The Camp (Chateau Book 2) Page 6

  “No. I don’t fucking want you.” I couldn’t look at her, so I turned away and faced the wall. The cabin was too fucking small for me to go anywhere other than the bathroom, but I refused to cower away in the room where I took a shit every morning.

  She cried quietly.

  Melanie told me Raven had fought against the executioner to get to me. She lifted the burning rubble off my back to save me, giving her hands scars she would carry the rest of her life. I’d seen them myself—so I knew it was true. But that wasn’t enough to make me forgive and forget. She took that knife for me, but that still wasn’t enough to make me move on. Nothing would make me move on. “I let you live here so Alix and the others won’t do the unspeakable. But that’s it. My invitation means nothing more than that. So, you keep your mouth shut and be as invisible as possible. Touch my laptop or do anything stupid, and I will throw you back outside. Got it?”

  She got out of bed, still crying, and went into the bathroom. The door locked—like she thought I would go after her.

  I went back to bed and tried to go to sleep. Her tears were slightly audible through the door, so I grabbed the remote, turned on the TV to drown out the sound, and forced myself to go to sleep.

  Ten

  Plaything

  A week passed, and we didn’t speak.

  I spent my nights at the communal cabin, drinking beer, playing poker with the guys, watching TV. I’d begun to bring her dinner right after the workday so she would be asleep by the time I came to the cabin for bed.

  It started to become a routine.

  She was my silent roommate.

  Sharing the bed with her was always uncomfortable. I’d have to lie in the same position so I wouldn’t touch her. In my sleep, I would roll over the other way, and once I touched her, I’d wake up and roll back the other way. Sometimes, I went right back to sleep…and other times, I was awake for an hour.

  The guards didn’t ask me about Raven. They didn’t mention her at all.

  When I played poker with the guys, Alix was quiet. But his silence was better than his perversion.

  The day arrived when Fender returned to the camp.

  He came at sunset.

  The double doors to the perimeter opened so he could enter on horseback, four guys flanking either side of him, guns hidden under their clothes to protect him from an unexpected ambush.

  I walked down the steps of the main cabin to the grass then waited for his approach.

  When he came closer, I realized Melanie sat behind him on the horse.

  I was surprised he’d brought her.

  She must have convinced him to, in the hope of seeing her sister.

  Fender stopped, and instead of getting off the horse first, he took Melanie’s hand and helped her down, his entire focus on getting her to the ground safely.

  Her curled hair was pulled back, she wore heavy makeup, and she was in skintight jeans, knee-high flat boots, and an olive-green t-shirt. Diamonds were in her lobes, she wore an expensive necklace, and she looked like French royalty even when she was dressed casually. She pulled off her riding gloves.

  Fender came next, landing on the ground and handing the reins to one of the horse masters. When the other guards realized the boss had entered the camp, they came out of the communal cabin to look at him.

  I pushed my hood down to look at him.

  Fender walked over to me, Melanie staying slightly behind him. His brown eyes were locked on to mine, and he looked at me the way he used to, like we were brothers. My crimes seemed to fade more and more with every passing week as our profits soared. In his eyes, I’d made up for my stupidity, and I’d suffered enough for it.

  He stopped in front of me in a gray t-shirt that fit his muscled frame tightly. A shadow was on his jawline because the hair never went away, no matter how often we shaved it. It was there by the evening. We were the same height, so his stare could pierce right into me. “Brother.”

  I gave no reaction, but the affectionate term affected me deep down to my core. It was in front of this cabin where he’d mutilated me with a knife, but I understood that it was just business, that it was the only way to keep me alive. It was no different from when I whipped Raven until she collapsed. “Brother.”

  He extended his hand to me.

  I paused before I took it, my hand gripping the inside of his elbow, just as he did to me. Then he brought me in, giving me a quick embrace with a pat on the back. I did the same before I stepped back.

  All the guards saw.

