Page 61 of Dollhouse

Why is he killing his men?

“Ah, I see you’ve gotten her ready.”

My heart flies but I’m ready to fight. Death isn’t enough of a deterrent anymore to make me act the way they want.

“Yes, just remembering good times, weren’t we?” Eric answers, looking back at me with that fucking fake smile on his face.

I snarl, taking a step back. Trying to keep them both in my line of vision. Something had gone wrong. He’s erasing witnesses.

Bundy doesn’t step toward me though, instead turning to Eric and grimly looking him over.

“It would appear that we’ve lost contact with Alpha and Beta houses. I’ve sent a few men to go check out the situation, but I would hazard a guess that it's not good for us.”

My heart jumps. It’s got Noah written all over it.

“What? Do you think it's law enforcement? Do we need to go?”

Bundy steps into the room, avoiding the blood puddles growing on the floor. “Maybe. If I had to guess, though, I would say it’s much more likely to be Mercy’s men. My little threat of a daily gang-rape must not have been enough to keep them compliant.” He smiles at me and that brief glowing feeling dies. “That’s my fault. I should have known you were more than a fuck toy to them when they pretended you were dead. I’ll admit that little ploy would have fooled me if it wasn’t for Landon’s pettiness. He just resented the way that their leadership risked their lives for a little slut like youso much. Enough to stop giving them the little crumbs of intel I told him to pass on and decide to just blow the entire organization to pieces.”

Oh, that piece of shit. If I ever see him after this, I’ll make sure Noah makes him pay. “It’s probably not because of me,” I say, mouth dry. “It’s probably because you’re a monster who’s forcing all those people into being trafficked. They don’t like that.”

“It’s adorable that you think they're doing good, saving the day. The second they kill me there will be another person filling that void. The demand never goes away, Emma. It’s important to know that. Maybe I’m not a monster, but just a businessman who knows a marketable product when I see one.” His eyes rove over me.

“He’ll take his time with you. After what you did to us and to Lily.” I hide my fear with a smirk. “I wish I could be here to watch.”

Bundy tuts. “You’ve hardened even more, its quite ugly on you. Shame. Anyway, I’ve got a plane to catch and since it doesn’t look like you’ll come quietly with me, I’m going to just have to kill the both of you.”

Eric looks at him with wide eyes but I immediately know who he means.Me and Bo. My body reacts before my brain can catch up and I dart to the side of the bed where my nightstand houses the only weapon I kept while Eric was out of town. Snatching the hunting knife in my hand feels ridiculous when paired against a gun, but the thought of dying without taking at least one of them with me is even worse. It will give Bo a better chance to survive if I can manage it. Noah too, if he’s coming for us.

Bundy just laughs, like I’ve done something adorable. “She’s quite tenacious, I’ll give her that. I wish I had more time to spare, Emma, I’d love to break you in correctly. The wolfish smile is back on his face and seeing it again sends a cold chill through me. “I just know that fucking tearing you to pieces would be the highlight of my year.”

The handle of the knife is clutched tightly in my clammy hand and my heart pounds. I can't make the first move, he’ll just shoot me.

Eric does it for me, standing and walking my way like Bundy’s given him a wordless command. Panic ratchets into my throat as I hold the knife between us, wishing to God I had anything else to use against him.

He keeps stalking toward me like he doesn’t really think I’ll use it against him, but there’s no time left to think. Slashing quickly at his chest, I gasp wide-eyed as he merely sneers at the flesh wound before slamming me against the nightstand, my back bending as it digs into my spine.

The pain against my already battered body is blinding but I bring the knife down again and feel it dig into his side, rippingthrough his skin. I scream as he elbows me in the face, his arm breaking against mine until I’m pinned completely.

Huffing from the struggle, he manages to get his other forearm against my throat, cutting off my oxygen as he wrestles the knife from me and throws it to the ground.

Face only an inch away from mine, Eric’s eyes watch as the pain steals the fight from me. He eats it up hungrily, breathing heavy and smiling. “Now, now, Emma. I know you remember how you treat me in this house. Keep that pretty mouth shut and get on the bed.”

THIRTY-ONE

The house is electrified,but not in the usual way. At least not for me. Everything in my entire world rides on what happens in the next few hours, and thewaitingis the worst kind of torture.

I’m ready to go, ready to butcher every fucking guard I can find. Jesse could probably take out one of the trafficking houses all on his own with the way he stalks the floors tonight.

The men of Mercy tensely bide their time around the house, waiting for word from Ryan. Weapons are prepped and the familiar taste for blood is making it hard to sit down. I need a target, someone to sink my goddamn teeth into.

For most of the men here, they’re doing their job; helping safely remove dozens of trafficking victims from Bundy’s operation in the quickest, least violent way. It’s what we do. It’s the reason we’re all here.

Only this time it’s different, because it’s Emma and Bo that they’ve hurt. It’s Lily whose death they caused. These missions are always personal, but this time it’smore.

Jesse paces next to me, freshly aware, his messy hair still wet from his shower. He’s alert and dangerous, the Glock peekingout from his low-ride holster, strapped just below his vest, as he scarf’s down his first meal in days.

“Are you locked in?” I ask.