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.Using a trick I d learned as a kid to avoid harassment from my brothers during scary parts ofmovies that I couldn t hide my face from, I gently crossed my eyes, deliberately blurring myvision.Ben was a blob indistinguishable from the furniture and the doorway to the bathroombehind him.It took effort to hold, and when the caning started, I used it as a distraction.The pain was excruciating, but I didn't scream, didn't whimper.All Lane got out of mewere grunts now and then, and a sob I couldn't hold back when I felt blood trickle down myspine.When a dildo was unceremoniously shoved up my ass dry, it was the closest I came toshouting.The burn was like nothing I'd ever experienced, a lick of fire from the very pit of Hell,and all the more torturous for the devilish laugh that erupted from Lane.I heard nothing fromBen's side of the room, and for that I was grateful.Lane's preoccupation with me allowed Ben tolook away.He didn't have to see my violation, my step by step deconstruction.In that moment, Iwished for the sensory deprivation mask, wished for darkness and the internal pounding of myblood being the only sound I'd hear.Tears welled and spilled over, scalding my cheeks.It wouldbe over soon.Lane had apparently gotten bored with me, because he moved across the room, back tothe array of whips, and there was a swish of what sounded like a cat o' nine tails.I heard Ben'sintake of breath when they struck his flesh.I heard the sharp whistle of the tails through the air.Iheard grunts of exertion from Lane.There was movement in my deliberate blurriness, but I didn'tanalyze it.When Ben shouted, it was muffled, and I wondered if he'd gotten a plug, too.I wouldnot satisfy my curiosity.I felt as though I would vomit when Lane murmured, "What, no hard-onfor this? Don't you get off on it?"The shouting continued, and I wanted to close my eyes.The tape pulled at my eyelashesand forehead.Oh my god, let it be over.Please, let it be over quickly.Chapter 14It was a wish made in vain.Lane had just started.But something about the tone of the shouts changed, got my attention.It wasn't just Ben.And it wasn't only in the loft."Police! On your knees, keep your hands where I can see them!""Iyaaaah!" I screamed behind the plug, all hope for dignity gone, my courage a puddle atmy throbbing feet.Myah's voice, so authoritative, so incensed, was the most gorgeous thing I'dever heard.I focused on the thrum of feet flooding the space and soon saw uniforms swarm themasked Lane, who stood dumbfounded long enough for the officers nearest to bully him to thefloor.His arms were twisted behind him and his wrists zip tied, the sight of him subdued sendingbolts of relief through my abused limbs.I sagged against the restraints.As Lane's mask wasripped from his head, he glared at the officers in front of him, who read him his Miranda rightsas they led him from sight."Get them down," Myah barked, holstering her weapon and coming to my side.Tears ofrelief washed down my face; my breathing was harsh through my nose as her gentle fingersgripped the base of the plug in my mouth and slowly pulled.I wrenched my jaw wider to get thewretched thing out, conscious of the drool on my chin.As my arms were released, two officerspositioned themselves at my sides to guide me to the floor."Get the paramedics and Cole DeGrassi up here now!" she snapped."Don't touchanything."Over her shoulder, I watched two more officers lower Ben to the floor, his bodyquivering and his mouth covered in tape.With my arms and head still taped together, I had littleroom to move, and as much as I wanted to be freed, I knew I had to wait.Evidence.Cole charged up the stairs and stopped dead when he spotted us."Oh my god," hebreathed."Cole," Myah ordered, her voice both commanding and understanding."Get two of yourmost trusted techs up here to help."He snapped into motion, striding to the loft rail and hollering to his men below.Afterpulling a camera from its case, he moved first to Ben, ordering the officers already helping himto stand back while he murmured an apology and rapidly snapped off a handful of pictures.Assoon as the photos were done, he spoke quietly to the other officers and the paramedics who hadjust arrived."Get him loose, and everything goes in here." He left them with evidence bags andhurried to me to repeat the process.Camera slung to the side, he cut through the tape securingmy head and arms together, and carefully peeled my eyelids free.Humiliation washed over meas the medics checking me over discovered the toy I'd been trying not to lie on protruding frommy ass."I've got you," Cole whispered as he extracted it himself, quickly deposited it in a paperbag, sealed it, and made a notation on the label.I shook uncontrollably."He's going into shock," one of the paramedics said, covering me with a blanket.I turnedmy head to look across the room, seeking, finally giving myself permission to look for Ben.Hewas similarly covered and on his back while his blood pressure was measured.His eyes wereunfocused, staring at the ceiling for a moment before he turned his head.His nose was bleedingand puffy, and I could hear his breath whistling from across the room.Our eyes locked, his soglazed I wasn't sure he recognized me.He blinked a few times, and I held my breath.Then he smiled.Relief flooded my veins, a palpable force that made my whole body jerk.I tried to returnthe smile, but a mask was shoved over my face and sweet air forced into my nose and mouth.Iwas rolled to my side, and fingers gently skimmed the cuts on my back, the latex from theirgloves making me wince as it dragged at the skin."Several lacerations and contusions, but nothing still bleeding heavily.He's going to needa lot of stitches.His hands will need attention," one of the medics said, easing me onto abackboard they used to lift me onto a stretcher.Cole held my hand, twined his fingers with mineand worked my wrist in a circle, shaking gently to ease circulation back into it.I only saw thegesture; I didn't feel it."You should have listened to me," Myah said gently, brushing hair back from myforehead.I met her gaze and saw so many emotions there I couldn't identify them all.Fear, relief,fury, and comfort were chief among them.All I could do was nod."We'll be right behind you and Ben," Cole promised.He must have seen the question inmy eyes, because he answered what I couldn't ask."He's okay.About as banged up as you, butokay."I nodded again and closed my eyes, the adhesive that remained on my lids pulling thedelicate skin.Shame slammed home as I grasped the reality of what I'd just been through, howwe had to have looked to the responding officers and my partner.My brother saw me like that.My eyes filled.Cole brushed the tears away as they fell."None of that.We got him, bro.You got him.You didn't do anything wrong."The paramedics maneuvered my stretcher down the stairs after securing me with straps.Ihad a moment of panic when the restraints were tightened, but Cole immediately whispered inmy ear, "Just to keep you from rolling off the stretcher and down the steps.For your safety.Nothing more." As soon as we were downstairs, Cole unhooked the chest strap to free my armsover the protests of the EMTs.He turned and did the same for Ben, a gesture that brought freshtears to my eyes.They put Ben and me in the same ambulance, two medics sitting along the wall closest tothe cab monitoring us, two up front for the drive to the Barnes-Jewish hospital.The ride tookonly minutes [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]