  I nodded to the cabin and stepped aside so he could walk inside.

  He moved up the stairs and through the door.

  Melanie came to me next, her blue eyes identical to her sister’s. She looked at me affectionately, like she wanted to convey her gratitude for not ratting her out. But she couldn’t speak, so she touched me subtly on the arm and kept going.

  I’d thought I was loyal to my brother, but now I wasn’t so sure where my loyalties lay.

  I walked in behind them and shut the door.

  There was a large dining table against the wall and a seating area with two couches facing each other. Melanie took a seat on the couch, sitting straight with her knees together, a woman so beautiful and elegant, it was hard to believe she’d ever been a prisoner here. A life of fine things had turned her classy, making her appear like a member of the aristocracy. Her hands moved to her thighs, and she sat there quietly.

  I sat on the other couch and didn’t look at her.

  Fender went to the cabinets and poured the drinks. He made himself a scotch, while retrieving a bottle of water for Melanie.

  My eyes moved back to her face, seeing an ocean of emotions. There was relief, guilt, anxiety…but no fear. If she was pretending to feel affection toward Fender, she wasn’t just fooling him but also me. She went back to him to save her sister, but maybe she did it for herself too.

  Her hair was a shade lighter than her sister’s, and she had high cheeks and full lips. Their similarities were noticeable. There was no denying she was a woman of exceptional beauty, but there was something inherently boring to her appearance…at least to me. She was a simple woman with simple thoughts…blandly unremarkable. When I looked at Raven, I saw a complex woman with a fire that never burned lower than an inferno. She was intelligent, resourceful, resilient…fearless. Like she was a priceless work of art, I could stare at her forever and always find something new to admire.

  Fender sat on the couch beside Melanie and handed her the water bottle.

  “Thank you.” She twisted off the cap and took a drink.

  His large hand moved to her thigh, gripping the tight material of her jeans. “It’s time for the men to talk, beautiful.” He nodded to the next room. “Wait for me.”

  She slowly placed the cap back on the bottle before she obediently did as she was told.

  I stared at my brother and watched him drink his scotch. “I’m surprised you brought her here.”

  “She wants to see her sister.”

  “And you’ll allow it?”

  He swirled his glass even though there was no ice. “Haven’t decided.” He took another drink then held the glass between his thighs.

  The guilt started to crush me. I should tell him that Melanie’s affection wasn’t genuine. But I also knew he would want her, regardless, and I wasn’t entirely sure if my initial assumption was correct anymore. Melanie wasn’t brave like her sister. Would she really make a sacrifice like that if it were truly so horrible? Unlikely.

  “Operations are going well.”

  “Yes.”

  “What did Renata say about an increase in shipments?”

  I shook my head. “Not possible by plane. But we’re considering delivery by cargo ship. They dock in Spain and drive through the Alps to meet us here. It’s just far riskier.”

  “We’re untouchable—so I don’t see the risk.”

  “There’s no risk of the police or the governments. But our competitors…there’s always a risk t
here.” We monopolized the industry, but once secrets got out, that would change. If anyone knew this camp was here, they would burn it to the ground and kill us all. “Don’t let arrogance turn to complacency.”

  “It’s not arrogance—greed.” He took another drink then set it on the table. “And you know how greedy I am.”

  There was never enough money for Fender. He wanted more money, more power, but he’d already reached the top of the hierarchy. “Trying to figure out how to make it work. But if it’s too risky, we’ll have to accept what we have.”

  He gave a slight nod. “When you leave in a few days, take care of it.”

  Now that this conversation was happening in real-time, I realized there was no way I could ask Fender if I could stay at the camp indefinitely. He would lose all respect for me because the request was absolutely ridiculous. I was an essential part of the operations of the camp, but I had responsibilities outside the facility. To abandon those duties for a woman was ludicrous.

  His eyes shifted back and forth as he looked into my gaze, as if he noticed my subtle hesitation. “What is it?”

