“You aren’t from West Virginia?” he asked.
“No, I was foolishly coming here for an escape from reality.” She gave a wicked laugh. “Well, I sure did get one. I stepped into a fucking Stephen King novel.”
Decker chuckled lightly. “You are feisty and have a twisted sense of humor. I like you.”
“Well excuse me if I don’t tell you the same thing.”
Decker nodded. “No, I don’t expect you to.” His smile disappeared, and he grew serious. “I’m sorry.”
“Sorry?”
“Yes, believe it or not, but this monster that you have seen in me is not who I really am. Although, I have been here so long pretending to be that I’m not sure if it is what I have truly become. Sometimes I wonder myself.” He sighed before adding, “I’m not the same as these men. I don’t expect you to believe that, but I’m not.”
“Then why? Why are you here being part of it? Why did you do the things to me you did, if you aren’t a monster?”
“To save you. I did what I felt I had to do to save you from someone else doing it and doing it much worse. I’m here for good…” He paused and turned to his side, his back facing her. “We’ve talked enough. Go to sleep.”
Jessa placed her hand on his shoulder, pulling him back to his back. “No, please tell me what you were going to say. I can tell there is more. I feel it.”
Decker studied her for a moment and then spoke. “I shouldn’t be saying anything, but I need you to play the part.”
“Part?”
“Yes, of my sex slave.”
“Even though you don’t plan on making me one? Why? You have others?” This man was making no sense at all.
“I don’t have any sex slaves. You are the first I have claimed, and the only reason I did so is because I know it will all be over in two days. I couldn’t save all the other women from being taken against their will, but I could save you. When I saw you walk into my cabin, I knew that if I said you were mine, I could keep you safe just long enough for…” He paused and swallowed hard. “I wanted to keep you close to me until the raid.”
Jessa’s heart skipped. “Raid?” She sat up in disbelief.
Decker also sat up and turned to face her directly. “My name is Captain Decker Cassidy with the U.S Army Delta Force. My mission was to infiltrate this group of sick fucks and bring the bastards down. I’ve been working on breaking this militia ring for a year now, and the mission is about to come to an end.”
“Delta Force? You mean, you are here to save me? To save all these women?”
He nodded. “Yes, but it’s crucial that we keep you here in my cabin away from Rune and his men. It won’t be hard for them to believe that I would keep you locked up and to myself during this initial breeding and claiming phase. It’s the only reason I took you in.”
“So the government does know about his place?”
“Yes.”
“Then why the fuck haven’t you all done something about it sooner? There are women being tortured, raped, and even killed! You have been here the whole time just watching it and doing nothing!”
“Jessa, it’s complicated. The militia is strong. They have a stockhold of arms not just here but in several other compounds. We had to find the leaders, the suppliers, and their other locations. It isn’t as simple and swooping in and saving the day.”
“Tell that to the women who are chained and being fucked as we speak. Or the ones who have children with these bastards.” She could see that she was beginning to upset Decker, but she didn’t care. Fuck him.
“Lower your voice. Now,” he ordered. His dark eyes were returning. “This is a top secret mission, and I will not let your hysterics put it in jeopardy. You will follow my command and do exactly what I say.”
Jessa sprang out of bed and stood with her hands on her hips. “I will not march to your orders. I am not your soldier. You are not my captain. Go fuck yourself and your Delta Force fuckers. I will never obey. I will never salute or bow down to the man who has dishonored his country. You are no man. You are nothing but a monster. A fucking monster masked in an American flag. Red, white and fucked. That is what you are.”
Decker shot out of bed just as fast as she had and grabbed her by the shoulders, shaking her slightly. “You have no idea! You can’t sit on your little princess throne and judge what I do. Or judge the call of my superiors. Being Delta Force is no fucking joke or cakewalk. I’ve witnessed the purest of evil. I’ve seen death. I’ve had to look the God damn devil square in the eye. You don’t think I know women suffered? I had to fucking go to sleep every night hearing their cries. Don’t you dare stand there and fucking judge me.”