“Then let me go,” she begged. “Why are you here?” She tried to keep him distracted, working to clear the blade from inside her sleeve. She spit in his face.
“You little bitch!” He reached to wipe it.
Jenny took the opportunity, plunging the knife toward his ribs, but the Soldier dropped his arm. A stiff grunt, the blade slicing across his forearm. He threw her to the ground. The blade clattered across the floor, spinning off beyond her reach. Jenny clambered for the knife, but the Guard took hold of her, pinning her to the ground. The Soldier drew back his sleeve and looked over the wound—it barely penetrated the thick uniform sleeve—leaving only a thin red line across his forearm. Barely a trickle of blood.
Casually, the Soldier plucked the knife from the floor then kneeled next to Jenny, placing the tip of the blade flat against her cheek. The iron man locked eyes with hers. “I’ve done some horrible things, but never anything to a child.” He grinned. “That could always change.”
Within an instant, the Soldier jerked her from the floor and filed her into the office.
“Danny!” She ran to him, seeking protection in his arms.
“You okay?” he whispered.
“Why didn’t you help me?” She kept her voice low too.
“Couldn’t. They already—”
“No secrets, you two!” Griffin stood from where he leaned against the front of his desk. “You should have told me the truth, Jenny. All this time, I thought the three in your party were so innocent, but it seems all of you were quite the troublemakers. These fine folks”—He gestured toward the Soldier and his partner—“came a few weeks ago with some pictures of you guys. Had some pretty interesting stories of where you came from. They seem to think you’re criminals on the loose. What do you think about that? “
“Criminals?” Jenny looked to Danny, her eyes full of panic. “We’re not the criminals. They are.” She pointed to the Soldier blotting the wound on his arm with a small rag. “Didn’t you tell him, Danny?”
He said nothing.
“Danny?” she begged.
“What’s it going to be?” The Soldier gestured to the Guard, who handed Griffin an envelope affixed with a black wax seal.
“Only what we agreed. For now, you get just the two.” Griffin thumbed over his shoulder toward where Matt and Grant were being held. “The girl stays here with me until I’ve had time to look over the full proposal.” He looked to Danny. “Why don’t you go put this letter in my room and get us some food. We’ll discuss what else they’re looking for later.”
“We’ll get them back,” Danny whispered.
Jenny remained silent—the sharp glare Griffin gave Danny after seeing his lips move again was enough to convince her. All she could do was look on as Danny reluctantly took the letter and left the room.
What the hell, Danny? Jenny shrank into the corner, trying to disappear. Why are you just going along with this?
“Just the two for now?” the Soldier asked. “You sure?”
Griffin nodded. “Take that part of the deal for now, and we’ll be in touch.”
“Your buddy doesn’t seem excited about us being here.”
“Don’t worry about him. Give me a few days, and we’ll have an answer. Tell Haverty I won’t leave him waiting too long.”
The Soldier and Guard wandered out, leaving only Griffin and Jenny in the room.
“Oh, Jenny. They’ll never have you.” Griffin ambled toward the door, locking it to prevent her escape. “I have another deal involving you. It might not be as nice of a life as you’ve had here, but at least it’s living. Can’t say the same for Matt and Grant.”
“How can you do this?! You’re crazy if you think I’m doing anything you say!” Jenny grasped for the missing knife, wishing she hadn’t wasted it on such a feeble strike against the Soldier. It was now with Griffin that she truly needed it. She gritted her teeth, cursing herself for acting so soon. “Why are you doing this?” Her voice began to break.
“Don’t look so upset. You’ll finally find your place in the world.” He approached her, cornering her in the small room. “I’ll need a parting gift before you go. Something… to remember you by.” He began to unbutton her coat.
“Get off!” She forced his hand away. “No!”
“Nuh uh uh.” He wagged his finger at her then pointed to the revolver stuffed in the front pocket of his coat. “Don’t fight it, Jenny. You liked it the last time.”
Chapter Eight
His hands wouldn’t leave her. She had no choice but to fight. Not again. Never again. “Get off!” she screamed, clawing, striking him everywhere she could, but it wasn’t enough. Her coat lay in a heap. One of her shirtsleeves hung loose. Her collar stretched, ripped. Griffin grabbed hold of her shirt again and pulled, but Jenny slipped it and rushed for the door, stumbling through hurried steps. “Help!” But her pleas went unheeded. The exit seemed a mile away.
With little effort, Griffin took back control, jerking her upright by the hair, twisting it within his grip. “Now, Jenny,” he said through clenched teeth, “you aren’t playing very nice.”
“Let go!” She stomped the inside of his knee causing him to buckle only slightly.
“That’s all you got?” He swung her sideways by the hair—her body slamming into his desk with a bang. The edge caught her between the ribs, forcing a gasp for air.
“Stop! Enough!” She put her hands out in front of her. “Just stop! Please!”
He leered at Jenny, drifting toward her. “No…”—He smacked his lips—“I don’t think that would be very fun. I kinda like fighting for it. Makes it exciting.” A stiff slap sent her cowering to the floor. The harsh sting left her little choice but to raise her arm in defense, anticipating another. “Get mad!” He snatched her wrist and yanked her from the floor, screaming at her from merely an inch away, “Hate me! Come on, Jenny! Let that hate out!”
“Fuck you!” She kicked for his groin, but whiffed, instead striking his inner thigh. Futile.
“You’re pathetic…” Griffin shoved her to the ground and went to straddle her. Jenny countered with a flurry of kicks, keeping him at a distance. “That’s more like it!” Taking hold of her leg, he peeled off one boot then the other, pitching them into the corner. Her pants—the only thing preventing him now. His hands clawed at them. A sharp tug, but they wouldn’t budge. “Damn it!” He grabbed hold of her waist, slamming her body halfway onto the desk, face down and away.
Her eyes darted frantically across the desktop, searching from something, anything she could use to protect herself. Scissors! She stretched toward them, her fingertips pecking at the plastic handle. Almost! Raising onto her tiptoes… But not soon enough. Griffin lunged into the desk. A loud scrape across the floor and everything toppled from the desktop. Everything clattered to the floor. Shit…
“Let it go, Jenny.” He breathed into her ear. Her body shuddered, cringed, collapsed in on itself. “It’s okay to let some tears go. I didn’t mind it the first time.”
Don’t you cry, Jenny. If she couldn’t prevent Griffin from having his way, she’d at least steal some of his power. Take some of that satisfaction from him. His fingers crawled toward her waistline. The belt buckle loosened. She felt the tightness of her pants give way. The cold air began to envelop her entire body. Legs shaking, she squeezed her thighs together to thwart his effort. One of his hands pressed against the small of her back—his other struggled with his zipper. She squeezed her eyes shut, trying everything to leave this place, to find somewhere to hide in her mind.