Merciless Hunter (Dark Syndicate 4)

So, what am I going to do?

What can I do?

* * *

In the darkness I open my eyes at the sudden shift in light and temperature.

That smell…

That smell of old worn leather, scotch, and something else I never could figure out.

I remember it but I can’t be back at that place.

How?

How did I get here?

When did I get here?

Why am I here?

Footsteps sound on the floor and I place a hand to my heart to keep it from beating out of my chest.

He’s coming for me.

Jude is coming for me.

What will he do to me tonight?

My body feels broken from last night’s beating, my head still throbs, and I can barely see. I’m sure my nose is broken. It feels it.

The footsteps get closer and closer, and I can hear the rattle of the key in the cage.

That monster put me in the golden cage he had made specially for me. Like a glorified prison cell with a toilet inside and chains attached to the floor. It’s in the depths of his basement where no one can hear me scream but him when he assaults my body night after night.

Vile laughter fills the pitch black space around me and I shudder.

What will happen to me tonight?

Last night Jude thought it was a good idea to pour clusters of ice over my head after he stripped me bare and fucked me.

“It won’t be long until you break,” Jude taunts. “You can’t fight me, Olivia. Not now, not ever. I own you. Fight me and your mother is dead.”

“Leave my mother alone.” I cower against the wall, looking around frantically so I can see where he is.

Suddenly he’s in front of me. I scream when he grabs my face and slams my head into the wall. Before I can process the pain, I’m shoved forward and plunged into ice cold water, then Jude clamps his heavy hands around my throat and squeezes hard.

I scream and the water fills my lungs.

I’m drowning. Drowning as the water fills my mouth, my eyes, my ears, my lungs.

I can’t breathe.

I can’t… breathe.

I’m drowning.

When my eyes widen against the water, I know I’m dead.