Jenna’s Protector (Guardian Hostage Rescue Specialists: CHARLIE Team #4)

33. Jenna

THIRTY-THREE

Jenna

The van doors slam shut, plunging me into darkness. I scream until my voice gives out, rage and despair mingling with the bitter taste of betrayal on my tongue.

The image of Max lying in a pool of his own blood burns behind my eyelids. My faithful protector callously gunned down without mercy.

“Max,” I choke out, my voice a broken whisper. “Oh God, Max.”

The van lurches into motion, throwing me against the cold metal wall. Pain explodes across my back, but it’s nothing compared to the agony in my heart. I curl into myself, sobs wracking my body.

“Sophia.” My voice breaks. “How could you?”

Her betrayal hits like a physical blow, stealing my breath.

“I’m sorry.” Sophia’s voice comes from the darkness, thick with emotion. “I had no choice. I’m sorry.”

Rage flares hot and bright within me. I lunge toward her voice, but strong arms hold me back. My hands claw at the air.

“How could you? I trusted you.”

“Settle down,” a gruff voice warns .

We take a turn at dizzying speed, and I’m thrown against the cold metal wall again. The impact jars my teeth, the taste of blood sharp on my tongue. I twist and squirm. Kick and buck.

“Don’t fight.” Calloused hands grab my wrists.

Zip ties bite into my skin as they’re cinched tight. The plastic digs in deeper as I struggle, panic clawing at my chest.

“Please.” I hate the desperation in my voice. “You don’t have to do this. Let me go. I won’t tell anyone, I swear.”

A dark chuckle is my only response.

The van speeds on. The drive is endless. Each turn and bump send fresh waves of fear through me. The van reeks of sweat and fear, the air thick and suffocating.

My heart pounds so hard I fear it might burst from my chest. Time loses all meaning in the darkness. It could be minutes or hours before the van finally slows.

Finally, we stop.

When the doors open, the sudden influx of cool night air makes me gasp.

The cool air should be a relief, but it only heightens my terror. The hood is removed. We’re at a boathouse, dark water stretching endlessly before us.

Ocean water.

Hands grab me, dragging me out. My legs, numb from the long ride, buckle beneath me. I’m hauled upright, forced to stumble forward.

“Move,” one of the men grunts, shoving me forward.

I dig my heels in, a futile gesture of defiance. It earns me a sharp slap across the face, the sting bringing tears to my eyes.

They half-drag, half-carry me to a waiting speedboat. I’m tossed in like a sack of potatoes, my bound hands making it impossible to break my fall. Pain shoots through my shoulder as I land hard on the deck.

The boat rocks beneath my feet, and for a moment, I consider making a break for it. But as if reading my mind, Sophia shakes her head, her eyes wide with warning .

The boat’s engine roars to life, and we shoot out into the open water. Spray stings my face, mingling with my tears.

I curl into myself, trying to make sense of what’s happening.

This can’t be real. It has to be a nightmare.

The bite of the zip ties, the ache in my body, and the terror coursing through my veins—it’s all too real. I’m back in the world I thought I’d escaped. The world of men who see women as things to be bought and sold.

I risk a glance over the side, gauging the distance to shore. It’s too far. Even if I could swim with my hands bound, I’d never make it. They’d just fish me out of the water.

Sophia huddles in the corner, her arms wrapped tightly around herself. The guilt etched on her face does nothing to ease the ache of her betrayal.

The lights of a massive yacht loom ahead, growing larger with each passing second. My heart pounds, fear clawing at my insides. My stomach churns, equal parts seasickness and fear.

As we pull alongside the yacht, hands reach down, roughly hauling me onto the deck.

This is really happening.

I’m dragged to my feet, forced to stand before a man whose very presence makes my skin crawl.

I remember him all too well.

He’s handsome in a conventional way, but his eyes—they’re cold, predatory. He looks at me like I’m a prized cow at auction.

“Welcome aboard.” His eyes might be cold and calculating, but his voice is as smooth as silk and twice as slippery. “This has been a long time coming.”

I try to speak, but my voice fails me. He circles me slowly, his gaze raking over me like I’m a prized animal.

“You were mine. You escaped, but now my property has been returned,” he continues, his tone matter-of-fact. “You will be with me for the rest of your life. How long that is… Well, that depends on you.” The threat in his words is unmistakable.

“I’m not property.” Bile rises in my throat. I spit at his feet, a small act of defiance. “You don’t own me. ”

His hand moves faster than I can track. Pain explodes across my cheek as his backhand connects, the force nearly knocking me off my feet. Stars dance in my vision, the metallic taste of blood filling my mouth.

“Tsk, tsk.” He clicks his tongue, grabbing my chin roughly. “We’ll have to work on that attitude. Won’t we?”

“Go to hell,” I manage to spit out, summoning what little defiance I have left.

“It’s best if you obey.” Sophia steps forward, her eyes downcast. “Please, don’t fight. It won’t go well.”

