CHAPTER TWO
Don Avery remains where he sits, quietly watching me as I panic. Though I say nothing, I’m sure he can read the fear in my eyes. He rumbles a laugh, running a hand through his slicked back hair as he seems to contemplate my position before him.
“Ah, Jodie Walsh. You’ve grown into a fine young woman, have you not?” He says warmly, sending a shudder through my body. I now have very little question of what their intent is for me, but he does not seem done verbally tormenting me. “I’m sure you’re wondering why you have not suffered the same fate as your family.” He says slyly, and I avert my eyes, drawing in on myself and trying to make myself appear as small as possible. I say nothing, but this only seems to fuel his fire, and he rumbles another laugh, rising from his chair. He is a short and squat man, rather underwhelming to see now that he is standing, but the power he holds over me is undeniable. He approaches me, grasping me by the chin and examining my face. As much as I want vengeance for my family, I know that my only hope of staying alive is compliance. I remain quiet and demure as he brushes my hair away from my ear, leaning in to speak quietly to me. “You’re going to be a fun one.” He murmurs, his breath hot against my ear. My cheeks heat up in humiliation, and I can feel the tears pooling in my eyes.
He straightens up, looking rather pensive for a moment. “But our time will come later, my sweet little peach. For the time being, I have someone to introduce you to…” He announces, and I can’t help but turn and look as the door opens to reveal a tall and rugged looking figure. My eyes rake over his face, from the dead look in his eyes, the scars on his dark skin, to the stubble on his chin. In spite of his scarred appearance, I can’t help but think he’s rather attractive in a rather subtle way. A much better fate than lying with the Don for now, but I can only wonder why he is even here. “Jodie, meet the man who has lay ruin to your family name. Justin, your prize.” The Don announces grandly, and my heart sinks into my stomach. I know I should feel anger, I know I should want to kill the man as he steps towards me, but all I can remember is the look on my mother’s face before she was killed. My brothers gathering around my father’s body before they too are taken out. Before this hired killer, all I can feel is abject terror and humiliation. My body quivers with fear and this man, Justin, considers me with a sly quirk of his lips. I try to edge away, but he quickly grabs me by the hair, yanking me towards him. Before I know what’s happening, his hands are wrapping around my throat. This is it, I realize. He’s going to kill me. They were waiting for this moment, and now--
His hands fall away from my neck, but there is still pressure there. I reach up to brush my fingertips, realizing with no small amount of humiliation that he has clasped some sort of collar around my neck. I fumble with it, but he slaps my hands away. I stare pleadingly up at him, my embarrassment only growing as he clips a leash to the collar around my neck. His eyes are dark with desire, something that I’m not unfamiliar with at this point, but there’s something deeper to it. There’s something hidden in his gaze, something I can’t identify.
“On your knees.” He says, his baritone voice smooth and icy. My eyes widen in fear, and when I take too long for his tastes, he yanks the collar. I cry out, raising up onto my knees. His lips twist into a smile, and he wraps the length of the leash around his fist. The pressure on my neck is constant and painful with the way he’s gripping me, but I say nothing, simply awaiting my fate. “You’re a pretty one, aren’t you? You’ll do well.” He murmurs. Tears stream down my face, and he reaches out to wipe them away with the pad of his thumb. I swallow my bitter indignity, allowing him to caress my face freely. It’s certainly not the worst he could do, but I can’t take his open mockery of kindness. “Don Avery, I thank you for allowing me to be the first to claim our prize. As for you, little Jodie…” He pauses, his eyes narrowing in anger as I sink to the floor again. “I said on your knees!” He shouts, his voice gruff. My eyes grow wide, and I immediately shift to my knees once more. He pulls my leash once more, drawing me nearer to him. He stops once I am nearly flush to his groin and tilts my chin so that I am looking up at him. His eyes dance with humor, and I plead with my eyes. I know what is going to be done to me, but the humiliation of being taken in front of all these people is nearly too much to bear. However, that does not seem to be his intent as he strokes a hand through my hair. I know he is playing me like some sort of fiddle, but I find myself pressing into the perhaps final kind touch I will ever know. “I have a simple request of you, little Jodie. All you have to do is pledge your life to me. You must pledge that from this point forward, until I am forced to release you, you will belong to me.” He says softly, tensing a hand in my hair. The tug stings, but what stings perhaps the most is the fact that I have no choice. I have to do as he says if I want to keep my life. Though I’m beginning to wonder if this fate with somehow be worse than death, I know that for now I’m willing to fight for my life. I part my lips, and he caresses the bottom one, sending unpleasant shivers through my body.
“I…” I pause, swallowing the sickness brewing in the back of my throat. “I pledge that from here on, I belong to you. You are… my master…” I say weakly, adding the last bit in an attempt to stroke his ego. He seems pleased, his lips quirking in a sly smile.
“That’s a good girl. My good girl. Up, then. On your feet.” He coos, yanking me up by the collar none too tenderly. I choke and gasp as the collar gathers just under my jaw, cutting off my airflow, before I am fully able to stand. He watches me with a slight smirk, glancing to Don Avery who laughs uproariously Maybe dying would have been the better alternative, but for now… it seems I truly belong to this madman. “Come on, little one. Let’s go home.” He smiles. He looks as if he will yank the leash once more, but I obediently fall into tep at his side. He looks pleasantly surprised once more, quirking a smug little grin. “You and I are going to have a lot of fun. That much I can promise, Jodie girl. At least, on my part.” He rumbles. I cast a lingering glance at my family home as we step outside, considering it for the final time. Then he pushes me into his car.