside?” I ask. “You could go to the feds and destroy the entire operation.”
He nods. “I could do that. But you know I’d go down with the ship. Maybe I should.”
“No. You can get an immunity deal in exchange for what you know. Bringing down a corrupt congressman and judge — not to mention all the sponsors you can — that ought to buy you your freedom, or at least a reduced sentence.”
Reed pulls me back to the center of the room and locks my wrists in manacles hanging from the ceiling. He circles me, taking in my figure.
“Prescott’s very powerful. He’ll call in favors, find scapegoats — he could wiggle out of it.”
That’s true too. Whatever we do, we have to make sure Prescott can’t escape the blame. Killing him might be the only way to do that, but it would be such a shame. He’s made a fortune off imprisoning people — he should spend the rest of his life in jail and see what it’s like.
“Can you go to the media? Tell them everything. Use them to get us all the help we can, and put out Prescott’s name first and foremost.”
Reed picks out a long, wooden paddle and taps it against his palm. “That’s a good idea. I’ll do it, but I don’t know how long it will take. I’ve never done anything like this. You’ll have to hold on until then.”
“Fine,” I say, squirming from a surge of excitement in my pussy. I don’t know whether it’s Reed’s paddle or my plan, but I’m feeling a lot better than I did an hour ago. “I can hold on. And Reed…”
“Yeah?”
“I don’t know if I should tell you this, but the other women… they’re on my side now. Jacqueline told me last night.”
He cocks his head to the side, tracing the outline of my body with the paddle. “Jacqueline?”
“The bitch. Did you not know that’s her name?”
“No.” He hangs his head for a moment, balling his fists. “I know almost nothing about her,” he says, his teeth gritted. “Prescott and Byron never told me — they said she’s ‘got blood on her hands’ and I took their word for it. The way she acts… I believed them.”
Yeah, big surprise there.
“Maybe you can get her to tell you,” Reed suggests. “It could be one more crime on Prescott’s rap sheet someday.”
I grin, liking the sound of that. “I’ll try.”
He taps my ass with the paddle softly in a slow rhythm. “Good. Stay strong. Now, our friends are watching. I have to give them a show. Are you ready to begin?”
This is it. This is how Walker Center’s going to end.
Your days are numbered assholes. We’re coming for you.
“I’m ready. Do your worst.”