Blackmailed by Her Bully Read online

  Logan ran his fingers through his hair and looked at the locked door. He had suspicions, but this was Luke, one of his best friends.

  “This is what she does, Hunter. She makes you believe something is there that isn’t. Don’t let her get under your skin. You’ll be playing right into her game.”

  “It’s a game now?”

  “It will always be a game to her. She’s smarter than you give her credit for. She will hurt you and spit you back out. You have to be careful.”

  Hunter laughed. “You’re making her sound more like one of your drug enemies than a woman. I saw her reaction to Luke.”

  “She was naked in a room of four guys.”

  “And yet I never saw that kind of reaction to her when she was walking around this house with me,” Hunter said. “Be careful with what you’re pushing to one side. It may harm you later on.”

  He let out a breath. Logan didn’t want to think. He’d just been in the tightest pussy of his life, and above all else, the pussy he’d been craving for most of it. “I don’t have time for this. I’ve got guests. If you really want to check things out, talk to Ava. Also, get her some clothes. They’re hanging up in my closet. A pair of jeans and a shirt. No underwear.” She’d earned them after all.

  “Logan,” Hunter said, stopping him.

  “Yes.”

  “Be careful. We may be wrong about this, and Ava may be the brilliant actress you paint her to be, but there is also a chance there is something there, and if it’s the truth, then you’re going to be hurt.”

  “I won’t be hurt. Luke is a lot of things, but he’d never hurt me.” He was sure of it. Leaving Hunter to give Ava her present, he joined his friends in the office. They were still drinking, but now they had some food. One of the maids who worked for him was sitting on Luke’s lap. She was thin, beautiful, and looked at Luke as if he was a god. This was what Logan remembered from their high school years.

  Not a single girl ever said no to Luke. He had a way with women. They flocked to him. Maybe it was power thing, Logan didn’t know. He’d watched Luke for years with women, and knew there was no reason for him to use force, or to hurt them.

  “Look what I’ve got, Logan. She has promised to be my bed companion tonight, haven’t you, Daisy?”

  The woman’s name wasn’t Daisy, but rather than correct him, she gave him a smile and a giggle.

  “Go and wait in my room. Naked, not a stitch on. You better be ready for some serious, hard fucking.”

  “You know I pay them to work for me,” Logan said, taking a drink of whiskey.

  “I do, and I pay them to fuck me. It’s a win-win.”

  “When was the last time you actually fucked a woman without money of some kind being exchanged?” Riley asked with a smirk.

  Luke laughed. “The trick is to give them treats up front. You show them what you’re willing to give them, and then anything you want, is on the market. Don’t get me wrong. Some women still play hard to get, but a nice shiny jewel and you’d be surprised at just how quickly they’ll sink their hot little asses on your cock. Even hurting themselves to get it.” Luke clapped his hands, holding imaginary hips as he pretended to ride whatever woman it was in his lap. “It’s always the hard-to-get ones that are the real gems.”

  “Hard to get?” Marvin asked.

  “You know, the ones that think they’re better than you. Who look down at you and treat you like you don’t matter. Watching them squirm. There is a real reward in that.”

  “And you’ve had experience with this kind of thing?” Logan asked, intrigued.

  “I have. They’re all designed to take a cock, and it’s their place. I don’t have any room in my life for prim and prissy. The key is to teach them what they got to have, not what they think they should. It’s where you’re going wrong with your little captive, Logan. You’re not the one in control—she is. But then, I think she always has been when it comes to you.”

  Chapter Five

  Thirteen years ago

  Licking her ice cream cone, Ava walked across the street, passing a darkened alley as she made her way home. Crow Valley at nine o’clock at night was just as safe as if it was seven o’clock in the morning or even lunchtime. The crime rate was low. In fact, the only real danger came in when it was around Halloween and a couple of kids fancied themselves a pumpkin. They’d go out to Old Ford’s field and take the biggest one they could find. No one ever found the culprit, but it was known roughly who did it.

