What she didn’t like was knowing something had gone horribly wrong twelve years ago. She understood Logan being angry with her, but he got it all wrong. He had to. She hadn’t tried to hurt him. He’d never done anything wrong to her.
No, she hadn’t falsely reported Logan, but for some reason, he seemed to think she had. She didn’t know what the sheriff had done, but it wasn’t what she’d told him.
Taking a deep breath, she tried not to panic. There was no way she’d be getting out of this alive by panicking, even though it was the first thing she wanted to do.
You’ve already had his dick in your mouth … and you liked it.
Running fingers through her hair, she tried to not think about what she’d already done with Logan and it hadn’t caused her any fear.
She wouldn’t allow him to win, so every single time she’d been with someone, she had pushed the memory of him to one side and focused on living. On surviving. On not giving up. It had helped her so many times over the years, and it would continue to do so.
Her bedroom door opened, and there stood Hunter.
He seemed a little off, which was strange.
Staring at him, she waited. There was no point in making demands. She’d gotten the message, crystal clear. She was on her own.
“You’re needed downstairs,” he said.
Getting to her feet, she walked toward him. She still hated being naked in front of him, but she was determined not to let it show.
“Do you take advice?” he asked.
“You always seem to want to give it. I guess I don’t have much of a choice in taking it.”
“Don’t screw this up. Don’t piss him off.”
“Why would I do that?” she asked.
“You’ll understand when you’re down there.”
“Hunter, what’s going on?” For him to give her a warning, it couldn’t be anything good.
“You’re going to need your strength. Don’t fight, and listen to him.” Hunter grabbed her arm and led her out of her bedroom.
She suddenly wanted to go back to the quiet space of her room. She had no desire or wish to mingle. “I can go back to my room,” she said.
“It’s not an option. Come on.”
She wanted to fight his touch, but she couldn’t do it. Hunter was much stronger than she was, and as he led her downstairs, she felt the panic she wanted to keep at bay rising up.
She expected them to go into the dining room for dinner.
It was dinnertime, right?
The passing time didn’t exactly register to her anymore. There was nothing to do, so a minute could feel like an hour.
They stood outside of Logan’s office, and she heard noise from inside. Conversation. More than one man.
“What’s going on?”
Hunter entered the room without knocking, and, looking over his shoulder, Ava could only see Logan.
“Don’t be shy, Hunter, show our guest in.”
Hunter grabbed her arm, only this time it wasn’t viciously, just firmly.
He pulled her into the room, and she came up short.
It couldn’t be happening.
Breathe.
Just breathe.
It was like stepping into the room of her past.
Logan was there all right, but he wasn’t alone. Marvin and Riley sat on one sofa. Logan stood near the drinks, and Luke, he sat on his own, with plenty of space.
“You may leave now, Hunter,” Logan said.
Hunter had taken her into the devil’s lair, and now there was no way out.
She wanted to run, to get out of the trap, but her feet couldn’t move and she stayed perfectly still, not wanting to draw attention. She was naked.
In a room of four men as Hunter closed the door, bare for them all to see.
She wanted to cry.
Instead of looking at the men, she stared straight ahead. Spine straight. Trying to focus on not falling apart.
This was all too much.
Her heart raced. Her hands felt sweaty. She wanted to scream at Logan, tell him to get her out of here, but one quick glance, and she saw he was enjoying this. He liked seeing her humiliated.
Hands clenched at her side. She tried not to panic.
You can get through this. You don’t need to be scared. Nothing is going to happen.
“I can’t believe she was fucking stupid enough to stay in town after what she did,” Luke said, getting to his feet.
She tensed up, ready to run if she had to.
He stepped close to her.
Don’t let him fucking win!
Turning her gaze to his, she stayed into his cold blue eyes. One day, she would hurt him. She was determined to do it.
“What can I say? She clearly thought the sheriff would protect her. She got sloppy, but that’s okay. She’s mine now.”
“I have to say, I’m loving the outfit,” Luke said.
She flinched away as he went to touch her.
He tutted, and she cried out as he grabbed her around the back of the neck. “Do you really think you have the power here, whore?” He spat the words at her.