Chapter One
Adam~
“Fuck,” I curse as I zip up the leather pants. I hate wearing leather. No man with a healthy size dick can walk in them without having his balls crushed.
I need a drink. I’ve seen some fucked up shit in my life, but these parties are disturbing. It’s my job and there’s just no way in hell I’ll let anyone else accompany River. It’s my responsibility to keep her safe, to keep the people back at the sanctuary safe. One wrong move from either of us can jeopardize it all.
We pretend to be a married couple, Mr. and Mrs. Ryland. People feel less threatened if they think you’re just a couple who loves the depraved side of life.
Over the years, River has become my best friend. I admire her strength and courage. She’s paying a debt that isn’t hers to pay in the first place.
I owe my life to River. She saved me and because of that, I’ll forever be in her dept.
She found me on the streets. After I retired from the Marines, I couldn’t keep a job.
I’m too unstable. I’m not employment material. I can’t sit between people and listen to them talking shit the whole day long. After the things I’ve seen out there, there’s no fucking way I can pretend to be normal.
People get so caught up in their shitty little lives. They don’t have a fucking clue about the horrors out there. I always lose my temper when some dickhead complains about something trivial, and I always end up getting fired.
The last job I had was at a McDonalds. Some shithead complained that he didn’t get enough fries. He thought he could boss me around and ended up flying out the door.
That was the last time I tried to fit in with society. I wouldn’t beg either, and I couldn’t go home to Nanna. I was failing at life and I didn’t want to see the disappointment on her face.
River found me walking the streets. She’s got an eye for people. She saw right through me. She offered me the job of putting together a security team for her, and she threatened to cut off my balls in my sleep if I so much as looked at her funny.
We are one of a kind, River and I. Fucked by life and paying for the sins of others. I brought Nanna to the sanctuary soon after we got the place up and running. I’ve never seen Nanna so proud of anything I’ve done before.
This job is brutal. Especially when going to parties. It’s even harder when we only get to save one person.
I’ve held a dying man in my arms. Half his body was blown away. Up until the first party, that image lived in my nightmares. Then I saw people being raped. The image that now keeps me awake is seeing kids being raped and beaten. I feel torn to shreds. I can only help save one or two, but not all of them.
I’ve fantasized so many times about walking into a room and killing all those fuckers. Deep down, I know that’s all it will ever be, just a fantasy. Once I cross the line, our cover as Mr. and Mrs. Ryland will be blown.
We do give anonymous leads to the FBI. Because it’s all done incognito, we hardly ever hear if a sex ring has been taken down. I just hope the tips do work and that those fuckers are shut down and thrown into a deep, dark hole.
Walking out of the bathroom, I go stand in front of River. We never take chances while we’re rescuing a slave. We know there’s always someone watching.
I let my eyes go over her, making sure she’s ready to go out there.
She’s a beautiful woman. I hate when we split up to spend a night with the slave, or slaves, we’ve decided on. I hate leaving her side for one second. I know that’s all it will take, just one fucking second, and she could be gone.
Few people dare to make eye contact with me. River once told me it feels like I’m looking into the heart of her. I guess it makes people uncomfortable around me.
It’s true, though. I’m always on guard and trying to get a read on the person in front of me. It’s how you survive. Never let your guard down. Know your enemy.
“I’m ready,” she whispers.
She smiles and it makes me feel slightly better. She takes a breath and then starts with the act.
“I like the male slave,” she purrs.
She’s good at this. In the beginning she used to confuse the shit out of me. I never knew if she was acting or being sincere. I quickly got the hang of it. Now she can’t get anything past me.
“I’m sure you do,” I smile back, taking on my own role as Mr. Ryland. “Who will you choose as his partner?”
She’s come up with a brilliant idea to use as a reason why she buys slaves. She claims they are for her collection, that she likes to watch people fuck. It’s a good enough excuse for them and she gets away with it.
I, on the other hand, am fucked.
I can’t use the collection as my excuse and that always puts me in a tight spot. I’ve done some fucked up shit in my life, but I’ve never had sex with a slave. That’s one line I’ll never cross. They’ll have to fucking kill me before I’ll rape someone.
