I squeeze my eyes shut momentarily, "He took me, because my father owed him money. I was at a party, and he took me. I've been here ever since. He forced me to marry him in Cabo San Lucas, and I guess now he is forcing me to have his child."

"Shit," Able breathes out, "but... your father."

I huff, "He's just as bad as Gabe. He owed him money, and eventually he and Gabe struck a deal... now I'm Gabe's."

"Your own father?" Able asks incredulously.

I nod, "Don't tell him that I told you, Able. He'll kill my family if I ever tell or ever try and escape. That's what I meant before. I can't run. Not unless I want them to die."

He nods slowly as he lets out a heavy sigh, "Amelia. I am so sorry that I didn't intervene when he was... hurting you... this job... what I do, it's hardened me. I should have done something. I won't let him hurt you ever again."

I shake my head, "You can't become involved, Able. He'll kill you. I just know not to deny him now." I pause and smile weakly, "I don't want you getting hurt. You just might be the only friend that I have left in this world."

Chapter Thirty-Seven: Gabe.

HOUSTON, TX IS HOT AS BALLS.

I'm used to Massachusetts. It's cold there. This place is the equivalent of Satan's nut sack. In October, might I add.

Everything has gone smoothly thus far. I've got one of the main guys in the trunk of the rental car. My pilot is on standby with the jet, waiting for me. It's dark out. I managed to snag this fucker right outside of a bar as he stood at the backdoor and smoked a cigarette. Slapped some chloroform over his mouth, and now he's sleeping like a baby. He's in a trunk inside of the trunk with oxygen strapped to his face so that he can breathe. I've got to make sure that I do that "hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil" shit that Eddie requested. In order to do that, I've got to get him home.

I wonder how Amelia is. Eddie was right. It was only a matter of time before my violent tendencies boiled over... before she got hurt. It's unfortunate, but it itched the need inside of me temporarily before I got to my mark. Now, hopefully, she is with child. I need to test my theory. I need to see if I'm capable of love once my family comes full circle. I need a child to do that.

I've got to control myself if she is. I need to keep myself busy with my kills so that my rage is not directed towards her. I cannot harm my child.

Benedict rounds the curb and the house becomes visible. Theo and Able are waiting at the front door as instructed. They can carry this bastard for me. I'm a strong fucker, but it was a bitch lifting the trunk with the man inside on my own.

Benedict opens my door and I slide out before nodding to the trunk of the town car, "Boys, please take the trunk and put it in my office. I will take care of it from there. In the meantime, I'll be seeing to my wife."

They nod and do as ordered as I waltz into the foyer. Esmerelda is mopping the marble floor. That will not do.

I approach her with a disapproving look, "Esmerelda, there is a brush in the utility room. Please use that and bleach water from now on. I do not approve of mops, they are disgusting, and cleaning the floor with a disgusting object will not do."

She stares at me with her mouth hung open. I become annoyed as I raise my hand and snap my fingers, "Chop, chop!" She nods haltingly and practically runs from the foyer. I smile and make my way up the stairs.

I see Amelia sitting by the window, looking out. She's wearing a white, silk robe and her hair is damp from showering.

"The trunk that they're carrying," She pauses and looks towards me, "Is that the man?"

Her voice is distant. Flat.

I slowly approach her, "It is."

She flinches when I put my hand on her shoulder and I sigh, "Amelia, I'm sorry for what I did. I should have coaxed you."

"Or perhaps you could have listened when I said no." She responds dryly.

"I am your husband."

She shakes her head as tears fill her eyes, "Gabe, why do you choose to torment me?"

"I want a son." I say sternly.

She stands and looks up at me, "And I want a choice."

I place a finger under her chin and tilt her head to the side as I examine her bruised cheek, "I did not intend to hurt you, but I also did not intend for you to deny me." I pause as I pull at the rope of the robe, allowing it to fall open to display her beautiful naked form, "You are my wife. I want to make you feel good, baby. Let me. Let me make up for what I've done."

