Disgrace (44 page)

“Let her go, you piece of shit. Pick on someone your own age, you fucking monster!” I cry out, struggling against my cuffs and causing a fresh river of blood to flow.

“Oh, I will.” He regards me coolly, a sadistic smile distorts his face. “I have to deal with
this
first.” He shakes his hand, and Lolli screams.

“Leave her alone, Richard, please…I sent the code. It’s me you should be angry with. It’s me that’s ruined your plans.” Even as I beg for mercy, my heart races with the knowledge that Jason is here. That this nightmare is nearly over.

Richard laughs. “My plans aren’t ruined, Sweetheart. They are merely delayed, a couple of weeks max.” He pauses and glares at me. “Do you know how long a vessel this size can remain at sea before we need to dock? Months, maybe a year if we start losing mouths to feed.” His lips flatten into a thin, cruel smile. “And time is money, and your precious rescue party is most definitely on a government budget. They will maybe hang around for a day or two, but we are in international waters and there is fuck all they can do about it.” He peers down at me then at Lolli who has stopped fighting but is now clinging for dear life to Richard’s forearms. He drops her to her feet, and she instantly drops to the floor. He looks over to the bed and glares between my legs at the dormant wand. His eyes narrow and my heart stops.

“Stand up, Lolli.” His voice is calm, impassive, and chills my soul. His eyes cloud but are vacant. His smile is evil. I’ve seen that look before.

“Richard,” I cry out but he doesn’t acknowledge me. Lolli’s eyes dart to me, then back to the man towering above her, backing her against the wall. “Richard, please don’t hurt her. She’s just a child for fuck’s sake.” My voice breaks with the desperation I can feel impotently freezing through my veins.

“But she’s not a child is she? Why, she’s very nearly legal.” His remark makes me sick, and I feel liquid pool in the back of my throat. I fight to swallow it down along with the thick lump.

“Please don’t hurt her, Richard. I’m begging! Do anything to me, but please, don’t hurt her.” He sneers out a sardonic laugh that chills me to the bone.

“Oh, Grace, you really think you are in any position to negotiate?” He draws in a dramatic sigh and places his large hand around Lolli’s slender neck. “Besides I have no intention of hurting her.” He pauses, and I hold my breath. My heart stops beating, and it feels like time stands still. His voice punctures my bubble. “Is that dramatic enough for you?” His glare burns through me, but I don’t hold it, Lolli has gasped and is trying to scream, her arms are flailing, legs kicking as Richard increases his grip. Such a strong man against a fragile child. My stomach clenches, and I turn to vomit, all water and bile, but I can’t stop. Heave after heave, agony when the muscles clench and my cracked ribs move. I can’t look but I can hear her struggle, her cry gets weaker.

“Richard please,” I splutter in between heaving, fighting to get free but utterly useless. “Please don’t…please.” I close my eyes when I see her arms go limp. Tears stream, I can’t hold them back, and when I hear her lifeless body slump to the floor, I break, I sob, I howl. “Jesus, no…please, no…please.” My chest is cleaved in two, I can’t breathe. My whole body convulses, and I lose it. I don’t remember much more. Darkness maybe and pain. I remember pain, absolute pain.

I’m drenched and awake. I don’t want to be awake. I don’t want to remember. Richard stands at the end of the bed with an empty bucket. The ice cold water doesn’t even register I am so numb. He calls out, and Frank appears at the door.

“Fetch me my bull whip and dispose of
that
will you.” His eyes motion to the crumpled heap of little girl by my bed. I close my eyes and pray.
Make it stop, please make it stop.
If Jason is here, why isn’t he here now? Why didn’t he come and stop Richard from killing Lolli? Why didn’t I stop Richard? This is my fault. If I hadn’t taken her phone, she would still be alive. I sent the code, Jason is here, and it didn’t make a goddamn bit of difference. She’s still dead.

Frank walks into the room and scoops Lolli into his meaty arms like she weighs nothing at all. She somehow looks even smaller in his arms. I can’t stop the tears from free falling, and I hate that I have no strength to hide them. Not anymore. He has broken me. I have nothing left. Frank returns with a looped, black woven bullwhip. Similar to the one I used on Richard in the club. Another wave of guilt consumes me. If I hadn’t made a show of making him back down, none of this would’ve happened. Why didn’t I just walk away? I close my eyes as I hear the leather unfurl and hit the thick carpet with a soft thud.

“There is one good thing that has come from your little irritation circling us outside on the ocean.” I don’t acknowledge him. I keep my eyes closed. I can’t stop the tears, but he will get nothing else from me until Jason comes—if Jason comes. “I get you all to myself for two weeks until your guest arrives that is. I will have to allow a week for you to heal, but I think I can allow myself at least one week for my own pleasure.” He hums with anticipation and swishes the end of the whip playfully in the air above my head. “I have to say, I was rather impressed when you cut me with such precision.” He cracks the whip just by my ear. I can’t help but flinch, the noise is so loud. He chuckles. “I imagine that takes hours and hours of practise.” He cracks it again. “What? Shy all of a sudden …no smart remark?” He draws in a deep breath. “No matter, we will call this my own practise session. Hmm, I wonder if your boyfriend will still find you beautiful when I am finished. Peitra said he called you beautiful all the time. It must have been an important feature for him, don’t you think? It was always the only thing that kept me remotely interested.” He sighs absently, and my stomach knots in agony. “But don’t worry, Sweetheart, I will spare you the humiliation of rejection. He won’t get to see you the new you in the flesh. You will have joined your new friend when we are finished, but I will be sure to send him lots and lots of pictures.” He laughs and groans with pleasure at the first strike.

