Mia decided she would try studying to see if it would take her mind off things, but it didn’t. She couldn’t help feeling that there was more to this than they were letting on. What if they come back in the night? What if they break in? They could kill us all in our sleep. Oh, stop being so melodramatic, she told herself. But why did Billy get so upset? Her thoughts went all the way back to Phil. She would have to speak to Taz. What kind of abuse had she suffered at the hands of her ex?
Her watch showed nine thirty. She was feeling tired, so a shower and an early night wouldn’t hurt. Maybe Taz would be more talkative tomorrow when Billy was out of the way.
***
The next morning, Taz and Billy weren’t about as Mia got herself ready for college; this wasn’t unusual, but she was so worried about Taz she thought of waking her. Probably best to let her sleep, she decided. She could speak to her when she came home later.
When she got back from work that evening, Billy was at work and Taz seemed her usual bubbly self.
“You look better today. Is everything okay now?”
“Yes, I feel a lot better and I don’t think I’ll have any more trouble from them. It just took a while for me to see that.”
Mia looked nervous as she spoke. “I’m glad you’re feeling better, but are you sure it’s over? You looked so upset last night. Can I ask what it was he did to you?”
Taz smiled. “Another time, okay? Tonight I just want to spend a little time with my best girl. We could do all the girlie things you never seem to do. We’ll have a pampering night, and I’m not going to take no for an answer.” Taz was smiling her most dazzling smile, the one she saved for customers at the bar; she always got the best tips. She opened a bottle of wine.
“You’re not getting out of it so you may as well agree now and get the glasses.”
Taz had spent most of last night thinking about what was going to happen to Mia, and if she could live with it on her conscience. In the end it was her and Billy who mattered, and nothing else, and if she had to surrender Mia to the wolves then so be it. She would get over it in time, forget all about her; and if they killed her, she and Billy could not be blamed. She would pretend that it was months away instead of days, and have some fun with Mia. Mia hardly ever had fun; she deserved that at the very least.
Mia agreed and they set about doing each other’s nails, and applying mud masks. Taz insisted on a waxing session so they would be the sexiest girls in town. Mia found it highly embarrassing but Taz insisted on showing her how to do her bikini line.
They watched a funny movie, and ate all the naughty but nice things you shouldn’t. Halfway through the second bottle of wine, of which Taz had drunk the vast majority, Mia was feeling quite tipsy. She hadn’t been able to get anything out of Taz about her ex, but they were having such a good time she didn’t push her too much. She decided it was time she went to bed.
***
Cain met Arben and Joe at the bar at ten to eight.
Joe, with a big grin on his face, said, “Did you get your prize?”
“Unfortunately, no, I did not. The meeting got a bit intense and I missed out this time.”
Cain looked away as he said these words in order to appear as sad and disappointed as he could. He remembered Mia clutching him, begging him not to make her go away when her stepfather was calling for her in the woods. He had to stop himself thinking about that too much before it was anger that crossed his face. Arben interrupted his thoughts.
“Thought you had a friend keeping an eye on it for you. Some friend!”
“Well, the bidding went over the limit we had spoken about and I hadn’t realized the battery on my phone had died while I was in the meeting. I guess it just wasn’t to be.”
“How much did she go for?” Joe asked.
“Thirty-seven grand,” Cain replied.
“What was your bid?” Arben was keen to know the details.
Cain could almost see the dollar signs in his eyes. “Thirty-five, but I would have gone higher.”
Arben and Joe exchanged looks. “Are you ready to go have some fun then?” Arben asked.
“Yes, I am. It’s been one hell of a day. Nothing’s gone right and it looks like I will be here over the weekend as well trying to get this land deal sorted.”
While they were driving to the farm Cain asked the guys what their fantasies were. Joe informed him that Arben liked them young, and he liked them to pretend he was raping them.
Arben grinned. “Like make them put up a fight and at the end they are grateful for how good I am and that I chose them.”
