“Who do you think you are to decide that?” Ace frowns. “I don’t care what you say. I’m gonna kill this troublemaker. She broke my nose!”
“Seriously?” Wreck begins chuckling. “A girl broke your nose? Well, that’s just too damn tragic, Ace. Do you need us to wait while you sit down and cry?”
The other roamers smile, but Ace gives Wreck a hateful glare.
“Shut your mouth!” he spits. “Give her to me! She’s gonna get what she has coming!”
He tries to grab me again, but Wreck shoves him away. It’s strange to watch as they argue over me, as if I’m just an object instead of a human being.
“Are you deaf or just plain stupid?” Wreck asks. “I said this one is mine. I’m taking her back to the village.”
“Tartis ordered all trespassers killed,” Ace argues.
“Well, here’s a news flash for you,” Wreck grins. “I don’t give a damn about his orders.”
“You’re not the one in charge here!”
“Oh really? You really think not?”
They face one another for a moment. Ace pulls his knife. Wreck watches him warily, still holding his open switchblade.
“Back off, lunatic,” Ace growls. “You’re nobody to me. You’re just an outsider.”
“Are you seriously threatening me?” Wreck laughs, pushing me toward the nearest roamer. “Hold her!”
They step toward one another. Ace is at least a head taller and much heavier than my captor. The other roamers watch with interest. I begin slowly moving closer to Tanya, but the roamer grabs my elbow, quickly stopping my progress. I freeze.
“I’m about to make you real sorry,” Ace sneers. “Scared, boy?”
Wreck snorts and flips his switchblade into the ground.
“I don’t really think I’ll be needing this,” he says. “Come on then, big guy. Show me what you’ve got.”
I don’t understand what he thinks he’s doing. Is he about to fight a guy with a knife with his bare hands?
Ace charges at him, but Wreck moves aside. He grips Ace’s knife arm, twisting it behind his back. Ace grimaces in pain, bending over. Wreck yanks away his knife and knees him in the side of the head. He simultaneously twists his arm further, almost breaking it now. Ace falls to his knees. Wreck punches him in the head again as Ace sprawls on the ground, mouth gaping open. Grinning like a maniac, Wreck adds several hard kicks to his body.
“I like your knife,” he says, examining Ace’s blade. He then tosses the knife into the nearby brush.
Grunting, Ace attempts to sit up. Wreck kicks him squarely in the face. Ace falls over onto his back, blood oozing from his nose and mouth. Still smiling, Wreck places a heavy boot against Ace’s neck.
“Listen up, jerk,” he says calmly. “Don’t ever challenge me again. I’ll cut your damn head off and hang it on my wall, if you ever try me again.”
Ace can’t speak, choking now from Wreck’s boot. Wreck presses his foot even harder onto his neck.
“Had enough yet?” he grins. “Tell me who’s in charge now.”
I feel sick. I don’t care anything about Ace, but witnessing this level of violence is scary.
“Ease off, Kris,” the roamer gripping my elbow says.
“Shut up,” Wreck orders. He lurks over Ace, watching him struggle for his life. “You listening down there? We do as I say. Never question me again.”
He kicks the now semiconscious Ace a few more times. The guy groans, covering himself without really trying to resist. The other roamers watch in subdued silence. My hands begin shaking. I now understand my captor is a sadist, one who has no kindness or mercy in him whatsoever.
Wreck pulls his knife from the ground and approaches me. He grabs my arm, leading me away toward the vehicles.
“Did you enjoy watching the fight?” he asks.
I ignore his question.
“Don’t worry, sweetie. I ain’t gonna kill you just yet,” Wreck smirks at me. “I have different plans for you tonight.”
CHAPTER 21
I’m lying facedown in the bed of a pickup truck. Tanya is stretched out beside me, sobbing quietly, while Wreck sits on the other side holding a knife. I feel his wary gaze so turn to face him, but his hand instantly forces my head back down to the metal surface.
“Don’t move,” he orders, and I obey.
The pickup truck drives along a broken road, carrying us somewhere unknown. I close my eyes, fighting my increasing anxiety, but all I can think about is Gabriel strangling me. I feel like I’m a servant once again, and my life is in the hands of this brutal killer. I want to cry but have no tears left inside.
A half hour later the vehicle stops and my captor pulls me to my feet, helping me jump to the ground. He turns away to assist Tanya, and for the briefest moment I envision myself running off into the darkness. My leg muscles tense, but I stand unmoving, because I’m worn out and my hands are still tied in front. I wouldn’t make it too far. I need my arms for balance.
“Walk,” Wreck orders, roughly grabbing my elbow and leading me forward.
I follow him, hating myself for being so compliant. But how can I resist when I still remember his sharp knife pressing into my neck? How can I fight after witnessing my captor disarm and defeat a much stronger guy, using only his bare hands?
Another roamer leads Tanya a few yards behind. We walk along a narrow path, passing several small houses. I know I should pay attention to my surroundings but can’t concentrate on anything except the strong fingers gripping my arm. I stare at the ground under my feet, feeling the familiar old desire to submit and please growing underneath my fear. This is what I was taught to