“Mmm.” I bite down as my skin is sliced open just above my right breast. It stings like a motherfucker, but I will crack my own teeth before I cry out for him. His rhythm is relentless, and every inch of my body burns and bleeds. My eyes are dry because I have no more tears, and I feel like I am being flayed alive. He has sliced and whipped my skin raw, my legs, my torso, breasts, my face, along my cheeks, and if I hadn’t moved my face, I think he would’ve taken my eyes. The cuts may be deep enough to bleed to death; I’m not sure, but I kind of hope they are at this point. If I’m left long enough, I will either get an infection or bleed to death. Either way, it will be a blissful escape. One thing I do know: The cuts he has littered my body with will scar.

He has made his mark.

“T
his is bullshit, Will. He has her right there!” I point out the window on the main deck of the Coast Guard boat. “Do you know what he could be doing to her right now? Do you know what he is definitely doing to her now we’ve shown up?” I am exasperated at this state of limbo.

“We have no authority. The ship is in international waters and that is a Russian flag they are flying, Jason. You have to be patient.” Will tries to placate me but that is never going to happen.

“That’s’ my girlfriend over there in the hands of a psychopath, so I’m gonna pass on the whole patient thing if you don’t mind,” I snap.

The guy in charge, Luke Harrison, looks over and offers a tight smile. He finishes his conversation with his men and walks over. “Jason, I understand this is frustrating, but unless they start moving, there is very little we can do other than let them know we are here. We have no jurisdiction. But the minute that boat starts to sail we can manoeuvre it into US territory. I promise we are just as anxious to get that asshole as you are.” He dips his head, an apologetic expression fixed to his face. “Maybe not quite as keen but we want on that boat…trust me.”

“Sir,” the Coast Guard captain interrupts, “they have just started the engines.” I suck in a sharp breath. This is it, not long now.

“Good. The GPS is jammed, yes?” Luke turns to one of his operatives.

“Yes, sir, and I have plotted a subtle trajectory that will bring them into our waters within forty-five minutes, maybe sooner depending on the speed they set.”

“Okay, suit up men, and ready the launch. I want to be ready the instant they are on this side of the international line.” There is a rush of bodies, and Leon and I turn to follow.

“Sorry, boys.” Luke stops us in our tracks. “You know you can’t come with us, right?”

“Wrong.” My clipped response is all I can manage without losing it at the wrong guy. I know he is here to help.

“Look, I know you want to, but I can’t risk more civilians, and I can’t risk this getting thrown out of court on a technicality. Your brother can come because he is seconded to the Coast Guard and carries a badge, but for you two, it’s a definite no.” He has the decency to look sorry but he is also resolute.

“Fuck!” I can feel my temper rise proportionate to my impotence in this scenario. Will puts his hand on my shoulder, but I shuck it off. I hate that I can’t be the one to find her, and I kind of hate my brother at this moment, too, which I know is selfish and irrational, but fuck it, I’m not feeling all that rational right now. Leon storms out feeling every bit as frustrated I’m sure.

“I’m sorry, man. Look, I won’t go if you’re gonna hate me for it. We can listen to what’s happening from the bridge.” Will holds his hands up in a defensive gesture, and I feel like a complete shit for acting up. I shake my head and try for a calming breath.

“No, you should go. Your face at least is familiar, and I would rather you carried her out of there than a stranger,” I admit reluctantly. He gives a slight nod and again tries to squeeze some comfort into my shoulder.

The next forty-five minutes are the longest of my life. My heart is hammering so hard in my chest I would be surprised if everyone couldn’t hear it. Leon is silent next to me and all the men are already situated in the launch boat. The boat starts, and I lean over to Will, shouting over the roar of the engine.

“Find her fast, Will. Understand? Find her fast!” He meets my gaze and gives a curt nod. Will is the only one not carrying a firearm but he still looks intimidating in his official uniform.

“It’s the only thing on my mind, Jason.” The small launch pulls away and fires up once it is clear of the main boat. Leon and I return to the bridge.

My skin is on fire, but the slicing has stopped. I open my eyes to see Richard glaring down at me. He is drawing in large puffs of air. His chest is heaving and his brow is peppered with sweat. It’s hard work beating a woman to death. I close my eyes. Looking at him makes me feel worse. I laugh to myself. Like I could feel any worse. How long have I been here, how long has Jason been waiting on the edge. What is he waiting for? Is he waiting until it’s too late? The door crashes open, and Frank fills the space with his immense frame.

“Boss we have a problem.” He is breathless.

“What is it? Can’t you see I’m busy?” Richard snaps, wiping his brow with the sleeve of his white shirt.