  Crime just wasn’t a big deal.

  Just as she rounded a corner, she came to a stop when she saw Luke, Riley, Marvin, and Logan all heading her way. Even though they weren’t seniors yet, they were still the most popular kids in school. Rather than cower and run, she tried to cross the street. It didn’t work to avoid them, as they followed her, still heading toward her.

  She stopped, and so did they.

  This was pointless.

  “What do you want?” she asked.

  “Your ice cream,” Luke said.

  Stepping up to them, she handed them the ice cream. Vanilla wasn’t her favorite anyway. She wanted to get home without having to deal with them.

  Luke took the ice cream, and before she knew what was happening, he’d pressed it against her chest.

  She cried out as the cold sank beneath the fabric of her shirt.

  “What are you doing?”

  “I don’t want anything your mouth has been around, and let’s face it, you don’t need the extra fat.” He grabbed her hard and shoved her against Logan, who captured her. His grip was firm, almost to the point of pain. She tried to wriggle free, but he wouldn’t let her go. He held onto her, and she watched as Luke smirked.

  “Lift her shirt up,” Luke said. “Let’s see if her tits are really that big or they’re just fat.”

  Logan didn’t make a move to lift up her shirt.

  “Nah, I don’t want to see a fat girl’s tits tonight. Frankly, I’m bored, and I’m in the mood for ice cream.” Logan shoved her to the ground, stepping over her.

  Within seconds, they were gone, and she was shaking.

  Getting to her feet, she walked as fast as she could to her home.

  Letting herself inside, she collapsed against the door, hand to her chest, trying to catch her breath.

  “Everything okay, sweetie?” her mother asked, coming out of the kitchen carrying a large bowl of popcorn.

  She nodded her head. There was no point in scaring her. “Yes, of course. Nothing to worry about.”

  “You want to join us for the movie?”

  “Yes.” She would gladly do anything that didn’t involve her remembering her encounter with Luke. Each time she was in his company with his three other friends, he always had a reason to try to get her naked, and it scared her. “I’ve just got to go and change my shirt.”

  ****

  Present day

  Luke was there in the house somewhere. Panic flooded every single part of Ava as she held the blanket against her body. She’d just had sex with Logan as well.

  What the hell was wrong with her?

  He was her captor, the very reason she couldn’t leave town, and she’d enjoyed the sex. She hadn’t achieved an orgasm, but it had been very close. Pushing her hair out of her face, she stared across the room.

  What were they doing right now? What was Luke trying to convince Logan to do to her?

  She didn’t want to even think about it. There had to be a way to leave.

  Her bedroom door opened, and she sat up, keeping the blanket to her chin. It wouldn’t protect her. She was no match for any of these men. Hunter entered the room, carrying clothes.

  He closed the door behind her and stared at her. Was that guilt she detected in his gaze?

  “Clothes for you to wear,” he said.

  “So I’ve finally earned them?”

  “Logan did tell you you’d be rewarded for good behavior.”

  “Then tell me how I get out of here?” she asked. “What e
xactly do I have to do to be free?”

  Hunter stared at her. He didn’t answer her. Rather than look away, he kept on watching her.

  “Are you going to talk, or is this a staring competition?” she asked.

  “I saw the records,” Hunter said.

  “Records?”

  “Yes. What you reported. I know you had Logan arrested and sent to prison.”

  “I didn’t,” she said. “Logan had never done anything to me.”

  “Then why is it his name all over them?”

  “I don’t know what it is you think you saw, but I didn’t report Logan. He was a bully, sure. He hung out with that piece of shit, but he never hurt me, not really. Not until now.” She pressed her lips together.

  There was no way she could trust Hunter. He worked for Logan, and in doing so, he could be working for Luke. She wouldn’t underestimate any of the men that had currently fallen into her life. They were all in their own ways, monsters.

