Drake Sisters 07 - Hidden Currents

something terrible was going to happen.
    He tied her hands with rope and jerked on the pul ey, dragging her body into an upright position, straining her arms, and stretching her already painful body horribly.

    â€œPlease,†she whispered.
    He caught her hair, jerking her head back to stare into her eyes. “You belong only to me. You serve only me. You pleasure only me. If you ever escaped me, I would hunt you down and bring you back and you would be punished beyond anything you’ve ever known. I think it is time you learned just who you’re dealing with.â€
    Tears streamed down her face and she could barely catch her breath. She already felt broken, exhausted, so terrified she didn’t know how to cope.
    Her mind felt chaotic and scattered, as if she’d misplaced her ability to think things through and al she could do was feel pain and fear.
    â€œStavros,†she tried again. “I don’t know what I’m doing or saying. Please don’t do this.â€
    â€œYou want another man? Is that what you want?â€
    She shook her head. “No.â€
    â€œI think you do. I think you’re such a little slut you want another man. I don’t seem to be satisfying you.â€
    â€œThat’s not true. I don’t want anyone else.†She didn’t want anyone touching her. The thought of Stavros sharing her, forcing her to accept other men, made bile rise in her churning stomach.
    Stavros stared down at her for a long moment while the wind lashed at the windows and lightning forked across the dark clouds. He leaned over, his face pressed close to hers. “I think you need to know who you belong to, Sheena. I think we need to drive that lesson home.â€
    He waited and she knew he expected her to acknowledge his ownership. “Please,†she said brokenly, “I can’t think clearly.â€
    He sighed and stood up, one hand trailing over her breast. Without another word he turned and left the room, slamming the door behind him. El e couldn’t stop crying, the pain in her head making it impossible to think, the fear of what Stavros might do choking her. She’d never seen him like that. And she never wanted to again.
    She waited for what seemed like hours, but she knew it wasn’t that long. Her arms ached and every bit of air on her skin intensified the pain. She wanted to give in to Stavros, just end it al before she lost who and what she was. She knew now how the women taken prisoner and forced into the human trafficking rings felt and it made her sick that she couldn’t help them. She’d nearly sent word to Dane that she was certain that Stavros wasn’t involved, and yet, he was. He had been al along. From the information Stavros had let drop, she knew his twin, Evan, was alive and that he, along with his bikers, kidnapped the women. Then Stavros used his freighters to send the women al over the world. Evan was alive after al , raised by his mother away from the father. She’d taken one twin and left the other behind.
    The wind slammed into the window and she lifted her head to stare out at the raging storm even as she felt Jackson, much stronger this time, slide into her mind. She didn’t want him there. It was too late for hope. There was only humiliation that Jackson would share everything that happened—that was going to happen—that he could see her like this, know what Stavros had done and was stil doing to her. If she built enough energy and waited for her moment, she could use the storm and short-circuit her brain. It was the only way out that she could see.
    You were there for me, Elle, when I was tied and beaten like a dog and thrown into that rat hole. You were there for me. Don’t try to talk, and don’t try to take your own life. I see what you’re thinking, but if you turn yourself into a vegetable, what do you think will happen to your sisters?
    To me? Live, Elle. Believe I’ll come for you.
    El e closed her eyes against Jackson’s voice. Against the smal flare of hope that lingered. Stavros was too powerful. He had too much money. No one could ever escape him, least of al her.
    You’re just tired, baby, worn out with fighting him. I know where he’s keeping you now and I’ll stay with you until I come for you. You aren’t alone anymore.
    She wanted to be alone. She didn’t want him to see into