  I could say nothing and leave Raven here. But if I did…I knew what would happen to her. She’d be raped by every guard here. Alix would be ruthless every time, bringing her into such darkness, I wouldn’t be surprised if she gave up and took her own life. That was an outcome I couldn’t accept. I would never sleep well again. I would never be able to get the acid out of my throat. It would be a different kind of agony, a mental pain that would never heal. “I’ve taken Raven as my own.” I had to word this correctly, to make him understand, to make him allow it.

  His eyes immediately narrowed.

  “I want to take her with me.”

  Slowly, his features tightened and changed, as if he couldn’t believe the words coming out of my mouth. His eyebrows furrowed in anger. His nostrils flared even though he hadn’t taken a breath. “What the fuck is it with this cunt?” He raised his voice, maniacal instantly.

  “I’m not asking for her freedom. I’m asking for her to be bound to me—the way Melanie is bound to you.”

  Once I mentioned the woman who’d claimed his heart, his anger simmered down.

  “When I leave, she comes with me. When I return, she’s back to work with the other prisoners.” I could never tell him I was doing this to protect her from the guards. He would stick a knife in my heart for my weakness. “I want her to be mine. That’s all.”

  He studied me for a long time, his hostile gaze burning holes in my face. “I don’t understand your fascination. What about Stasia? She’s far more beautiful. What about all the women in Paris? You can have any woman you want, and this is who you choose?”

  “Yes.”

  He shook his head slightly.

  “But it’s not monogamous. It’s not affectionate. She betrayed me, so I want her at my beck and call whenever I wish. She’s mine to use. She will make up for what she did to me. That’s all.” I refused to sacrifice my personal life to put up false pretenses. I’d bed the women I wanted because I wouldn’t bed her. I just needed to take her with me to keep her safe. She could never earn my forgiveness. She could never earn my affection.

  My brother studied me, his anger slipping away further. “She’s your plaything?”

  I nodded.

  He bowed his head slightly as he considered the request, his eyes on his glass on the table.

  If he said no, I’d have no choice but to leave her here.

  He lifted his gaze again. “If she escapes…I’ll cut off the rest of you and watch you bleed out.”

  If Raven betrayed me again, I’d be dead. I shouldn’t risk anything for her, but it was the lesser of two evils—because I couldn’t abandon her. I couldn’t trust her, but I also couldn’t live with myself knowing what happened to her every single time I left. It would kill me. “I understand.”

  “It doesn’t matter if you let her go or she betrays you. If she’s out, it’s your head.”

  I nodded again. “I know.”

  He clenched his jaw slightly and shook his head. “I’ll never understand it, but I’m not going to try anymore. If this is what you’re into…so be it. I grant your request.” He grabbed the glass, finished the scotch, and then slammed it down again before he rose to his feet.

  I couldn’t believe I’d done it.

  I saved her.

  “Beautiful.” He raised his voice slightly, with a hint of affection.

  The door opened, and she came back in, her eyes on him like there was no one else in the room. Her petite frame had an hourglass shape, a flat stomach with large breasts. She had long, slender legs. She wasn’t the type of woman I usually saw my brother with. He generally detested American women. But there was something different about this one.

  Just as there was something different about Raven.

  His arm circled her waist as he brought her close. “We’ll have dinner then go to bed. I have a lot of things to do tomorrow.”

  “Can I see her?” The words flew out of her mouth like she’d been holding them back since they got there. “Please.” Her arms circled his neck, and she brought her face close to his, using his obsession to get what she wanted. “I just want to see my sister…please.” She leaned in and gave him a gentle kiss on the lips.

  His hands squeezed her ass before he stepped away. “Take her to the cunt’s cabin. Give them five minutes. Nothing more.”

  “Thank you, amoureux…” She called him her lover, then moved in to kiss him again.

  He gave her a final embrace before he walked out of the cabin.

