The Brink (Unbroken Raine Falling 3)

“This is all your fault, you fucking bitch,” he spat. “You’re not exciting enough for me.”

“I’m sorry, Daddy,” Raine cried. These were real tears, and if she didn’t want to fall victim to his rage, she was going to have to do something drastic. “Let me help you. I can do it. Untie my hands. I’ll make it all better. Please, Daddy…”

“I don’t need your hands, slut. I need your mouth.” Bill knelt next to the cot.

It took everything Raine had to keep her revulsion off her face. “But I want to touch you. Stroke you. Feel your big cock in my hand.”

“You want to get free so you can give me another scar.” He fingered the one on his cheek. “Don’t fuck with my head, little girl.”

“No. No.” Raine shook her head. “You have the knife. You have the power. But you can’t tease me like this and not let me feel your skin against my palm, sliding up and down as I suck you deep.”

A spark of desire danced into his glassy eyes. Raine wanted to close hers and wail, but she held his stare and tried like hell to send him a come-hither look.

Bill studied her for long moments. Finally, he leaned up and grabbed the bottle of gin off the table. He took a long gulp, then wiped his lips with the back of his hand. “You try anything, and I’ll slit you from stem to stern. You got it?”

“Yes. Oh, yes.” Her heart skittered, jumped in her chest. “I’ll be good. I swear.”

Good enough to get away.

Bill slowly untied the rope from her right hand. She forced a soft smile as he watched her suspiciously. When her arm fell free, she rolled her wrist, trying to get the blood flow back to her shoulders, her fingers.

He scooted in closer to the cot. “Touch me, baby girl. Put me in your mouth and suck me hard.”

Raine tried to force herself to reach out and touch him, but she hesitated. Holding in a cry, she closed her eyes for a precious moment and focused on getting her shit together. All she had to do was wrap her fingers around his flesh and pretend she wasn’t here—whatever it took to get her through.

Suddenly, Bill let out a savage roar, pounding his fist against her lips. More pain blindsided her. Blood filled her mouth. Raine tried not to cry or lose hope.

Liam and Hammer. She had to live for them and find some way to escape. If she let Bill waste her, Liam would be devastated. Hammer would blame himself for the rest of his life and shut down again. She couldn’t let that happen to either of them.

“You tricked me, you fucking whore. I can see it in your eyes. You don’t want me.”

With a snarl, he dropped the knife. It clattered to the cement before he pounced on top of her, straddling her body with his much larger one, then gripped her throat tightly with both hands. As his face contorted in rage, he squeezed. His blue eyes blazed with murderous glee as he cut off her air.

Where’s the knife? Find the fucking knife.

Struggling, she bucked and writhed, trying again to displace him off her body. Bill growled and gripped her neck with even more menace. She felt him crushing her windpipe and gurgled as she gasped for more air. Black spots danced in her vision. If she passed out…it was all over.

Adrenaline surged through her system as she felt around for the knife, her fingers scraping the cold cement. Then she brushed cool metal. Raine knew she had a handful of seconds before blackness took her when she fumbled with the weighted bottom of the blade. Finally, she managed to grip the smooth handle.

Using the last of her strength, she plunged the blade into his side. The sharp tip skidded over bone, so she kept searching. The serrated edges found the vulnerable flesh between his ribs. She shoved hard.

Hot blood exploded over her hand and gushed down her arm. The handle suddenly felt wet and hard to grip.

Instantly, Bill released her with an ear-piercing roar. Raine sucked in a deep, gasping breath, grateful to have blessed air again. Her vision sharpened. A fresh rush of adrenaline jetted through her bloodstream as Bill leaned away from her blow, staring at the knife sticking out of his side with bulging eyes.

“Bitch!” He lunged at her again.

Raine yanked the knife out, then stabbed it into his chest as he tried to reach for her throat again. She met the bone of his sternum, then wriggled the blade until the serrated edges cut through his flesh like butter, stopping at the hilt. Over his scream of agony, she jerked down.

More blood. His shout became a gurgle. Bill tried to stand but only managed to roll half onto the floor beside the cot, directly to her left. He stared up at her, his eyes widening with shock as he tried to suck in more air but only managed to sputter. Blood gushed everywhere.