“You’re lying.”
Moving quickly, he grabbed her hair in one fist and shoved the other between her legs. She didn’t wear underwear beneath her nightgown; she never had. She didn’t like the way it tended to bunch while she slept. His fingers pushed into her, roughly and too many. She was dry, and it hurt, and when she grunted, he added more. He was stretching her, tearing her. Mother Mary—he was fisting her. Dry.
She fought, trying to push him away, pull herself away, but he wrapped her hair more tightly around his fist and leaned into her, pushing her down on the bed, nearly immobilizing her. “Am I going to find him up here? Is he still inside you?”
He’d never hurt her like this; this was more than she could take. But if she cried out, if she begged, he would feed on it and hurt her more. So she stopped fighting and tried to breathe. She tried to take it.
He eased up almost as soon as she stopped fighting him. When he pulled his hand out of her, she closed her eyes and bit back her scream. When she opened her eyes again, she saw him examining his hand. It was bloody.
His eyes shifted to hers. He put a bloody finger into his mouth and sucked it. When he pulled it out, he said, “After all this time, darling, you should know better. You don’t do anything unless I say you may. You may not leave.” He sucked the blood from another finger. “It’s interesting. I thought I was bored. I thought I was done with you.”
“You were going to have me killed this week.” The words came out as gasps while she fought pain for breath, but she wanted him to know she knew. It seemed very important to make sure he knew that he hadn’t surprised her.
“What a smart little miss. Yes. But now, I realize that I was bored because I had stopped being creative. We’d simply fallen into a rut. That happens in marriages. Fifteen years, darling. It’s quite an accomplishment.”
“I’m leaving you, James. I am leaving.”
“No, Bina. You’re not. And here’s the thing. You’re not going to leave, because you’re not going to go. When we’re done here, you’ll remember your place.”
He patted her leg and then stood. His hands went to his waist and she expected him to go for his belt. She turned, intending to roll to the other side of the bed and get up and away. But he’d really hurt her, and she froze, her hands going between her legs as if that would stop the pain.
It wasn’t his belt he was going for. It was his phone. With his clean hand, he reached into his pants pocket and brought it out. He moved his thumb over the touchscreen briefly and put the phone to his ear. “Come in.”
He put his phone away.
James had never invited anyone into their bedroom before. He was far too jealous and possessive to include anyone else in his ‘play.’ Sabina pushed her pain away and tried to understand what those two words meant, but before she could think even one thought through, the bedroom door opened, and a man walked in. The man from the Escalade. He was huge, with shoulders as wide as a refrigerator, a shaved head, and square blocks for hands. He wore a light grey suit, the weave of which was being thoroughly tested by his girth.
“This, darling, is Eddie. He is an associate of mine. He’s been on a job for me lately, and he’s been quite helpful. I’m feeling generous today. And also, frankly, not remotely attracted to you. I am not interested in another man’s leavings. Eddie, though, you’re interested, aren’t you?”
Eddie looked worried and confused more than anything else. “Boss?”
“You do what I say with her for a while. But then I’ll give you an hour to do what you want.”
As understanding dawned, Sabina’s world closed to a pinpoint. Again she turned to get off the bed at the side farthest from these men. This time, she willed herself to ignore the pain.
James sighed. “Stop her.”
Eddie did, reaching out and grabbing her arm around the bicep. “Boss, what are you talkin’ about?”
“I know you’re not stupid, Eddie. I don’t contract with stupid people, and I don’t pay stupid people. Neither are you deaf. I spoke plainly. Are you continuing in my employ, or are you not?”
“You want me to fuck your wife?”
“Among other things, yes. She apparently has a desire for something new.”
His hand still around her arm, Eddie turned to her. “Are you into this, doll?”
She shook her head. “No. Please.”