Ruthless Angel (Gods of Ravencrest University #5)

CHAPTER SEVEN

BLAZE

I floated in and out of consciousness, vaguely aware of the men around me. Brady and his buddies had been having a blast torturing me in every way they possibly could. I was exhausted. They wouldn’t let me sleep either which made me feel messed up in the head.

My hand ached where they’d cut off my finger. My fucking ring finger on my right hand. Brady had cackled as they did it and said, “It’s not so bad. We’ve given you a permanent shocker. I’m sure it will serve you well, if you ever walk out of here alive. Doesn’t look like your friends are in a hurry to save you though.”

They’d tossed my bloody finger into a box which would be delivered to Daire and Cash. No doubt they were worried. Brady had really gotten the jump on us this time. He and his guys had been following me when I went out to the store. They’d jumped me in the parking lot. I wasn’t even sure how many days ago that was now.

Despite the throbbing in my hand, I started to doze off. It wasn’t easy to sleep while tied to a chair. We were in a basement somewhere. That’s all I knew. They’d blindfolded me during the ride here.

I’d endured nothing but torment since they took me. I kept telling myself that at least they hadn’t grabbed Clover. They wanted her though. That’s what Brady had demanded from Daire and Cash in exchange for me. Because she was ours, and Brady felt that he owed us, he wanted to sell her off to some sick fuck. I’d die before I let that happen.

“Hey, asshole. You’re not sleeping, are you?” Brady’s fist crashed into the side of my face, snapping me awake. “I’ll decide when you can sleep. Wake the fuck up.”

I struggled to open my bleary eyes. It hurt to focus on him. Talking back had only angered him further and resulted in pain and agony.

“Got nothing to say, huh? That’s too bad. I’m sure we can find a way to get a reaction out of you.” Brady slammed a fist down on my wounded hand.

I let out an agonized shout as the pain shot up my forearm. Every breath I sucked in took more effort than it should have.

Brady’s friend, Murphy, crouched down to look at me. He sucked on a cigarette, blowing a large plume of smoke into my face. “He’s not looking so good. Maybe we ought to give him some water.”

Murphy and Brady exchanged a knowing glance while Murphy cackled until he broke into a harsh smoker’s cough. I really didn’t like the sound of that.

Two other guys joined them and the four of them took me out of the chair, dragging me over to a table in the corner. They laid me out flat on my back. Three of them held me down while Brady placed a cloth over my face. Oh, fuck me.

I knew what was coming before I heard the slosh of water. Brady chuckled as he poured water onto my face. I tried my best to keep my mouth closed though it was almost impossible after only seconds. Although I’d done my share of waterboarding in the past, I’d never had it done to me. Maybe this was some sick twist of fate. Maybe I deserved this.

It felt like forever before Brady let up and allowed me to suck in a breath through the drenched cloth over my face. My throat and lungs burned as I coughed out water. I’d barely taken a full breath before the water crashed down over my face again.

Over and over they subjected me to this cruel punishment. I thought surely I would die. It didn’t seem like Brady planned to keep me alive. Only when I started to black out did they stop.

“Damn, Blaze. I thought you were a tough guy. Can’t you take more than that?” Brady dragged me off the table, throwing me to the floor. “Get up. Be a man.”

On my hands and knees, the room spun as I struggled to focus. I coughed and gasped as my lungs sought precious air. I refused to let his antagonistic crap get to me.

That wasn’t what Brady wanted. He kicked me hard in the stomach. I’d have thrown up if I’d had anything inside me. They’d given me some water to drink here and there but that was all. I hadn’t eaten in days.

Brady kicked me again, making me collapse on my side. While he shouted obscenities and insults, he drove his boot into my ribs and back. Something cracked, wrenching a shout from me.

“You know, I bet Daire would be a lot more fun.” Grabbing my hair, Brady yanked my head back so he could stare into my battered face. “He’d put up way more of a fight. Too bad we hadn’t grabbed him instead.”

A fist slammed into my face, making my vision blurry. Brady dragged me to my feet so he could hit me again. Murphy caught me so I wouldn’t hit the floor. He held me with my arms behind my back while Brady beat my ass.

Only when I faded in and out of consciousness did he let up and throw me back into the chair. Again they tied my arms and legs to the chair. Not that I had the energy to get away.

I spat blood on the floor, frowning when I saw something white in the puddle. Was that a fucking tooth? A quick search of my mouth with my tongue revealed a hole where my first top molar should be. This was really not going well for me.

Brady pulled up a chair, sitting across from me. Holding his phone in one hand, he snickered. “I’m going to send this video of us waterboarding you to your buddies. Let’s see if that encourages them to give me what I want.”

With what little strength I had left, I shook my head. “They’ll never give you Clover. She’s ours. They’ll protect her.”

“Oh, you think so, huh? Well, they can try.” Brady tucked his phone away and leaned forward. “I will definitely get a hold of her, Blaze. There’s clearly nothing you can do to stop me. Even if those other two leave you here to die, they’ll let their guard down eventually. They’ll slip up. Then she’ll be mine.”

I opened my mouth to tell him off. No words came out. All I knew was that I had to get out of this alive. Deep down I wasn’t sure if I trusted Daire to protect Clover the way I would. He didn’t get attached. Cash was kind of hit or miss. I wasn’t sure how far he would go to keep her safe.

“Your girl sure is a beauty,” Brady continued. His smug smile grew as he spoke. “Cute little thing. I bet she’s a screamer. Well, she will be. I’ve already got a buyer lined up for her. Rich fucker with loads of money and a kink for innocent little things like her. He plays pretty hard with his toys though. They don’t usually last long. I love repeat customers. Keeps the money flowing.”

Gritting my teeth together, I struggled against the ropes holding me. I wanted to tear this fucker to pieces. “You’re a dead man, Brady.”

He laughed in my face. Couldn’t blame him. A threat from me meant nothing considering the circumstances.

“Don’t worry, Blaze. I have plans for you too. I think instead of killing you, maybe I’ll find a buyer for you as well. I happen to know a man who loves guys like you. Ever been sodomized, Blaze? When he gets his hands on you, everything we’ve done to you here will seem like child’s play.” Standing up, Brady patted my swollen cheek. Then he hauled off and punched me again.

My chair almost tipped over from the impact. With my head hanging, I blinked furiously in an effort to stay conscious. I didn’t like what I was hearing. If Brady had his way, both Clover and I would be sold to some incredibly fucked up people.

I’d rather be dead. Somehow, I had to get out of this. Brady needed to die.