A DEAL FOR A LIFETIME

chapter 30

I was shaking uncontrollably, my heart pounding as I faced Mark. Tears streamed down my cheeks, my body trembling with fear and desperation. “Please, Mark, I’m sorry,” I pleaded, my voice breaking with emotion.

Mark's eyes were cold and devoid of empathy as he stepped closer, his hands reaching out with a repulsive eagerness. “We’re not doing sorry today, baby,” he said with a twisted grin. His filthy hands began to roam over my body, and I recoiled in revulsion.

“You know,” he continued, his voice dripping with perverse satisfaction, “you always make me horny whenever I see you. Even when you and Rico had sex, I was f**king masturbating in my room because of your freaking moans. I’d love to hear them again. Make sure you scream my name, or I’ll make sure you get Rico’s head on a platter.”

His words were like daggers, each one piercing deeper into my sense of dread. I could barely keep my composure, but I knew I needed to buy time. As he groped me, I sniffled and tried to think of a plan to escape this nightmare.

“Don’t you want to use a condom?” I asked, my voice trembling. “So I won’t get pregnant?”

Mark’s grin widened, revealing a glimpse of his malevolent satisfaction. “Sure,” he said, clearly amused by my attempt to negotiate. He began to walk out of the room but stopped abruptly. “But what if I get you pregnant? You’d be mine forever, and Rico wouldn’t want you anymore since the child would be his aunt or uncle.”

Panic surged through me as the horrific thought of carrying Mark’s child flashed before my eyes. “Mark, no, please,” I said urgently. “I promise I won’t go back to Rico, just wear a freaking condom.”

Mark’s face softened with a false semblance of affection. “Fine,” he said, though his tone was laced with a disturbing kind of affection. “It’s only because I love and want you.”

He walked out of the room, leaving me alone with my fear. As soon as the door shut behind him, I let out a shuddering breath. My body was wracked with nausea, and I felt the urge to vomit rising uncontrollably. The thought of what was about to happen made me feel physically ill.

I sank to the floor, tears streaming down my face as I tried to calm my racing heart. My mind was a whirlwind of dread and hope that Rico would find me in time. My body shook with the effort of suppressing my sickness, praying that this moment of vulnerability would end soon.

As I sat there, struggling against the bonds that held me, my mind kept returning to Rico—his touch, his voice, the promise of safety and love. The stark contrast between my current torment and the comfort he had always provided only made the situation more unbearable.

The minutes felt like hours, and every sound from the outside made my heart leap with a desperate hope. I wished with all my might that Rico would come and rescue me before it was too late.

                      RICO

I sped through the streets, my mind a chaotic swirl of fear and anger. What if Mark was doing something to Bethel right now? What if he was hurting her, violating her? The thought was unbearable, and I couldn't forgive myself if anything happened to her. I loved her more than anything—though I hadn't told her yet, I planned to do so today.

When I spotted Mark’s car, my rage intensified. I parked my car a few blocks away, hiding it in the shadows to avoid detection. I approached the warehouse with every sense alert, my pulse racing. The sight of the dilapidated building filled me with dread. The old fool hadn’t even bothered to lock the door. I pushed it open and stepped inside, the musty smell of decay hitting me immediately. The dust and grime were overwhelming, and the thought of Bethel breathing in this filth made my stomach churn.