“Well, you know that’s every woman’s fantasy, don’t you? Getting raped,” Joe said. Cain’s brows furrowed as he looked at Joe. “Sure it is. You’re doing them a favor really.” Joe was laughing and slapping Arben on the back.
Arben asked Cain, “Have you ever tried that? Make them act like they don’t want you to do it, so you can force them and slap them around a bit?”
“No,” Cain said, trying not to look as if he wanted to rip Arben’s arm off and beat him to death with it.
Arben grinned, exposing his bad teeth; his eyes wide and excited. “You should try it. It’s not my all-time favorite though. But what a thrill you get. The power is almost as good as when you have them tied up and spend ages beating the crap out of them.”
Cain looked at the men. “You have me intrigued, gentlemen. I think I may try that tonight. Well, what’s the worst that can happen? I can always stop if I don’t like it and try something else. It may help get rid of some of my frustration.”
Joe and Arben smiled at Cain. “You won’t regret it.” Joe laughed and winked at him. At the farm, Joe ordered the specific girls, asking for a young one who could take a good whipping for Arben, and then he explained what he and his guest wanted.
“I have just the girls for you,” said the freakishly tall Mrs Carol.
Cain did the same as last time and fed a little on the girl. He needed to keep his strength up with what he was planning to do to Joe and Arben. Even if Mia wasn’t involved, these guys had to be taught a lesson.
Back in the car, Joe could not wait to quiz Cain. “Well? What did you think?”
“What can I say? It was amazing. You were right about the power and control you feel. I think that’s going to the top of my list of fantasies. The only way you could top that was if she were a virgin.” Cain wanted to start pushing them. He wanted to get things moving.
“Bet it would be even better if she wasn’t acting,” Arben said, raising his eyebrows and nodding his head at almost every word.
Cain looked at the men side on, his head slightly tipped. “What do you mean?”
“Well, you know…the real thing. A real virgin to treat like your own personal slave and nobody would care how much you beat the bitch.” Arben grinned inanely. “Just think about it. Imagine how good that would feel.”
Cain tapped his chin with his fingers. “Interesting thought. No one would give a shit about her?” Come on boys, Cain thought, spit it out. I am not going to be so conservative when your time comes.
“Well, we have a friend who can get you anything you want. Just imagine a real virgin you could do anything to, even if they’re not always willing. It’s not like they’re selling themselves on the net, if you get what I mean?” Joe’s face was not giving anything away. It was as if he were goading Cain, waiting for his reaction.
Cain’s face was set like stone showing no response to what the men were saying. Inside was a different matter. He could feel his rage. He had to control it, but his time would come.
Arben leaned in slightly. “It would be very expensive. There’s a lot of risk involved”
“How much?” Cain casually asked.
“Fifty grand.”
He looked at the men. That’s all a life is worth to them! But how would a normal human react to this? He had to ask questions, act eager, but not too eager. “Does this really go on in America? Do they just kidnap a girl off the street
? She wouldn’t be a child, would she? There’s no way I want to do anything to a child.” So now they know I’m all right with it as long as it’s not a child.
“You don’t need to worry about things like that, and no we don’t get kids.” Joe seemed disgusted at that question.
Oh, so you do have some morals. No kids! So does that make what you do okay in your twisted, fucked up head? Cain had to give an answer, but still play it cool. “I don’t know…. I don’t think I could. I never imagined that my virgin would be someone unwilling.”
“Think it over. We’ll be in the hotel bar tomorrow lunchtime if you change your mind. But this could be your only chance. How often do virgins sell themselves to the highest bidder?” Joe sounded like he was talking about some everyday thing, not someone’s life. The men were pretty confident that their new buddy, Alan, wouldn’t be able to resist their offer. He would be thinking of nothing else all night.
***
At lunchtime the next day Cain approached them at the bar and asked if they could go somewhere a bit quieter. They moved to the back of the room. Cain’s face, as usual, was expressionless. “If I took you up on your offer, what happens to the girl after I’ve finished with her?”