My attention returns to River when she trails a finger down my chest.
“How about…” she leans in and kisses the corner of my mouth, “…you choose. You always let me have the pick of the litter. You can choose who you think will be a great addition to my collection.”
I smile lovingly at her. “Anything for you, Darling.”
I take her hand and keep her close as we go to join the party.
As the night progresses, I fight to stay focused on my job. I feel like a caged animal. What I wouldn’t give to tear these fuckers to shreds.
The doors open and Jack comes in. I was shocked when we met him earlier. He’s a huge man, and I can’t wrap my mind around him being a slave. I’d fucking fight until they’re forced to kill me, before I submit to anyone.
There’s a blonde next to him. She’s naked, just like the others. She walks to the other side of the room, so I only see her from behind. Her skin is creamy white, and she has a serene look. I’m sure that makes her a huge hit with these fuckers.
She kneels on the floor on the opposite side of the room. Arching her back, she pushes her ass into the air. When she stretches her arms out in front of her, she looks like a work of art.
My eyes go back to Jack where he’s taken his position on a podium. Only Jack is wearing jeans which I find odd.
I can feel his rage all the way from where I’m sitting. Every muscle in his body is wound tight, as if he’s going to fucking snap any second. How the fuck do they manage to control him?
I look over to the blonde. If these fuckers can subdue a wild man like Jack, what kind of damage does that type of control do to the women?
River leans in close to me and whispers, “What do you think of the woman? The one who just came in.”
River wouldn’t ask unless she’s decided to save her. So it will be Jack and the blonde then. I don’t know how she decides on who we save and who we leave.
I’m glad that’s not my decision to make. I admire her for being able to make those hard choices. I always leave it to her. She grew up around slaves. She knows which ones are too far gone.
“She is stunning. I’ll go take a closer look.”
When I get close to the woman, I notice that she’s not marked like the others.
An elderly man is staring at her ass, a clear look of lust on his face. “I can see why he asks so much for her.”
Another man nods in agreement. “Yes, her ass looks quite fuckable.”
I just keep standing next to the podium she’s on, watching the fuckers while they’re watching her.
Every muscle in my body is wound tightly. Anger coils in my chest, ready to be unleashed on these monsters.
A guard comes to stand next to me, and I take a deep breath to calm myself down.
“The last stake for her was seventy thousand dollars. Would you like to bid for a night with this slave?” he asks, as if he’s about to take my pizza order down.
I don’t even bother looking at him.
“One hundred,” I grind the words out.
I’m disgusted that a human being’s life has monetary value to it. To me a life is priceless. I’ve seen men fight and die for it. In this hell hole, it’s nothing but a commodity.
The guard moves between the other men, talking with them.
I glance at River and notice that she’s talking with Cameron. I’m sure she’s making an offer to buy the slaves.
Minutes pass and I start to feel edgy. Just standing here and listening to people being beaten and fucked, is soul crushing.
“Master Ryland,” the same guard from earlier says loudly. I suppose it’s all for show. “Your bid is the highest for the evening. You may take the slave.”
“Get up!” he snaps at her.
She moves quickly, looking like a statue that’s just come to life. Her face pales and she starts to blink rapidly. She got up too fast.
I take a step closer, and take hold of her arm so that she can lean on me.
“Here is the key for your room,” the guard says.
I take it from him and I glance in River’s direction.
Our eyes meet and discreetly she nods. She managed to buy them, which is great. I’d hate to spend a night with a woman only to leave her behind. I had to do that once and it’s still tormenting me.
“Come on,” I whisper to the woman.
I take a deep breath and try to steel myself.
The slaves are brainwashed. They don’t understand when you don’t want to fuck them. I’ve had one faint on me before. She was scared shitless that she would be punished because I didn’t want to fuck her. I still blame myself for what happened to her. She was right to be scared. They beat her so badly, she died at The Sanctuary. There was nothing we could do for her.
Since then, I’m careful how I handle the slaves. There’s no fucking way I’ll ever fuck one, but I have to touch them. I have to make it believable enough so I don’t get them killed.
Fuck my life, it’s going to be a long night.