Dirty Break (18+)

In Which Reunions are Had

Lydia had never driven a car in her life. It was a skill she had been going to learn some day but with Uni and then a job in the centre of Manchester and a lot better things to spend her money on, it had never been something she needed to do. Still, the vagaries of public transport had taken their toll and sometimes she'd thought about taking lessons anyway so that she didn't have to rely on it. They'd done so much driving around since she'd been kidnapped that all she wanted was to not be in a fucking car. She missed the freedom of being able to get on and off when she wanted, of speaking to different people if the desire arose ...truthfully she just missed the freedom altogether. The car was her prison and every time she had to get in it she was reminded of how little power she held.

That was why, when Conor unwittingly told her - although the intended audience was Rick - that they would be stopping for a while soon, she felt an overwhelming sense of relief. She glanced at Leon to see if he realised what Conor had done, which he obviously had if his annoyed look at his brother was anything to go by. Still, it wasn't like she could do anything more than internally celebrate the little bit of news. It didn't occur to her that she should have maybe worried a little more about where going.

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Lydia had given up trying to keep any track of where they were, so she had absolutely no idea when they pulled up to what looked like a mansion, particularly in comparison to her shared flat. They were in the suburbs, she thought, and the house wasn't by itself but it did occupy it's own square of land that you could have built a shopping centre in. The men got out and there was some conversation before anyone bothered to let her out - presumably about where to put her or how to explain her to whoever owned the house, or something along those lines ... as though she were a little lost puppy nobody really wanted but couldn't bring themselves to abandon. When they deigned to let her out, Rick steadying her with a hand on her arm when she stumbled after being sat for so long, she ignored them all. She could get through whatever was thrown at her. If there was a promise of some alone time and a comfy bed - which she hoped there would be in a house that looked like this one - that would keep her going for a while. Leon didn't do her the courtesy of ignoring her, however.

"You need to listen to me carefully, Lydia. You're entering a different world now. You have no say here, and I can't have you acting like you do. If I say jump, you fucking say how high, get it? If you're not spoken to then don't speak. Just remember that and you'll be fine."

She wanted to not give him the satisfaction of a response, but his face said that that was not going to work for him.

"And if I don't remember it?"

His expression told her that he was glad she'd asked the question, that he'd been expecting it and liked being proven right.

"Then you won't like what happens next, I can guarantee you that. I'm bound by rules here just like you are, and I can't let a slight go unpunished. Punishment would obviously befit the crime, but believe me when I say you don't want to find that out first hand."

His face was deadly serious, and Lydia got the feeling that he was actually trying to be nice - although obviously nice was a relative term. She didn't know what else to say, and it would be pointless anyway so she gave him a quick nod.

The others were clearly waiting to go in, and there was a feeling almost of excitement over the group as Leon took her arm a harsh grip and led her forward, so that they were both stood just behind Conor, who gave his brother a nod and then led them all forward. He knocked on the door and they waited for a moment, after which it was opened by an honest-to-God butler, who gave them all a once over and then turned a welcoming smile on Conor and Leon in turn.