Trapping His Monster

25. Challenge Accepted

"Watch me," Liam demanded. "This is what happens to anyone who defies my power. Learn quickly or Chenelle will be the one to do this to you."

He swung the golf club in his hand, breaking the man's kneecaps. His screams made me flinch and close my eyes. I didn't want to see this. I hadn't been the one to torture people back in Queens. I didn't like that. Asher and Lexi were in charge of that area. They loved getting their hands dirty.

"No running away. No bribing my guards. Everyone is against you here. No one will do your bidding just to help you escape." Liam turned to smile at me. "Do you understand, Sha'Kera? Do you want to try? Just once."

"No." I shook my head and looked at the man in pity. At least it wasn't me. His eyes pleaded for me to help him. I couldn't. Even if I could, I wouldn't. I don't know what he did to Liam. That's not my problem. "I couldn't possibly hurt him."

"Good to know..." Liam muttered. He exchanged his golf club for a gun. I couldn't let him kill that man. "Do you know what happens when you defy me too many times? Chenelle, why don't you tell her?"

I glanced at her as she dragged a finger across her throat. That looked like a fun way to die.

"You'll be safe as long as you do as you're told," she said.

"On that note..." Liam aimed his gun at the man. I squeezed my eyes shut, praying for everything to be over already. "Any last words, traitor?"

"P-please, don't do this!" the man pleaded.

"Too late for that, don't you think?"

"Please!" I begged. "Don't do that to him. Stop! I can't watch you hurt anyone. I'll do anything."

"Anything?"

"...Yes."

I heard Chenelle laugh in her corner. I hate having to beg, but I'm sure that man did nothing to him. He's probably someone who wants to get out of this life. I would, too. No one wants to obey orders from someone everyday. I barely liked listening to Derek when he told me not to do something.

Liam gave the gun to one of his men and told Chenelle to leave. The man was dragged out of the room. His pained screams pierced my mind. I was going to have nightmares about this forever.

"You have always been so kind hearted, Sha'Kera," Liam said. "That's what I liked about you. Everything you did was out of the goodness of your heart. Chenelle is great, but...she isn't you. She'll never compare to you."

"Aside from the fact that she's naturally beautiful," I muttered.

"And so are you. Don't be so hard on yourself. Most men marry for looks these days. You just happen to look amazing to Hayden and Derek."

"Hayden didn't marry me for my looks."

"He sure didn't marry you, because he loved you."

Rude.

"Look, that aside, I didn't believe I would be able to see you again. I longed for you after everything happened. My father knew that, but he sent me away. He wanted me to suffer in silence. He wanted me to forget you and marry the woman he wanted me to marry. That's the life he forced me into.

You think I got it made with the women and the money, but I don't. I'm not happy. I was missing something. I was missing...you. Now that you're here, I can make my dream a reality. Do you know how that makes me feel? Accomplished. I've finally done something that makes me happy."

What in the world? Does he know how senile he sounds? I don't want him. I never will. He kidnapped me to live a fantasy. I don't want to be forced into a relationship where I'm the unhappy one. I don't want him to be the happy one. The only happiness he deserves is a lethal injection.

"Sha'Kera, I would never lie to you. Please, believe me." Liam smiled. "Do you trust me?"

"No." I crossed my arms. "You're still a liar in my eyes."

"Well, you're definitely going to need a good pair of glasses. I'm as real as they come these days. You're never going to find anyone else like me."

"I don't want anyone like you. I'd rather die."

"I can have that arranged. Trust me...I won't make your death comfortable."

Death was never meant to be comfortable.

Liam left me alone in the room. I stood in silence, mulling over the lies he'd just told me. There's no way he could love anyone. If he took off with money that wasn't his, then he's forever a liar and a thief. No one can convince me otherwise.

The door opened again. I looked in that direction and scowled. What was she doing in here? I didn't want to talk to her. I didn't want to be near her again.

"Sha'Kera, Sha'Kera." Chenelle shook her head. "I thought you would be stronger than this. I guess it was true that you were the weaker one."

"What do you want?" I sneered.

"Just came to gloat," she said. "Liam took your money and ran off with me. Doesn't that make your blood boil? Does it make you want to kill someone?"

"Clearly not. If I did, then you wouldn't be standing there."

"Aww, that's cute. You think your little threats scare me? Think again, bruja."

I was in her face in two strides. She looked surprised, but that look didn't last long. She smiled and even dared to laugh.

"Liam is too in love with me to waste the rest of his life on you," I growled. "He said so himself. I know he's a pathological liar, but don't you think he's getting tired of seeing the same old hag every single day? He's probably wishing he'd gotten to me before I got married again."

"You wish that were the case. Liam says he loves everyone. Do you know what he does to the whores he brings around? He tortures them. He gains their trust and watches them crumble before him when he doesn't want them anymore. That's exactly what's going to happen to you."

I was taken aback by her belief. Liam wasn't going to discard me like trash. I believed he was going to do that to her. No matter how much Chenelle was trying to convince herself, Liam wasn't going to love her enough to marry her. I would always be in her way, as long as I stayed alive. It won't be long until she figures that out. Unless she already has.

"I asked Liam if I could torture you when you arrived. I guess he wanted to do that himself. Just wait. He's going to break you. You won't remember where you came from and you won't want to know."

Chenelle left the room in a flurry of whatever pungent perfume she was wearing. I scoffed and sat in the only chair in the room. My mind wandered as I thought of what I could have done differently that day. What if Lexi had been the one to leave and got kidnapped? Everyone would have been moving Heaven and earth to find her. I guess I'm just one of those people who don't deserve that type of attention.