Annette’s heart began to pound in her chest as she noticed the terrifying darkness that fell over Brian’s features.
“Get out of the pool, now!” Brian barked.
“Please go easy on her. She’s new,” Annette heard herself say. She couldn’t believe she’d had the bravery to say those words. There might be a tenuous understanding between Anton and Brian about Annette’s place in the house, but she knew if she pushed him, he would hurt her.
Brian rounded on Annette, the full force of the swirling black evil of his eyes boring holes into her soul. “Did I say you could speak to me, slut?”
She took a step back. “N-no, Sir.”
Brian looked back at Shannon in the pool. “GET OUT NOW!”
There were four other people in the pool. They’d all moved to the edges as if hoping they’d fade just enough out of his line of sight to become invisible to him.
Annette wasn’t sure what was wrong with Shannon’s survival instincts, but unbelievably, the girl said, “Fuck you.”
Annette had had less fear for her sister’s life than she had for Shannon’s at this moment. Because despite the dangers Janette had faced, her sister hadn’t awakened whatever sick fucking thing lived just under the surface of Brian.
Annette thought of him as the soulless one. And she was sure she meant this descriptor quite literally. Thinking back on her first punishment in the house when she hadn’t known if Anton was any safer than Brian, she now knew beyond any doubt that he was because if she begged him, Anton might show her mercy. Brian could only be moved to stop by a threat from Anton.
Things were escalating, and the other guys were nowhere in sight. Though none of them but Anton had committed to protecting any of the girls from Brian. And Anton only seemed interested in protecting her.
She thought about trying to beg him again, but he’d probably push her into the pool and then go for Shannon anyway. She stood frozen as Brian calmly took off his socks and shoes, and then he went into the water after her. By this point Shannon seemed actually afraid of him. Too bad that instinct hadn’t kicked in before whatever had happened.
“Apologize. Beg him!” Annette said, cringing at how shrill and terrified she sounded.
Finally, whatever weird pride Shannon had, had finally vanished as she found herself backed to one corner of the pool. By this point everyone else had gotten out and was huddled shivering in the shade near the door. They were far enough away so they could flee and hide in their rooms but close enough they could keep watching this train wreck unfold.
“Please, Sir, I’m sorry.”
He laughed. “You should have tried this shit with Gabe. He would have punished you, but I will destroy you.”
He grabbed her by the arm and dragged her out of the pool kicking and screaming, then he swept her up into his arms and carried her into the house. Annette followed. She ran into Gabe in the hallway.
“Stop him!” she said.
Brian heard and called out over his shoulder, “Oh, you’re on my list next,” he said to Annette. “I’ve known Anton a lot longer than you have. Don’t be too sure he’ll protect you.”
Gabe stared after Brian and Shannon as he disappeared around a corner heading toward the dungeons.
“Well? Aren’t you going to do anything?”
“What happened?”
“I don’t know exactly. I just know there was an argument.”
One of the other girls came out of the shadows, wrapped in a towel from the pool. “Shannon smarted off to him. It seemed like he was flirting with her or something, which was weird. But then… I don’t really know... it happened fast.”
Gabe followed after Brian and Shannon down the stairs. Annette followed Gabe. By the time they’d gotten downstairs, Brian was already in a cell binding a sobbing Shannon to a St. Andrew’s Cross.
“I think you should calm down,” Gabe said. “Punish her later when you’re calm.”
“I don’t give a flying fuck what you think. Cigarette. Where’s my cigarette?”
“You don’t smoke,” Gabe said, bewildered.
Brian had lost his mind. It seemed like he wasn’t even fully aware they were there anymore. But then he seemed to notice them again. “OUT!”
Annette didn’t have to be told twice. She scrambled out. Then Brian forced Gabe out and locked the cell door.
“I’m getting another key,” Gabe said.
Brian laughed and held up a large jingling key ring. “Nope. I have all the keys. Shannon’s a bad girl. I’m going to fix her.”
54
Anton had been eager to get back to his pet all day. When he opened the front door, the house was deadly silent as if all its inhabitants had magically vanished. Now that they had so many girls and additional help for the house, he was used to arriving to chaos and noise. Something was wrong.
As he moved through the house, it became apparent that there had in fact been chaos. Tables had been flipped in the cafeteria. Chairs had been thrown against walls, breaking through in some spots. In the kitchen, broken plates and cups were everywhere. It looked like there had been a riot.
A tightness gripped his chest. Or some part of their security had failed. Had the feds been here? Had they raided the place and taken everyone into custody? If that was the case, why hadn’t they also hit Dome and taken him in? Maybe he’d just missed them. But even if they had been here, why throw dishes? It still didn’t answer the question of where the fuck everyone had gone.
If it was the feds, Annette was probably safe, at least—unless Brian had gone on a rampage and started killing the assets. But no blood splattered the walls. There were no bullet holes in anything. Even if there had been a raid, surely there would be bullet holes. Or smoke bombs on the ground. Something.
What in the hell had happened?
“Hello?” he shouted.
Footsteps pounded down the stairs in the main entry. It was Gabe, looking disheveled.
“Where is everyone? Were we raided?” Anton had been so sure they’d all get away with this. He’d been so convinced by Brian’s security system and his confidence in being able to control all variables and his willingness to kill anyone that threatened them in any way.
The blond shook his head. “No. You’d better come with me.”
“Where is everyone?”
“The house is on lockdown. All the girls are locked in their rooms, and the trainers and guards are upstairs monitoring the situation.”
“What situation? Why is everything broken?”
Gabe let out a heavy sigh. “You won’t like it.”
“Tell me. Where’s Annette?”
“She’s in one of the dungeons. We were waiting for you.”
“What. Happened?” Anton was getting tired of this game. “Who did all this?”
“Your girl,” Gabe said. “I wasn’t there for everything, but I’ve talked to everyone now and got a pretty clear picture of things. Shannon got an attitude with Brian. He hauled her to the dungeon and punished her. He went way too far. Lindsay stopped the bleeding and got her stitched up. Then Annette flipped out. She had some sort of breakdown. She wouldn’t stop screaming. She tore through the house and started throwing and breaking things and just… screaming. The other girls started panicking and joined in. It took some doing to get them all locked into their rooms.”