Marked (A Dark Serial Killer Romance)

There’s a small table on the platform, next to the wooden beam. There are thick black metal rings, at various levels, on all four sides of it. Perfect for binding any sized person.

“Face the pole,” I direct her with a jerk of my head. She slides worried eyes over to the rings. “It’s all right, little bird,” I whisper into her ear. “I’m right here.”

She presses her hand to her stomach, drags in a long breath. I leave her to follow my order and drop my toy bag on the little table.

Out of the corner of my eye, I watch her as she takes gentle strides to the wooden beam and faces it, her back to the onlookers who’ve taken seats around our platform. As I dig out what I want from my bag, I find Barnes sitting front and center with a greedy smile on his fat little face.

But it’s not him I give a shit about right now. It’s Jimmy, and there he is. Still by the seats we abandoned, enjoying a second drink, and with his eyes firmly on us.

Perfect.

I bring the cuffs over to where Harley stands. She stares with determination at the wood; at the rings I’m going to bind her to.

“Hands,” I order firmly and loudly so our little audience can hear me. She swallows and offers them up to me.

It’s quick work, wrapping the leather cuffs around each wrist then linking them together.

“Pretty girl.” Standing behind her, I kiss her cheek as I raise her linked hands up to the nearest ring. Using a D-ring, I clip the cuffs to the ring, stretching her beautiful body up enough that she has to rise to her toes to keep from dangling.

It’s uncomfortable, but won’t hurt her.

“All this hair.” I fist her long, red locks, separating the massive bunch into two sections, and flip them over her shoulders so her back is clear.

“Not the dress, Zack. Please,” she whispers when my hands go to the neckline.

I chuckle.

“I’ll buy you a dozen more.” A promise I will enjoy keeping. She deserves all the best things. If I have to sit outside some fancy dressing room while she tries on every dress in every shop on Michigan Avenue, I’ll gladly do it, if only to witness the little smiles she gives when she finds something she likes.

With one jerk, I rip the dress, tearing it in half down the middle.

There was a zipper, but our audience isn’t in to practicality. They want violence. The more aggressive it is, the louder it is, the harder their cocks get.

I leave her there, her bare back and bare ass exposed to the crowd, with the red dress dangling in tatters from her arms while I go back to my bag and pull out what I need.

Her eyes warm me as I walk back to her. I let the three braided flogger dangle from my hand. Tears already well in her eyes. It’s beautiful.

A shame I have to share this with all of these fucking lunatics.

“Spread your legs,” I snap my order, and she wiggles them apart as best she can. This makes the binds bite into her wrists more, and makes the entire position more stressful.

I stand to her left. Reaching my hand between her legs, I cup her pussy. The warmth and wetness make my cock hard.

I kiss her cheek once more.

“This is going to hurt like a bitch, little bird,” I warn her. The little knots in the braids will bite into her skin. “You’re safe with me.”

She lowers her eyes and presses her head against the beam.

“I know,” she whispers just before I step back from her half naked from.

Her back and ass are unblemished.

They won’t be when we’re done here.

Pulling my hand back, I clench my jaw, and unleash.

The flogger cracks across her ass.

She screams, throwing her head back. Losing her footing, she dangles for a second before she finds purchase and gets back into position.

Two dark blotches form on her ass where the knots struck.

I take aim.

Strike.

Another scream of pain, but it’s one I’ve come to love from her. A woman kneeling just off the center of the platform sucks in a gasp.

Again, I whip her. Again and again, until I’m nearly out of breath and her cries melt together and I can’t distinguish one from another.

Another woman moans from behind me. I follow her concerned gaze to a spot on Harley’s back.

The knot broke the skin, just below her shoulder blade.

There’s a thin trail of red as the dollop of blood rolls down her back. I catch it with my thumb and bring it to my mouth.

Her cheeks are flushed, her breathing harsh, but she doesn’t beg me to stop.

I can’t now, even if she wants me to.

Jimmy has moved seats. He’s front and center now, watching us.

I’m not nearly as gruesome as his show.

And not just because I love this woman.

And I do.

The intensity of that love guides my hand as I bring the flogger down on her back, her ass, her thighs.

I cover her with sharp strikes. The knots leave welts. They bite into skin, making her bleed.

Her head lolls to the side, and I can see her eyes have rolled back in her head.

She’s flying high, my little bird.

Fuck, this woman is so perfect.

I bring the flogger down across her ass once more. The hardest of the lashes, and she bucks back, screaming again.

When I check on her, tears have ruined her make up. Dark lines from her mascara trail down her cheeks.

“You’ve never been so beautiful.” I fist her hair at the scalp and drag her head back, licking her neck from collar bone to chin before I kiss her so deeply, I almost forget we have an audience.

“Almost done. The next part is the hardest. Be my brave girl,” I tell her then shove her head away from me and cross the platform.