Joe’s head twitched to the side. “You don’t need to worry about that. You have your fun and we’ll deal with her when you’ve finished.”
“You won’t kill her, will you?” Cain thought of Mia again. He was truly concerned, even though he knew they would not get anywhere near her.
Joe’s eyes widened and he took a sharp breath. “No, of course not! We’re not murderers. We don’t kill women. That would make for bad business.”
“She’ll be shipped off to another country where she’ll be put to work,” Arben muttered.
Cain looked down at the floor. His voice barely above a whisper, he said, “This is a lot to take in. Can I get back to you this evening?”
The men made arrangements to meet at the bar around nine. They knew they had him! Their new friend was hooked on the idea. He just didn’t know it yet.
Cain was raging. He should just kill them now, but then what about the other two, Billy and Taz? They needed sorting as well. What if it wasn’t Mia who was the target? Well, they still deserved to die. He would take them all out at once; let them watch each other suffer. He would have some fun with them.
Chapter 24
Arben went to see Billy, who was working at the bar with Taz. “Hello, Taz, Billy,” he said genially. “So, do you have someone for us, or do we leave today with Taz?” Arben looked at Taz as if she was a piece of meat.
“Yeah, we have someone. Just tell us how and when,” Billy replied, gritting his teeth.
“Is she a virgin? Because if she’s not, I’ll kill you before I take her.”
“One hundred percent guaranteed. And I know what you’ll do. You don’t have to remind me.” Billy just wanted this over and done with. The sooner the freaks were gone, the sooner he and Taz could get away and start over again.
“She’d better be. When can you sort delivery? We’ll probably need her this weekend.”
Taz said, “It’s her weekend off. She’ll be going to see her family straight after college tonight since she managed to get this evening off as well. She usually gets back around seven on a Sunday evening.”
Billy said, “And we’ll need to get her sorted, so how about collecting her around eight Sunday night?”
“That should be okay,” Arben said. “We’ll phone you tonight to confirm. Give me your number. We’re very pleased with you, Billy. Joe said there will be a nice little bonus in it for you.”
“Can I ask you something first?” Taz said.
Arben rolled his eyes. He wished the dumb blonde would keep her mouth shut. She looked like a tramp with her shirt half undone. “What do you want to know?” He could not take his eyes off her breasts.
Taz looked nervously about the place before speaking. “What will happen to her when you’ve…you know…finished with her? Do we need to go into hiding in case the police turn up?”
“She’ll be shipped to another country. There won’t be any comeback so don’t worry your pretty little head about it.” Mmm, what I could do with that pretty little head and those breasts! He was brought out of his thoughts by yet another question.
Her eyes had lit up as she leaned forward. “How much of a bonus?” She could not help herself. They could always do with a bit of extra cash.
The right side of Arben’s lip curled. “A grand, but only if there are no hiccups, is that understood?”
Billy nodded and gave Arben his mobile number.
When Arben had left, Billy looked at Taz. “You okay with this?”
Taz shrugged her shoulders and glanced sideways at him. “I don’t have a choice, but yeah, I’m good. I just want to get it over with. But we’re still leaving, right? I don’t want them turning up on our doorstep again.”
Billy agreed that would be for the best.
***
Cain met the guys at the bar and once again they moved to the back of the room for a bit more privacy. “Okay, I’ll do it. I will pay you what you want for this girl, but only if you can assure me she’s a virgin.”
“That has been guaranteed. She will be available Sunday evening.” Joe could not help smiling; fifty grand and probably another ten when they shipped her abroad.
“Fine, I’ll make arrangements to get the cash brought here. I assume it’s cash you deal in?”
“You assume right. No cash, no girl. We don’t fuck around.” Arben tried to sound menacing, spitting the words out, which of course got Cain’s back up. He could not help but react. He looked at Arben as if he would rip his head off.
