Warning: we are getting into it. The sexual scenes that take place in this chapter do contain non-consensual sex, humiliation, forced orgasms. If you don't like those types of stories, don't read this. The characters are villains -- bad guys -- doing things that villains do. I do not condone these actions in any way or believe that these actions in reality are ever acceptable. It is just a story.
Last chance to turn back if you're not into it. For those who do -- I hope you enjoy this next chapter! Please share your comments and feedback (good and bad!). Given the longer break between chapters 2-3, I'm hoping to have Chapter 4 out in a couple of days.
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Chase keeps his hands off Riley as they walk silently down a hallway towards the back of the house. She follows him without argument, without even the thought of running. Between what she just saw with James, the growing pain in her side, and the complete understanding that Chase's quiet calm is just a cover for how truly brutal he can be -- she doesn't have it in her to fight in this moment. He stops her just outside of a door at the end of a long hallway. Riley looks around as Chase opens the door, wondering who else might be in this giant house.
Chase pulls Riley into the room and closes the door behind them. She quickly realizes it's an office. The room looks older and less modern than the rest of the house. There is a big wooden desk across from a large brown leather couch, and book cases lining the walls.
He wouldn't kill me in here
,
Riley thinks to herself.
It'd be too far to carry my body.
Riley takes the room in. A picture frame on one of the bookshelves catches her eye. She walks towards it. In the photo are two smiling, young teenage boys and their fathers. The boys are holding up trophies, dressed in basketball uniforms. She immediately recognizes both of them. She picks it up in her hands, utterly confused. She looks at Chase.
"This is my brother," she says. She swallows. "And yours... and... our..."
Chase walks towards her. He stares down at the frame. The boys couldn't have been older than maybe 14. "Yeah, it is. They were friends."
"But why would you... I don't understand why you would keep this."
Chase grabs it from her and places it back on the shelf. "As a reminder of who the enemy is. And how he became the enemy."
Riley makes a face. "Was it all that drug trafficking and murder your father was doing?"
Chase just laughs. "Sit, Riley," Chase tells her. He motions to the couch.
"I'm not a dog!" she yells at him. She realizes the error as soon as she bites back at him. He raises his eyebrows and crosses his arms across his chest. Riley silently complies and sits down. Chase walks over towards the desk and looks at a few things before sitting down on the edge of it, staring at her, just watching her. Riley pulls her knees to her chest, clearly uncomfortable.
"This was my father's office," he says. Riley swallows. The fact that he is so calm and casual after killing someone just a few moments before makes her even more afraid of him. She wonders how many people he's killed like that -- as if he were just doing something mundane like ordering coffee. "I didn't always agree with the way he did things, but I loved him. It's gut wrenching to lose a parent, isn't it?" Riley turns away from him, crossing her arms against her knees, and burying her face in her elbow, trying to hide her tears. "You know, I watched my father die. Was your father dead when you found him? Or was he quietly gasping for air, clinging to life?"
"Stop," Riley mumbles quietly. But he doesn't.
"That was harder than losing him. Seeing him lying there, lifeless, so close to death, not being able to help. You just feel so... lost. Broken." He pauses. He pushes off the desk and walks towards her. He sits down next to her, and reaches out a hand to gently turn her towards him. "Did you try to fix him? I remember, hearing during the trial that you had blood on your hands when they found you. They thought you had tried to fix him. That you didn't understand that he couldn't be fixed."
This is worse, she thinks. This is worse than anything physical he could do to her. He looks deep into her eyes, watching them overflowing with tears. She's trying so hard not to give him the satisfaction. "You must have been scared. Watching my father die was the most scared I've ever felt. We have that in common."
She wipes her nose, sniffling. She can barely get the words out. "We aren't the same! I didn't choose this life. You did. You had a whole life with your father. I barely remember mine. And my mother. Both of them. Your brother took them from me. And your father..."
"Our families are a lot more alike than you think, Riley. You and me, your brother and my brother, even our fathers."
She shakes her head, angry now. "No! That's not true!"
He laughs. "You are hopelessly clueless," he says, looking at her. "Aren't you?"
"No! Your family is a bunch of criminals who built their lives off of hurting other people. We are nothing like you! My father was a good man. My brother is a good man." She leans towards him. "Your father was a degenerate and your brother is a murderer!" she yells into his face.
Chase grabs her chin roughly and she gasps. Holding her face so he can stare deep into her eyes. He is so close to her she can feel his breath on her cheeks. "Careful Riley, so am I." They stare at each other for a few seconds, Riley's breath heavy, before he smiles at her and pulls back. "Maybe it's time we give your brother a call." He pauses, "what do you think? Face time?"
Chase takes his phone out of his pocket and starts dialing Ben's number.
Ben is standing in his living room, wondering what to do next when he hears the phone ring. He looks down at a number he doesn't recognize and picks up. "Hello?"
"Hi Ben. How are you? You having a nice night?"
He stares puzzled at the face looking back at him. "Chase?"
"You know, it is uncanny, Ben. How much Riley looks like your father." Ben feels like he's going to vomit. He's stunned into silence. "She's tough like him too."
"I want to talk to her."
Chase turns the phone, grabbing Riley by the hair, and pulling her across his lap. He holds the phone up so Ben can see her. She groans in pain, his hand tight against her scalp. Ben stares back at his sister. She looks relatively okay -- just scared. Her eyes are bloodshot and he can tell she's been crying. She can't help it; the minute she sees her brother's face she starts sobbing.
"Ben! Ben, I'm really sorry. I..."
"Riley, are you all right? Has he hurt you?"
"I'm okay." She looks at Chase. "Ben, we're in the..."
Chase quickly covers her mouth with his hand, pulling her against him, and continuing to talk to Ben. "You didn't hold up your end of the deal, Ben. So you owe my brother and me something, don't you?"
"You don't need to involve her in this. We had a deal. You and me. It doesn't involve her and it sure as hell doesn't have to involve your brother.."
"You scared, Ben?"
"Chase, come on. You know what he's capable of. She's 18 years old. Let's settle this you and me. No one else."
Chase looks down at Riley. "Good. Fear is a great motivator." Riley struggles to rip Chase's hand off her mouth. "You call me when you have what's mine, and keep your FBI friends away in the meantime. I'll do what I can to avoid taking her apart piece by piece."