Jimmy notices me headed to him and leans toward me.

“Your girl looks worn out,” he laughs.

“She’s warmed up.” I look over my shoulder at her. She’s brought her feet back together and eased the strain on her wrists. There’s going to be bruising though.

“She’s well trained, like you said.” He tilts his head to look at her again. “Are you done with her?”

I laugh.

“No. She can take a lot more. But I’m not in the mood. She’s too complacent with me.” I narrow my eyes and lean closer. “You want a crack at her?”

His eyebrows shoot up. He’s a little kid being asked if he wants to live in the chocolate factory.

“I enjoy watching her get hurt as much as I love hurting her.” My stomach rolls. I may not make it through this lie without vomiting on this creature.

“You saw how I play,” he warns.

I nod.

“I did. That’s why I’m asking you. But.” I move closer to him. “I don’t like all the audience bullshit. In private. Just the three of us. You can do whatever the fuck you want, but she has to live. And no permanent scars on her face. She’s pretty and I don’t want that ruined.”

He eyes me for a second, mulling it over.

“Unless you’ve had your fun already tonight and aren’t in the mood?” I start to get back up, like I’m taking away the offer.

“No.” He touches my arm. “I’m definitely in the mood. I have a private suite, but it’s in the back. Get her. Let’s go have some fun.” He stands and flexes his fingers, like he’s just itching to get his hands on my girl.

“Are we done?” Harley asks softly as I take her down from the beam.

“Not yet, baby.” I hold onto her until she finds her footing. Pulling the tattered dress from her body, her entire body is exposed to the onlookers. “Almost done,” I encourage her. “Remember what I said earlier, no matter what you hear me say, know that I won’t let anyone hurt you.”

She nods.

My girl is tired.

It’s been a stressful night, and it’s about to get worse. Because I still don’t know how I’m going to get his ass out of this place without anyone seeing us.

My promise to Jeff about not taking anyone else out tonight other than Jimmy may have to be broken.

After I toss all the toys back into the bag, I put my hand out to her, a signal for her to come to me. And the perfect girl that she is, she slides her hand into mine, lacing our fingers together.

When we step off the platform, Jimmy grins down at her like he’s admiring the plate a chef just put in front of him.

“She really is pretty.” He lifts a finger to her chin.

Her fingers tighten around mine when he makes contact, but my girl remains strong.

My breath catches. The longer he stares at her, the more chances are he’ll recognize her.

Ten years is a long time, but fifty years could pass, and I’d recognize her.

But she wasn’t a person to him back then.

No more than she is right now.

He drops his hand and turns to me.

“My private room is this way.” He leads us through the club, around play areas, past a woman being held down by three men while a fourth mounts her. Each scene makes Harley tighten her grip on my hand.

When we reach a door that will lead outside the club, Jimmy steps in front of the keypad to punch in his code.

I take the moment to reassure my girl.

“Who is the only one who gets to hurt you, little bird?” I whisper in her ear.

“You.” The corners of her mouth kick up just enough for me to see before she drops any emotion from her face and Jimmy opens the door for us.

I squeeze her fingers.

As soon as the door shuts behind us, all the noise from the club is gone. No music, no screaming, no moans. Nothing but thick silence.

“Soundproof,” Jimmy says over his shoulder when I look back at the door. “When I’m back here I don’t want to hear all that bullshit.”

There’s no noise, but there’s also something else.

There’s no security.

None of his men are stationed back here.

The last security guard was at the door we passed through. And he didn’t bat an eye at Jimmy taking two new members through the door.

He can’t be this stupid.

He really thinks he’s untouchable.

“It’s just down here,” he says, turning down a second hallway.

And there it is.

His private suite is right across from a fucking elevator.

Unfortunately, this elevator comes with a man large enough to take on any ape in the jungle.

“Marco.” Jimmy nods to his guard as he punches another code into the box. “We don’t want to be disturbed.”

“You got it.” Marco gives a curt nod while his eyes slide all over Harley. She tenses beneath his slimy gaze, but keeps her eyes down. He won’t see her disgust, but he’ll feel mine soon enough.

This entire place is going to be a pet project for me.

Anyone who has set a fucking toe here is on the list.

“Right in here.” Jimmy pushes the door open and gestures for us to go inside. I release her hand and gently push her.

“Inside, kneel in the center of the room until he has use for you.” I keep my tone brisk.

As soon as the door shuts, Jimmy’s phone blares.

“Fuck. Sorry about this.” He grabs it and scans the screen. “I need to take this. One second.” He answers the call and stalks off to the corner of the room.

Harley finds a spot in the middle of the area and sinks down to her knees on the tiles. There’s nothing of comfort in here other than a few leather wingback chairs. I assume those are for the players and not the girls.