“So where do you want her delivered to?” Joe cut in before Arben got out of hand. He did not want anything to spoil this deal. They had virtually doubled their money. Normally they would sell her to one of their contacts and leave them to make the deal with the customers.
“Are you not taking care of that? I mean, I can’t have a girl screaming her head off in my hotel room, now, can I?” And he thought to himself, I do not want to commit mass murder in a place where so many people now recognize my face.
“You don’t need to worry about her screaming, she’ll be drugged,” Arben said, grinning. His mood had lightened as soon as they stopped talking about money.
Cain’s hands balled into fists at his side and his eyes narrowed. He looked Arben in the eyes and spoke through tight lips. “I don’t want her drugged!” He had to force himself to relax around the men. “How can she put up a fight if she’s drugged? No! I want the whole experience. What we talked about: her trying to fight me off, me taking her virginity because I can, not because she’s drugged and can’t stop me. The price you want me to pay for her, I expect you to take care of everything or the deal is off.” There was no way he was going to let them drug her, and he knew they would do anything he asked for. All they cared about was the money.
Joe looked at Arben. “Phone him. Tell him it’s going to happen at his place and not to drug her. We’ll take care of that later. Offer him a sweetener, another five grand.”
Arben went outside and called Billy.
“What?” Billy was shocked, momentarily stunned, then realization kicked in. “There’s no fucking way your client can do it at my place! We have neighbors! She’ll be screaming her head off,” he shouted down the phone.
“Your neighbors are your problem. You need to get it sorted. We’ll be there at eight, and everything had better be ready. There’s another five grand in it for your trouble.”
“Jesus fucking Christ!” Billy shouted at Taz.
“What? What’s going on?”
He started pacing the floor. “They want to bring the guy here, let him rape her here and, get this, he doesn’t want her drugged!” He stopped pacing and threw his arms up in the air. “He wants her to be able to fight back. I mean, what the hell? The fucking neighbors! They think five grand will make ever
ything all right.” He sat down and gripped his head in his hands. “Shit, we’re going to end up doing time for this.”
Taz sat beside Billy. She gently rubbed his arm. “Okay, you need to calm down. We have to think about this.” She couldn’t stop the grin slowly crossing her face.
“Calm down? Calm down? We’re screwed!” Billy yelled.
“No, we’re not, we just need a plan. Are they really going to give us five grand to do it here?”
Billy pulled his arm away and glared at her. “Oh, yeah, how stupid of me! We just need a plan to get the hell out of Dodge. Five grand is nowhere near enough for the risk, but they mention money and you don’t think about anything else, do you? That’s all you care about.” He got up and started walking away.
Taz went after him, and grabbed him by the arm. “That’s not fair, Billy. We need the money. Just think about it for a minute. With what we already have saved, that’s a big help. We may even be able to get out of the country, go to Mexico.”
Billy shook his head and closed his eyes. “The money will do us no good inside a jail cell.”
Taz put her arms around his waist and leaned into him. “We can do this, Billy. I know we can. The old woman downstairs is deaf. She won’t hear anything. 1A is empty now; the landlord asked yesterday if I knew anyone who needs a place they could move into straight away.”
“Yeah, well, what about that moaning bitch, Brown? She’s going to be a problem.”
Taz looked up into his eyes pleadingly. “I’ll think of something.”
Billy got hold of her by the shoulders and gently released himself from her embrace. He held her at arm’s length. “I think we should run, get what we need and be out of here before morning, before it gets light.”
“What?” Taz stepped back, her body stiff and her face hard. “When I asked to go you said that they were watching. What’s changed? How’s it going to be any different now? They’ll take me, Billy! I can’t go with them, I just can’t.”
His face was creased with worry. “Yeah, they said they would be watching, but maybe we’ll get lucky. Anyway, this is way out of control. We’re going to end up doing time, a lot of time. Do you understand?”