Chapter 28
Bruiser pulled uncomfortably at the highly starched neck of his shirt. It continued to scratch each time he moved his head, but he would deal with it. After what he had seen at this 'gathering,' he knew his discomfort was nothing. The poor women accompanying the guests had a lot worse to deal with than an itchy throat.
Flicking his eyes to the left, he gave a slight nod to Hick, dressed in the dark green and bland gray uniform of the hired guards. The man acknowledged the gesture and slipped out the door. Taking a deep breath, Bruiser assumed the disinterested gaze of the wait staff, picked up a tray of crystal champagne flutes, and followed the others out the door.
They had been lucky to find one of the caterers bore a close resemblance to Bruiser. The man was a couple of inches shorter, and his eyes were brown instead of green, but the facial features and physique were almost identical. If Bruiser didn't bring attention to himself and kept his face carefully averted around the other waiters, he should be able to mingle with the guests and search for Olivia. Although, after what he had seen of the other women attending this party, part of him was terrified of the condition he might find her in.
"Anyone have eyes yet?" the barest whisper of River's voice from the earpiece hidden in his ear brought Bruiser out of his thoughts. Balancing the tray on one hand, he lifted the other, turned his head, brought his curled fist up to his lips and coughed once, giving him their sign for negative. The tiny microphone hidden in his sleeve picked up the sound and carried it back to the others. Curling his arm around his back, he slowly wandered through the guests, careful to keep his disgust from showing. He had been in some of the worst places in the world, fighting against all kinds of tyranny and terrorism, but the ostentatious flaunting of wealth and disregard for human decency he was currently witnessing made him want to puke.
De Jääger was easy to spot. He stood at the head of the large room talking animatedly with several of his guests. Beside him, a beautiful redhead sat at a baby grand piano, playing a complicated piece that was all but ignored. Behind her stood two more women - one who looked to be Native American and the second, oriental. All three women wore form hugging, matching thigh length dresses with ruche sides and bodices. The redhead's dress was a vibrant green, whereas the other two were of blue and silver, respectfully. Bruiser noticed all three wore collars around their necks, though the seated woman's looked more like an expensive gold necklace than the black gem covered ones of the other two. The only reason he knew them as collars were the dainty silver chains De Jääger clutched in his fist.
As the last strands of the song finished, a smattering of applause lifted into the air. De Jääger pulled the woman from her seat. "My Rana," he declared proudly, and another offering of applause filled the room.
"We've seen these three before, Garritt. Where's the new toy?"
Bruiser bristled at the term 'toy' and clenched his fist tightly. He felt sure that the man was referring to Olivia and it rubbed him the wrong way. It was one thing to view the room full of beautiful women as possessions, but referencing the woman he loved as one made his blood boil. To keep from bashing the man's head in, he decided to move to a more inconspicuous place. Working his way to the wall opposite from the women, he stopped and poised at the ready.
"Soon, Dimitri." De Jääger lifted his glass in salute. "You seem a bit anxious."
The man called Dimitri shrugged. "I've heard you speak of her beauty; I wish to see for myself if such an angel exists. Perhaps I'll win the lottery tonight and choose her for the evening."
De Jääger shook his head. "I'm sorry, Dimitri, but I'll not be putting her into the lottery. She's not trained enough to be trusted in another's care. However, I do have a treat for you. Not only will Catori and Mishi be entered, but for the first time, Rana will be as well."
Gasps filled the air along with a screeched, "Meester!"
The sound of the backhand slap was loud as Rana's head snapped back and a drop of blood appeared at the corner of her lip. She lifted her fingers and touched it, staring at the drop as if she had never seen it before. De Jääger whispered something in her ear while simultaneously shaking her arm. Her already pale face blanched whiter, and she swallowed hard. She dropped to her knees gracefully and put her hands behind her back. Lowering her eyes, she remained still even as more scarlet drops splattered on her chest. Whatever had been said to her, it scared her. In his ear, Bruiser heard River's muttered curse.
The silence in the room was broken by a single, slow hand clap. "Finally," a tall, thin man with almost black eyes and a mostly bald head said. "You have put the slut back in her place. I have told you many times, if you allow one to think she is better than the others, you breed insolence."
"I'll treat my possessions as I see fit, Petr." De Jääger turned and snapped his fingers for a refill to his champagne flute. "If I wanted to send her to school in England, I would. If it amused me to remove her tongue, I would. It's my prerogative."
Several moments had passed in uneasy silence before a voice piped up, "If you remove her tongue, then you lose a third of her usefulness."
The uneasy silence was broken by laughter. Bruiser gritted his teeth, barely keeping his temper in check. Their blatant disregard for these women appalled him. He had no doubts any of them would do precisely as they promised. His priority was for Olivia, but once he had her safe, he was going to take care of the others as well.
The sound of clock chimes echoed in the room. As the eighth one died, the door opened and in walked a vision in bright, sunshine yellow.