Her breath hitches as I grasp the weight of her breast. I kiss her from her collarbone to her neck.

"Let me." I breathe into her ear.

Chapter Thirty-Eight: Able.

THERE'S A LOUD CRASH as we drop the trunk onto Gabe's wooden, office floor. I swear I hear a grunt inside of the trunk. Theo hears it also and raises an eyebrow, "What the fuck is this guy about?"

I shake my head, "No clue. I guess we'll find out soon enough." Obviously, I can't tell him. That would risk Gabe uncovering mine and Amelia's friendship. Friendship. If you could call it that, I suppose that's what it would be. I don't have any friends. Neither does she. Our conversations seem to flow as freely as the stream that we've been walking next to each day.

She's a lot more open about her past. I'd like to forget about mine, though it's sobering and difficult to do so when my own mother remains where she is. The same place that I'd been before I started picking up these odd jobs. Before I started working out and building my strength. I needed to ensure that I was never weak again; as weak as the child that suffered irreparable damage and eventually snapped.

Theo and I stare down at the trunk momentarily before turning and getting back to work. I stalk up the stairs and stop at the top step when I hear them inside of the room.

Gabe was clear when he said that my post was here, by the master bedroom door unless I'm told otherwise. I continue up the last step and fold my hands in front of me. I hear her mumbling on incoherently in between moans along with his satisfied grunts. I guess she figures that it's better giving in than denying him. I can't say that I blame her, but I can't help the stab of jealousy that I feel.

Amelia's beautiful. She should be treated with respect. She should be free. Not caged by a monster, who does as he pleases with her.

I imagine it being me in there loving her. Pleasing her. Being inside of her and claiming her as my own.

I would never hurt her. I could never hurt her.

Chapter Thirty-Nine: Gabe.

THE LOCK OF MY OFFICE DOOR CLICKS before I turn and face the trunk that Mr. Roman Cruz is currently occupying. I retrieve the key from my pocket and insert it into the padlock. He's beginning to wiggle around a bit. I turn and enter the code to the secret door.

I grab him from underneath the arms and drag him to The Chair of Torture, one of my newest arrivals. I'd like to use this for a bit before I move on to The Rack to complete the task.

He winces as I lower him down onto the spike studded, iron chair and begin strapping him down. I place one strap across the chest, and the others around his wrists and ankles.

These particular chairs have gone by many names and variations. Generally, they'd be used to strap the victim down and roast them alive. Unfortunately for Mr. Cruz... I have more individualized plans.

I walk to the door of my secret room and it clicks shut as Mr. Cruz begins squirming about.

I turn to face him and watch with amusement as his eyes grow wider and wider.

His lip begins trembling as his eyes travel around my room.

"Who-Who are you?" He asks with a trembling voice.

"Ah who am I? Nobody that you want to know." I respond as I walk over to my table of toys.

A sob erupts from him as he watches me scan them.

"Please! I've got a family! A daughter, and-and a son!"

I smirk as I turn to face him with the tongue shredder in one hand and a mouth opener in the other, "Is that right? I'm hoping to have a family soon. In fact, I'm pretty certain that my wife is pregnant now."

He looks at me incredulously as I saunter over to him, "What the fuck is that, man? What the fuck!"

"Oh this?" I say nonchalantly as I hold the tongue shredder in front of his frightened gaze, "Or this?" I hold both items in front of him.

I squeeze down on the grip of the tongue shedder, causing the two inward spikes to pinch together, "This is a tongue shredder. First, I am going to put the mouth opener into your mouth to keep it open, and then I'm going to clamp the tongue shredder down on your tongue. I bet you can guess what happens after that."

He begins writhing about in the chair and I smile as he screams out in pain when the spikes from the chair pierce his skin.

I snicker as I pinch both sides of his cheeks and force his mouth open. I pry open his jaws with the mouth opener.