“I don’t pay you to come up with fucking excuses.” Jimmy’s voice carries over to us. I stand in front of Harley, petting her hair. Having to be this close to him is dangerous for her. She might tighten up beneath the fear and memories and get herself hurt.

Just being in this room alone with him might be causing her more trauma.

I check my watch.

“Find them,” Jimmy snaps. “It’s your job to be sure none of this touches me. Calling me with your little complaints isn’t doing your job. Just fucking handle, it, Laurens or you’ll be the one people can’t find.” He ends the call and throws his head back, inhaling as deeply as his chest will allow.

Harley moves, and I put my hand on the top of her head to keep her on her knees. Not yet.

She’ll get her turn at him, but not just yet.

Now that he’s off the phone, we can get started.

Jimmy turns around with a twisted smile on his face.

“I swear to god, women are only good for fucking and birthing heirs.” He takes another breath, then claps his hands together. “I guess they’re good for some fun too. Why don’t you sit over there? I think I’ll start where you left off.”

His hands are already on his belt as he stalks toward Harley.

I sink into the chair, put my bag down on the floor at my feet, and let it fall open.

By the time he gets to her, his belt swings from his hand and his eyes are determined.

A shiver runs through her body.

My girl is afraid.

But she’s being so fucking good, still.

I grab the syringe I made before we left the condo and uncap it.

“What’s your name?” he demands.

She tilts her chin up enough to slide her gaze toward me. I have the syringe ready. All I have to do is get behind him before he notices I’ve moved.

“Harley,” she says, pushing her head back and looking him directly in the eyes.

He laughs. “I guess you’re not as trained as he says. That’s fine. I love beating submission into a woman.” He makes a fist, like he’s going to strike her, but I strike first.

I lunge at him, sinking the syringe into his shoulder.

He howls and jumps away, but it’s too late. Enough of the drug went in; he’s gonna be on the ground before he can get away from us.

“What the fuck was that?” He yanks out the needle and inspects it like he can magically see what’s running through his veins right now.

“Just a paralyzing agent mixed with a sedative.” Harley climbs up to her feet and steps toward him as he wobbles.

“What? Why…why would you….” he shakes his head. The fog is rolling in.

“Marco!” he yells as he falls to his knees.

Harley grabs his hair and yanks his head back.

His eyes are already glassed over.

“Marco can’t save you. No one can save you.” She throws her fist into his face as hard as she can. Blood splatters out of his nose. Again he howls.

There’s beeping on the other side of the door.

Marco’s punching in the code.

I grab my bag and dig out the knife I buried at the bottom.

There’s one long beep, signaling that Marco has punched the code in correctly, and the door opens.

I’m already waiting.

As soon as the big ape steps ins, I slip out from behind the door and plunge my knife into his neck.

He bellows, more from rage than pain I think, because he manages to swing around at me.

The knife falls out of his neck, hitting the floor with a clatter.

I take a hit to the face and stumble back a few steps before I hit the wall. A second longer and his fist would have been buried in my stomach, but I managed to dodge him.

He comes at me again. I’m ready this time and get a good punch into his side. It’s not enough to take him down though.

His fist lands, then mine. Back and forth we go. I throw my shoulder into his stomach, running at him as fast as I can muster. It throws him off his balance and we hit the ground together.

Just as I scramble off of him, he lets out a blood curling scream.

Blood pours out of his neck.

I blink at my knife sticking straight out of his throat.

He gurgles, choking on his blood and probably the blade of the knife.

“He’s not going to hurt you anymore.” Harley wraps her hand around the hilt of the knife and yanks it free.

I take the knife from her, kissing her wrist as I do. Stepping away from the monster on the ground, I check in on Jimmy.

He’s passed out now. Drool slides down his cheek and drips onto the floor.

I wipe the blood off the knife with his shirt then toss it in my bag.

“How are we going to take him downstairs?” she asks. “And how am I going to go outside like this?” She waves her hands over her naked form.

I pull out a long black T-shirt dress and give it to her.

“I need to clean those little cuts on your back, but it’s going to have to wait until we get out of here.” I brush her hair from her face. “Are you all right?”

Her cheeks are flushed, but her eyes– there is so much life in them.

“I’m fine. I’ll be even better once we’re done with him.” She pulls the dress over her head.

“Good. This guy can stay here, but we need to get Jimmy across the hall into that elevator. It should lead to the alley we came in.”

“No one’s going to think it’s weird, us carrying him?” She tilts her head.

“Helping a drunk friend to my car. It’s fine.”

I quickly change my shirt as well, before I handle Jimmy.

He’s a heavy fucker, but I’ve carried heavier.

Throwing him over my shoulder, I look back at Harley.

“Get the bag.”

“What about…” she looks down the hall toward the club while we’re waiting for the elevator.

“Later, little bird. Don’t worry. I haven’t forgotten them.”

The door opens, and we step inside.

One step closer to ending her nightmare.