Olivia.
Every eye in the room fastened on her as she stopped just inside the room, clasped her hands behind her back and looked to the floor. She was stunning. The dress she wore mirrored the ones worn by De Jääger's other women. Her hair was piled in an elegant upsweep and her makeup accented her beauty perfectly. His jaw tightened as he watched her body language telling exactly how uncomfortable she was in this situation.
"I've got her," Railroad muttered into the receiver. Bruiser heard a single cough from Hick indicating he hadn't seen her yet. Turning his head to the side, he gave a short double cough into his fist.
River's voice whispered in Bruiser's ear. "Keep it together, brother. Remember the plan. We don't want to have to fight our way out of this if we can help it. There are other innocents."
Every second of watching his woman standing vulnerable almost had him saying screw it and rush in. He would rather fight it out than see that defeated stance.
"Bruiser," Hick hissed.
Once again he coughed twice. He'd go along with the plan, but only as long as Olivia wasn't harmed. He'd be damned if he stood by and watched anyone lay one finger on her. That shit was over and done.
Strolling forward, De Jääger took a small chain and clasped it to the collar. He wound the length around his fist and tugged. The talking resumed in hushed whispers as he took Olivia around the room, showing her off to his perverted friends. Bruiser knew that some people practiced this sort of lifestyle. He knew several couples who enjoyed these games where both partners shared the experiences equally and with mutual care and respect. What these people were doing was a sick, bastardized version, and it turned his stomach. With Olivia's past experiences with her mother's pimp, he could only imagine how Olivia felt. He could tell she was extremely uncomfortable.
His breath hitched when he noticed De Jääger pulling Olivia toward the corner where he stood with the platter in his hand. As much as he wanted to reassure her that she wasn't alone, he was afraid what would happen if she saw him. If she gave them away before they could execute the plan, they might not get away with it. He turned to move away from the approaching man but found himself boxed in. De Jääger snapped his fingers and motioned Bruiser over. Taking a deep breath, he painted his face into indifference and prayed under his breath that she would not react if she saw him. In his ear, he heard several curses from Railroad. He, no doubt, could see the potential catastrophe from his vantage point in the trees outside the compound walls.
Picking up a flute from the tray, De Jääger turned toward the room. "Take one, Olivia," he nudged her. "It's time for a toast."
The crowd cheered as she mechanically reached her hand out to take the flute. It stopped, and her eyes widened. She was staring at Bruiser with a look of shock. Ever so slightly, Bruiser shook his head, signifying she shouldn't make any indications that she knew him. Swallowing, she picked up the flute and looked away. He could see the humiliation in her deep, hazel eyes. She was ashamed. His anger burned another notch. She had nothing to be ashamed about, and as soon as he got her out of here, he would make sure she understood that. Even if it took the rest of his life, he would ensure she knew all that had happened to her was not one iota her fault.
"A toast to beautiful things. To Olivia." De Jääger called out as he lifted his drink.
As one, the men in the room raised their glasses and in a chorus replied, "To Olivia."
The glasses emptied and waiters moved through the room, refilling them. Olivia took the barest sip of amber liquid then placed the flute back on the tray. She turned away from Bruiser as her face flamed a deep red. Glancing at him one last time as De Jääger led her away, Bruiser couldn't help but mouth to her. Tonight. Knowing she needed the confirmation, he added, I love you, as De Jääger led her to the dining room. Maybe it was his imagination, but he could have sworn her eyes sparkled, and her lips moved marginally. There was his woman. He let out a breath. She would be ok. They hadn't broken her yet.
Olivia couldn't help herself. She glanced back over her shoulder to make sure she had seen the impossible. She blinked her eyes twice as her gaze fell upon the server in the corner. Part of her hoped it was him even as mortification set in. She knew, deep down, that Bruiser would not think any of this was her fault. However, as much as she had longed for him to find her, she had not thought of their first meeting. She was taken aback at the humiliation that washed over her as she was being led away like some well-trained puppy. She wanted to be strong for him, but seeing him there was the last straw. It took every ounce of strength not to give in. Seeing Bruiser standing there almost did what De Jääger hadn't been able to. It came close to breaking her.
As she was led away, she caught him mouthing a single word. Tonight. She knew it was no mirage. It was him. He had found her and come for her. But how? The thought flew from her mind at his next words. I love you. A wave of emotion, stronger than anything she had ever felt before drowned her in warmth. He loved her. Bruiser was here, and he loved her. Turning away quickly so as not to call attention to him, she lowered her face hoping no one could see the smile she couldn't hold back. She didn't know how he had found her, and although she repeatedly told herself he was coming for her, a part of her had doubted. How could he find her, one small woman in a world of billions? She had known the odds were not on her side, yet there he was.
The chain pulled, and she hurried to catch up to De Jääger. Putting on the careful mask of serenity that was required of her, she let him lead her to the head of the table. She was positioned between Rana and Catori behind his chair with Mishi standing silently on end. Quickly, the other guests sat, and dinner was served.