“You see,” he runs a finger down my jaw, “it took Sophia some time to learn her place, but she’s come around. Haven’t you, pet?”

He pulls Sophia to him, crushing his lips against hers in a sickening display of dominance. She doesn’t resist, doesn’t even flinch. It’s like watching a doll being manipulated, lifeless and compliant.

When he releases her, Sophia’s eyes meet mine briefly. The emptiness in her gaze chills me to my core. Is this what awaits me? To be broken down until there’s nothing left?

“Now then.” His attention returns to me. “Let’s get you settled in, shall we?” He snaps his fingers and men seem to appear from the shadows. “Take her below. Let her contemplate her new reality.”

The men grab me, their fingers digging in hard enough to bruise. I’m dragged down narrow stairs and through opulent corridors that mock my situation. They throw me into a small, bare cabin.

“Please,” I try to reason with the men, hating the tremor in my voice. “You don’t have to do this. I won’t tell anyone. Just let me go.”

They shove me into a chair, efficiently securing me with more zip ties. Each one feels like another nail in my coffin, sealing away my freedom.

“Property doesn’t get to make demands.” One of the men laughs at me as he slams the door shut, leaving me alone in suffocating darkness.

My breath comes in short gasps as panic sets in.

Time passes in a haze of fear and pain. My wrists bleed from struggling against the zip ties. Every creak of the boat sends fresh waves of terror through me.

Many hours pass, and when the door finally opens again, my nightmare’s silhouette fills the frame. “Come,” he says. “It’s time you understood your place here.”

“You’re a madman.” I spit in his face.

He rewards me with another backhand to the face, causing me and the chair to topple to the floor.

“I see you haven’t had enough time. I’ll leave you to think about your new situation,” he says, moving toward the door. “We’ll continue this discussion when you’re in a more cooperative mood.”

The door slams shut, and the lock sliding into place echoes in the small space. I strain against my bonds, but it’s useless. The zip ties only dig deeper, drawing blood.

Alone in the darkness, the reality of my situation crashes over me. Tears stream down my face as sobs wrack my body.

Time loses all meaning. I drift in and out, exhaustion warring with terror. Every creak of the boat and every distant sound sends fresh waves of fear through me. At times, I hallucinate, hearing my sobs through the deck, pitiful cries full of fear.

What will happen when that door opens again?

When it finally does, the man who claims to own me fills the narrow frame. The light from the hallway casts sinister shadows across his face.

“Have we had time to reconsider our attitude?” He steps into the room.

I gather what little courage I have left.

“Go to hell,” I spit out.

His eyes narrow, a dangerous glint appearing. “I was hoping you’d be smarter than this.” He reaches for me. “But some lessons have to be learned the hard way.”

His hand tangles in my hair, yanking my head back. Pain lances through my scalp as he forces me to look at him.

“You will learn obedience.” His face is inches from mine. “One way or another. The question is, how much will it hurt before you submit?” He leaves the room, with a gentle click of the door handle, but it may as well be as loud as a gun shot.

Terror claws at my insides, but I refuse to let him see it. I steel myself for whatever comes next, praying for a miracle. I know by leaving me by myself, he’s trying to break me mentally.

An hour passes, maybe more, before he returns. There’s more of that phantom sobbing, making me question my sanity.

We go through the same routine, only this time, I don’t answer. I glare at him but then lose my nerve and look away.

“Ah, my pet. You’re beginning to understand.”

I’m untied from the chair but kept bound as he leads me through the yacht. We enter a spacious suite in the bow, all gleaming wood, polished steel, and plush fabrics.

“Sophia,” he says. She appears from an adjoining room, her eyes downcast. “Show Jenna what it means to be obedient.”

What follows is a nightmare I can’t wake from. Jonathan uses Sophia, demonstrating his complete dominance. She doesn’t resist, doesn’t flinch. It’s like watching a doll being manipulated, lifeless and compliant.

“This will be you soon.” His eyes gleam with sick pleasure. “You’ll learn to love it, just like Sophia does.”

“Never,” I snarl, earning myself another stinging slap.

“Tie her to the chair,” he orders, gesturing to an ornate armchair. “She needs to watch and learn.”

Secured once more, I’m forced to witness his continued abuse of Sophia. I try to look away, but rough hands grab my hair, forcing me to watch.

Tears stream down my face, a mix of rage, fear, and utter helplessness.

Finally, the man tires. He forces Sophia into the massive bed, climbing in after her. “Sleep now, my pet. Tomorrow, we begin your training in earnest.”

The lights dim, but sleep is impossible. I strain against my bonds, my mind racing.

How long will it take before Carter realizes I’m missing?

Does he know where to look ?

What about Max? Oh poor Max! What if he is dead? Will Carter blame me?

The night stretches endlessly, each second an eternity of fear and despair. I think of Max. I hear his yelp of pain. I see blood. So much blood.

My heart breaks.