  “You’re lying.”

  “I’m not lying. You seem to think you have some gift to tell when I am or I’m not. Show me what you think you’ve read. I know who I reported, and it wasn’t Logan.” She tilted her head to the side. “You don’t like this, do you? It’s why you’re here.”

  “I’m here for my own reasons.”

  “Yeah, but you want some information. You don’t like Luke, do you?” She was hopeful. “Do you like any of his friends?”

  “What I think and feel is none of your concern. The clothes are there for you to use, and I suggest you do.” Hunter took a step back from the bed.

  “Am I getting out of here alive?” she asked.

  “Logan has no plans to kill you.”

  “Just to ruin me?”

  “The same way you ruined him, but with a touch more elaboration.”

  “Whatever it is you think you know, you’re wrong.”

  “I don’t know anything.” He laughed. “Try to get some sleep.”

  “How long are they staying?” She didn’t want to have to show weakness, but while Luke was in the house, she feared for her life and if showing it to Hunter helped her in any way, she was willing to do it.

  “Who?”

  “His friends.”

  “Yes. They’ll be here until Logan needs them elsewhere.”

  Hunter walked to the door, opening it.

  “Who exactly is in charge?” she asked.

  Hunter closed the door again, turning toward her.

  “When we were in high school, Luke was the one who called all the shots. Who told people how it was going to be and what he was going to do. What about now? Does Logan still do as he’s told?”

  “Logan is the one with all the power and all the money. He’s the one running the show.”

  She smiled. “I guess we’ll see.”

  Hunter stared at her for a couple of extra minutes before leaving.

  Once she was sure he wasn’t coming back, she climbed out of bed and scrambled to put on the clothes. She tugged up her pants and pulled on the shirt. There was no underwear, but at least she now had clothes on.

  Climbing back into bed, she put the blanket up to her neck, staring across the room. It was dark outside, and her heart raced as the sounds of the night surrounded her. Every little bump and creak, she had to wonder if Luke was coming after her.

  She hadn’t seen him in twelve years either. The man had sent her pictures throughout the years. There was never any return address, but she knew they were from him.

  Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes.

  If she had to face them again, she was going to need her sleep.

  The hours ticked by, and still, she didn’t sleep. Every now and then, she’d nap for a couple of minutes, but the fear would come back, threatening to consume her. She couldn’t just fall asleep. She had to be on alert.

  At the first rays of sunlight, she climbed out of bed, made it, and went to the bathroom. After using the toilet, she washed her hands and splashed water onto her face.

  Logan hadn’t even provided her with a toothbrush or toothpaste.

  She cupped some water, sipping at it, swilling her mouth and spitting it in the sink. She was going to have to ask for some of the simple pleasures in life.

  Lifting up, she found herself once again staring at her reflection.

  “You can get through this. It’s nothing.”

  The entire town had left them alone. If they knew where she was, no one was coming for her. Her parents were already dead, and she hadn’t made any connections with people nearby to her.

  Whatever was about to happen, when it did, they wouldn’t care. Logan could kill her, throw away the key, and no one would care. She was all alone in this. She thought about Grant. It was so stupid to even be thinking about him at this moment.

  Did he know where she was? Did he even care?

  Why are you even thinking about him? What connection you had to him was long gone. He used you for his boss.

  Don’t forget, everything he did was a lie. It was all a ploy constructed by Logan.

  With her face now drying, she went into her bedroom, only to stop as she saw who was waiting for her.

  Luke.

  He smiled as he saw her, closing the bedroom door.

  She heard the lock click into place.

  “Do you have any idea how hard it is to check every single room in this house? I must have opened fifty doors and not one of them was full. There are so many rooms just waiting to be filled. Even the maids didn’t know where you were being kept. I have to say, you’re staying in a sweet place.”

  “What do you want?” she asked.