  Melanie covered her face for a moment, instantly emotional at the prospect of seeing her sister.

  I got to my feet. “Let’s go.”

  “What were you saying? I know you were talking about Raven, but I couldn’t make anything out.”

  I didn’t answer her and headed to the door. “Haven’t I done enough for you?”

  She followed behind me and didn’t ask again.

  I guided her out of the cabin and to mine across the clearing. My key moved into the lock, and I opened the door. “I’m not going to give you longer than five minutes, so don’t ask.” I stepped aside so she could enter.

  She stepped inside.

  Raven dropped something and gasped. “Oh my god…”

  Melanie broke down into tears. “Sister…”

  They came together and embraced.

  I watched them for a moment, seeing the way they both cried as they shook in each other’s arms, the raw emotion that flowed out of them both, like this little moment was a gift from God.

  I shut the door until it was only cracked, and I lingered outside so I could listen. I didn’t trust Raven anymore, so if they were plotting some foolish attempt to escape, I needed to know about it.

  “I only have five minutes…” Melanie sniffled.

  “I just can’t believe you’re here…” Raven spoke through her tears.

  “I asked him to bring me so I could see you.”

  “Melanie…” She sniffled loudly. “You shouldn’t have gone to him. I never would have wanted you to do that.”

  “It’s fine. It’s not so bad.”

  “Not so bad?” she asked incredulously.

  Melanie dodged the question like she didn’t want to talk about Fender. “Your cabin…why does it have a laptop and a TV?”

  “Oh…” Raven’s excitement fell. “It’s not mine. It’s Magnus’s.”

  “Why are you in his cabin?”

  “Because it was the only way he could protect me from the guards.” She burst into tears again, either from gratitude or terror.

  “He still cares about you,” Melanie whispered.

  Raven didn’t verbally respond.

  I stared at the crack in the door, unable to see them.

  Melanie lowered her voice, as if she hoped I wouldn’t hear. “He was talking about you to Fender, but I couldn’t figure out what they were saying. I asked him, but he wouldn’t tell me.
”

  “He was probably telling him that I’m in his cabin. Thought it would be better to come from him instead of the other guards.”

  “Maybe…but it seemed like more than that.”

  Raven was quiet for a while. “Does he treat you well?”

  “Yes, he does.” She spoke again, changing the subject a second time. “I’m gonna get him to release you. Every time I bring you up, he cuts me off. So…I just need some more time with him.”

  “You don’t need to do that—”

  “It’s not like I can leave anyway, Raven. I’ll keep working on him. I know I can get him to let you go…eventually.”

  She was wrong about that. Even if he loved her, married her, had a family with her, he would never change his mind. Fender wasn’t like me. He was stubborn. If he made a decision, he would never change it. After everything Raven did to this camp, he would never let her go—ever. Honestly…I couldn’t blame him.

  Raven sighed quietly. “Thank you, Melanie.”

  “I told you we shouldn’t have come back to the camp.”

  “I would have done it anyway, and I know you would have too.”

  “I told Magnus that you saved his life,” Melanie whispered. “But I’m not sure if he believed me.”

  Raven took a deep breath. “It doesn’t matter. He won’t forgive me.”

  “He will. The fact that he’s still protecting you… He will.”

  She started to cry again. “You don’t know him like I do. He’s a good man, so he’ll be there for me…but what we had… It’s over.”

  “I didn’t know you felt that way about him.”

  “I…I didn’t know either.”

  I kept my stare in place, refusing to feel anything for her, to react internally to what she said.

  “He told me he was tortured because of what I did.” Her voice shook, like she could feel the pain she didn’t even know I’d experienced. “He told me the guards turned on him. One of them tried to kill him, and I didn’t know what to do…so I tried to push Magnus out of the way…and the guard stabbed me instead.”

  “Oh my god.” Clothes started to rustle, like Melanie was looking for the wound. She must have found it because she said, “Jesus…”