"Now," I say as I grab a stool and sit in front of him, "I figured I'd go ahead and tell you why you're here, Roman. You know that little sex ring you're involved in? Yeah, well, unfortunately you messed with the wrong man's family. Now you're facing me." I smile, "That's not a good thing, Roman. I'm not the last person that you want to see. First, you'll beg to live, and then, you'll beg to die."

I stand and lean over him as he frantically shakes his head, trying to form coherent sentences, however the mouth opener keeps him from forming anything other than low groans.

I place my palm on his forehead and push his skull down onto the spikes. His body is shaking uncontrollably as the tears fall. His nostrils are flaring as I place the tongue shredder over the pure muscle and clamp down.

My lips curl up as I begin pulling away, slowly at first as the sobs flow from his exposed throat.

I yank with all my might. Pleased to see that the tongue came out clean before saying, "Speak no evil."

His chest is heaving as he makes guttural sounds accompanied by the gurgling of blood in his throat. Saliva and blood mix together and stream from his gaping mouth.

I remove the mouth opener and release his head. His chin touches his chest as he slumps further into the chair, and then jumps when the spikes bite into him again.

"I... don't... want... to... die... please, please..." He says. It's difficult to make out what he's saying due to the loss of his tongue.

"Well," I say as I turn back to the table and retrieve the drill, "You may as well get rid of the idea of life. Death is your only option, and I am the Grim Reaper."

I press down on the trigger and the drill comes to life, the grinding sound reverberating throughout the room as Mr. Cruz narrows his eyes at me. I stalk over to him and smile, "Let's take care of that "hear no evil" bit, shall we?"

He begins shaking his head, "NO! PLEASE NO!"

I nod, "Yes, Roman."

I insert the drill into his ear as his screams ring in my own.

Chapter Forty: Amelia.

MY HAND SHAKES as I look down at the positive pregnancy test. There are four others lined up next to the sink. All of them show the same. I knew. I knew when Gabe raped me, and I knew when I was late for my period. I knew when my breasts became tender. I knew, but I didn't want to accept it.

The tears stream from my eyes as I grip the test in my hand. I scream in frustration as I throw it across the bathroom. It bounces against the wall and then lands face up at my feet, as though it's mocking me. I bury my face in my hands, shaking my head. Trying to figure out how to fix this. But how? I'm a fucking prisoner. I can't do anything. I have no choice over anything, including my body.

I had always planned on having children one day. I had always planned on being in a loving marriage and living in my dream home.

Not like this.

When Gabe came home after his first trip, he loved every inch of my body. He made mind-blowing love to me, and I gave into his touch. I enjoyed his lips and his tongue and his cock as he claimed me. He loved me tenderly. He kissed my stomach and whispered sweet nothings against my skin. He'd said that I was as close to love as he was capable. He'd said that we would love and cherish our child.

How can I? Is it possible to love a child when you had no choice in the matter of creating it? Is it possible to be happy when you're hiding behind a mask? When you're forced into marriage. When you could never love the man whose touch leaves a path of want, but your subconscious screams in defiance each and every time he's inside of you?

Dammit. I'm so many things, sad and frustrated, hateful, full of remorse. My heart is the heaviest it's ever been. I feel like it is expanding as it turns to stone, to the point where it will burst through my chest.

I sit up and rest a hand on my womb as I wipe away the tears.

"I'll try for you, only for you. You're one thing that he won't take away. I'd thought that I had nothing left. Now I have you, and I will try with everything in me to love you and cherish you, to protect you. I swear on my life."

Gabe is downstairs. In his study, doing God knows what. I sigh as I get up and make my way out of the bathroom. I smile weakly when I see Able's eyes lock onto me as I walk past him. He looks worried, he must have heard me holler in the bathroom. I nod stiffly and I can see his eyebrows pinch together and sadness sweeps over his gaze.

I pad my way down the stairs, and stop when I reach his study. I reach up and hesitate before I knock quietly.

"Come in." I hear from inside. I take a deep breath as I turn the knob and peek in.