  “I see he finally put some clothes on you. A shame, really. I rather liked being able to see you. Still got the famous curves Logan loves, but they’ve matured. I can see why his dick is hard for you. I wonder if he knows.”

  “Get out,” she said. She tried to keep her voice firm, but standing across from this monster, she felt nothing but fear.

  Luke laughed. “You want me to leave. It’s a little after six. People are still wandering around, doing their chores. Did you know Logan’s a late sleeper?”

  She didn’t know anything.

  Right now, she was trapped, alone with one of the cruelest men she’d ever known. Crow Valley was low on crime, sure it was. When she reported what happened to her, no one knew what to do. That was how nice it was supposed to be. She soon learned, there may not be any crime rate within town, but that didn’t mean evil wasn’t lurking around, waiting to snap people up, one by one.

  Luke stepped into the room, and she stayed where she was, in the doorway leading to the bathroom. There was no lock on the door.

  She was at the mercy of Luke once again.

  Her hands shook.

  Her entire body trembled.

  There was no pleasure in knowing what could happen.

  The way Luke looked at her, it didn’t matter if she was wearing clothes. He saw what he wanted to, and she had no way of stopping him.

  Just like last time.

  “He doesn’t know, does he?” she said. “You did something, didn’t you?”

  Luke laughed. “You think I’d still be here if Logan knows what I own? What I can still feel if I close my eyes, and remember how tight you were. How you screamed when I fucked you?”

  Tears filled her eyes, but she didn’t want to give him the satisfaction of crying. There was no pleasure in this. Only pain.

  Glaring at him, she waited for him to finish with his gloating and leave.

  He stepped close, and she couldn’t take it.

  As much as she hated to show any kind of weakness in front of her enemy, she took a step back, and Luke laughed.

  “You know, I love to see you scared. All shaken up and making sure there’s distance between us. It’s really cute.”

  “Leave me alone.”

  “I don’t want to leave you alone. There’s no reason for me to.” He laughed again. “Do you really think I’ve spent the
last hour opening every single door I could find just to taunt you?”

  He reached out toward her, and she swatted his arm away.

  The moment she hit him, he backhanded her. She fell against the tiled floor, the sting shocking her to the core.

  Luke didn’t stop.

  He grabbed her by the back of the neck, picking her up and pressing her against the wall. She cried out at the pain. His grip was tight, and he hurt as he held her in place. His hand cupped her between the thighs, bruising even with a layer of denim to stop him from touching bare flesh.

  “I’m going to make sure I get to fuck this pretty pussy again. Logan likes to share—did you know that? We share everything. I’m his best friend, and I’m going to make him share you. He knows what you did, and I’m going to enjoy every single second of it.” He moved, gripping her ass. “Only this time, I’m going to take your ass. I wonder if he’s already had a taste of your ass. I’ll fuck you so hard and make you gag on my cock, tasting yourself. I’ll have every single kind of virginity you have to offer.”

  She gritted her teeth. Revulsion traveled through her and she wanted nothing more than to hurt him, but she could do nothing.

  “You won’t get anymore from me. My ass has already been taken and owned. You should see Logan—he sent the guy to get me ready.” She spat the words out.

  “Whore!” He pulled away and slammed his fist against her ribcage, winding her.

  He lifted her up by her hair, and she cried out.

  “You won’t win this. You don’t have the power to win anything.” He spat in her face, and she closed her eyes. “This isn’t over.”

  She didn’t know why he let her go, only that he did, and she kept herself upright. She listened as the door opened and the lock clicked back into place.

  Rushing to the toilet, she wiped the spittle from her face and threw everything up. There had to be a way to escape.

  There had to be.

  ****

  Logan had all the pictures of Luke splayed out across his bed.

  Some of them were from the past and Ava could have easily taken, but he recalled some as recently as six months ago. He picked up one of them all in a nightclub. A couple of women were sitting in their laps, and Luke had told someone passing by to take a photo and handed the stranger the cell phone.