With all focus on the food, Olivia let her gaze wander through her thick dark lashes. As each course was presented, she looked carefully at the staff to catch a glimpse of Bruiser again. He was no longer visible. She had seen the barely concealed anger that burned in his green eyes. He was furious. Not at her but rather for her and the situation she was in. She choked back another smile. God help these people when Bruiser made his move. Glancing over to Mishi and Catori, she tried to formulate a way to let them know help was coming in a blaze of pissed-off SEAL. When the time came, she would ensure they wouldn’t be left behind. No matter what, she wasn't leaving this place without the other two women.
With the dessert finished, the group rose, filed out the patio doors and into the garden. Once again, Livy found herself walking docilely with the other three as they approached a small, raised platform with a cage on top. Several of the men were leading their women (she refused to call them slaves) up to the top where they were stripped and pushed inside. When it was De Jääger's turn, he snapped his finger at them, and Mishi and Catori quickly pulled the dresses from their bodies and stepped willingly into the cage. Rana hesitated, but with a hissed word from the man, she also stripped and stepped inside. Turning to the gathering, he said, "A fine offering of beauties. We'll pull three tonight since we have so many to choose. Lots will be SRD 75,000. That is just over $10,000 US dollars for you, Dimitri, in case you weren't sure about the exchange rate." A smattering of laughter filled the still, muggy air. "As always, the pot will be split among the owners whose toys are chosen. The more chances you purchase, the better your odds."
"Are you sure you won't add your newest pet? I would be agreeable to upping the chances if it meant I could win an evening with the exotic Olivia," asked the man she had nicknamed Ghost.
Several others agreed, including Petr. She shuddered as his black gaze held hers a moment.
"Not this time. I have only begun her training. She is still unbroken." De Jääger held up a hand. "You wouldn't deprive me of the joy of being her first taste of bliss, would you, friends?" He charmingly grinned at them. "I thought not."
He picked up a black velvet bag from the table and handed it to Livy. Taking it obediently, she held it open before her in her fists as one by one, the men filed by and dropped circles with their names upon them. From what she understood, each circle represented one chance at $10,000 each. Her mind recoiled at the horror of what this represented. These people - although she hesitated to call them humans - were playing a game with the prize being a night with one of the poor women in the cage. She looked over at them and saw the despair in their eyes. Catori and Mishi huddled together in one corner, and even Rana's normally haughty expression had fled. Olivia's grip tightened on the bag, and her brow wrinkled slightly. She didn't know where or when, but De Jääger would pay for this. They all would pay.
A movement out of the corner of her eye caught her attention. Fighting the urge to turn her head and look, she glanced sideways as a figure stepped out of the gloom. It was one of the guards. Slowly, he lifted his face until she could see it in the subdued light. Hick looked into her eyes and slid back into the darkness. To the right, two more shadows stepped forward. Toad and Finch. Behind the ring of chairs, two more men stood, one holding a tray and another wearing the uniform of the catering company. Cowboy and Bruiser. The team was here. A slow smile lifted her lips slightly before she caught it and again schooled her features into careful blankness. She couldn't give them away, but damn! She had never, in her entire life, been so happy to see someone.
As the guests dropped a handful of tokens into the bag, she gathered the top and waited for instructions. De Jääger turned to them. "Anymore? No? Then since this is Olivia's coming out party, we'll allow her to choose."
"Even if we cannot possess her for the evening, how about a more fitting show as she does her duty?" the ghost-like man called out.
"Yes, bare her!"
"Strip her. I want to see her!"
De Jääger held up a hand and silenced them. "Of course! How greedy of me.” With a nod of his head and a huge smile on his face, De Jääger pulled the bag from Livy's fingers and placed it upon the table. He started to turn her around, but she took a step back. De Jääger's face flashed angrily. He touched his pocket where he kept the remote for the collars. "You have no control," he hissed at her. "If you embarrass me now, I'll kill you where you stand."
Livy wanted to fight, but she needed to give the SEALs time to do whatever they needed to. Trusting Bruiser and the others not to let things go too far, she took a deep breath and lifted her chin. Standing still, she thought only of Bruiser, out there waiting for the opportunity to get her the hell out of here. She could do it. She would do it.
With a satisfied smirk, De Jääger turned her around. He slid the zipper down the back of the dress and pulled the material from her shoulders until it pooled around her feet. She felt the warm air as it caressed her naked skin. Clenching her hands into fists, she bit back a shiver of revulsion as he brushed his hands over her bared breasts. "You have no control," he muttered then squeezed.
Horror made her muscles clench as she was first bared and then groped for the pleasure of the men watching from the ground. As applause erupted from the gathered, she heard Bruiser's voice lift over the top. "Son of a bitch!"
To her left, Hick yelled, "Shee-yit! GO, GO, GO!"
Then all hell broke loose.