“We’re both liars,” I grit out. “Get the fuck over it.”
“You,” Night Giant snaps at Cove. “Drop all your weapons before you get on the boat.”
Cove glances at me. I still have my knives. With a clipped nod, I motion for him to obey. In his usual bitch boy form, he huffs and puffs as he tosses his weapons to the ground.
“Now strip down to your underwear,” Night Giant demands.
“Why?” Cove glowers at him. “What the fuck for?”
“Because I said so, goddammit. Don’t test me, kid, or I’ll blow the brains out of this one’s skull.” To prove his point, Night Giant digs the barrel of his Glock into Mitch’s temple so hard he cries out in pain. “I wonder if he bleeds like big brother does.”
Cove scowls as he starts yanking clothes off. When he’s in nothing but his tight boxers, he throws his hands up in the air. “Happy?”
“Not quite. Come closer,” Night Giant says, backing himself onto the boat with my brother. “Get on the boat and untie the rope there.”
“We’re trading,” Cove reminds him, his voice dripping with hatred. “In case you forgot.”
“I didn’t forget, smartass,” Night Giant snaps. “Do as you’re told.”
Cove gingerly steps onto the bobbing boat. He unties the rope that keeps us tethered to the dock. The knife, still in my grip, seems to buzz. I want to carve out Night Giant’s eyeballs and cram them up his big ass. I want to make him suffer. But I don’t dare make any sudden movements with Mitch still in his grip.
“Come closer,” Night Giant urges. “Stand in front of him with your back to him.”
Cove obeys, his body thrumming with anger. “Now what?”
“Garrison, time to go!” Night Giant barks.
The engine flares to life and we begin to move. I’m frozen in place, wondering what Night Giant’s play is here. He smacks Mitch in the head with the gun, knocking him unconscious. Before I can stop him, he shoves him off the boat.
Splash!
I start for my brother. Night Giant jerks Cove into his grip, shoving the gun into his temple this time. Koyn charges from somewhere and dives into the river after my brother. I’m torn between jumping in too and staying with the plan to take out Night Giant.
“You motherfucker,” I hiss. “I’m going to kill you.”
“Caught, heel.”
And just like that, with his firmly commanded words, he fucking owns me again.
Cove
Something thuds behind me. I claw at Night Giant’s meaty arm to make sure Dragon’s okay. But when I catch a glimpse of him on his knees, crawling toward us, I want to throw up. This can’t be happening. Again. Last time I’d seen Dragon like this was when we were trapped together in that shitty hotel room. Like then, Dragon whimpers, fear etched on his beautiful face. He stops at Night Giant’s boot, resting his cheek on the top of it. His knife lies on the deck of the boat, forgotten.
“Dragon,” I croak out. “Dragon, stop it.”
The tugboat picks up speed, quickly putting distance between us and the dock. Our plan was to take down Night Giant together, but we can’t. Not with Dragon falling victim again to that monster’s controlling methods.
I try nudging Dragon with my foot to get him to snap out of it, but my efforts go ignored.
“Caught is a good boy,” Night Giant croons. “A special boy. One I’ve missed so much. No one has ever obeyed me like Caught has.”
This man’s strength is no match for me. I’d been relying on Dragon to catch him off-guard once Mitch was safe. Now…now I’m on my own.
“What are you going to do?” I demand, trembling with fury.
“I only want to stroke my little pet,” Night Giant murmurs, nipping at my ear. “You can watch and if you behave, I might let you participate. Seems as though you learned a thing or two since I saw you last. Does my pet fuck you now?”
“Screw you,” I snap. “You’ll have to let me go eventually and when you do, I’ll tear your throat out.”
“So fucking feisty. I love it.” Night Giant tugs on one of my nipple rings. “These are new.”
I squirm in his grip, but he’s too strong. Again, I try to kick some sense into Dragon. Nothing rouses him from his stupor, though. It’s terrifying that a man could have such a hold on another person like that. With a change in his tone and a few carefully chosen words, he transformed my Dragon into a subservient kitten. Dragon mutters something over and over under his breath, though I can’t tell what he’s saying.
“Let me tell you a little story of what’s in store for the future,” Night Giant murmurs against the shell of my ear. “We’re getting out of this shit town and going someplace where I won’t be interrupted by a job or a family or other mundane responsibilities. I’ve got a place no one knows about, far, far out in the woods. The three of us are going to have so much fun.”