Stranded with My Stepbrother Chapter 46: Nothing to Lose

-Caleb-

I stepped into Mr. Masterson’s office and folded my arms, my heart pounding with anger and fear. “What did you do to Jacey?”

Mr. Masterson snorted. “Nothing. Not for lack of trying. Your sister is a poor negotiator.”

“Stepsister.” I corrected him automatically. “And what was it you were trying to do to Jacey?”

“What do you think?” Mr. Masterson asked.

“I think you tried to fuck her,” I growled.

Mr. Masterson chuckled. “I did. I did indeed try to fuck her.”

It was official. I was going to kill this man.

“Don’t get your panties in a wad just yet,” Mr. Masterson said, holding up a hand. “She refused my offer, and I’m not into rape. So I have to make good on my promise instead.”

“What promise?” I asked, infinitely relieved that Jacey hadn’t been harmed.

The doors opened, admitting two of the most muscular men I’d ever seen in my life. One cracked his knuckles while the door shut and locked behind them.

Ah. So that’s why she was sorry. I smiled then laughed. My Jacey made exactly the decision I would have made. Good girl.

“I don’t know why you’re laughing. You’re about to get the worst beating you’ve ever had in your life,” Mr. Masterson said.

“Best decision my girl ever made,” I cackled. I wasn’t sure exactly why I kept laughing. Maybe stress. But it was weirding out the three men in the room, and that was a good enough reason for me.

“Butch.” Mr. Masterson indicated the larger of the two men. “You may begin. Toby, hold him.”

I didn’t resist. Not one second. Butch did indeed give me the beating of my life in places that couldn’t be seen under clothing. I was sure I was going to piss blood when this was over, but it was worth it. So worth it.

After they were finished, Toby dropped me to the floor, and I threw up. Blood mixed with salami. Yum.

Mr. Masterson gave the floor a disgusted glance. “Clean that up before you leave,” he said to me. “Supplies are in that closet.”

It took everything in me to get to my feet, and I couldn’t suppress a groan when I took my first step, but I made myself walk to the closet. I didn’t want to be in this room any longer than necessary.

After scrubbing the floor clean, Mr. Masterson nodded. “Go back to your desk. I sent some spreadsheets to you for your review. I expect you to be finished by the end of the day.”

“Yes, Mr. Masterson,” I wheezed. I still walked out with my head held high when Mr. Masterson’s goons held the doors open for me.

Jacey stood as though she were about to fly to my side, but I shook my head at her and gave her a thumbs up.

She still looked worried, but she sat back down.

I sank down into my office chair and started to get to work.

***

It was night by the time I finished all the work Mr. Masterson had given me. I looked around for Jacey and saw she was still at the reception desk, watching me.

I picked up my suit jacket and went to the reception desk. “Hey, baby,” I said. “Ready to go home?”

Jacey nodded and took my hand. She tried to cuddle into my side, but I hissed in pain.

She jumped back. “Caleb, what did they do to you?”

“Nothing some ice and a good night’s sleep can’t fix,” I replied, taking her hand again. “I’m proud of you.”

Jacey stared at the floor, sniffling. “All he wanted was to cum on my boobs. I should have let him.”

“Um, no, you shouldn’t have,” I said firmly. “The only cum getting on those tits is going to be mine.”

Looking back up at me, Jacey asked, “So you think it was worth it?”

“So worth it,” I responded. I kissed her. “Let’s go home so we can play sexy nurse and patient.”

Jacey gave a wet laugh. “You’re incorrigible.”

“I am. I know it.” We got into the elevator.

The doors were closing when a beefy hand reached out and stopped them.

I tensed and put Jacey behind me.

Toby and Butch were standing there, stone-faced.

“What do you want?” I asked angrily.

“Boss says we’re to give the girl a beat-down,” Butch said. “Doesn’t think you learned your lesson.”

I backed to the wall with Jacey behind me. “Not going to happen. Not while I’m alive.”

“The boss wasn’t particular on that point, either,” Butch shrugged.

“Oh my God,” Jacey gasped.

“Listen, you two meatheads, I’m leaving the office now. With Jacey. Mr. Masterson is just going to have to accept that,” I growled.

In response, Butch muscled his way into the elevator. I threw a good punch or two, and he’d be feeling those in the morning, but ultimately Butch overpowered me and held me so Tony could zip-tie my wrists and ankles.

Butch then cocked his head at Jacey. “You gonna give me any trouble?”

“I’ll go with you,” Jacey said. “Just don’t hurt Caleb.”

“Fair deal.” Toby slung me over his shoulder while Butch escorted Jacey behind us back to Mr. Masterson’s office.

Mr. Masterson greeted us with a smile. “That was very good work you did today, Caleb. I’m quite pleased.”

“So you’re tying me up because I did good work?” I spat.

“No. I’m tying you up because I want you to understand something.” Mr. Masterson took a gun out of his desk and pointed it right at Jacey. “You belong to me. If you breathe, that’s a breath I allowed you to have. Your lives are now mine.”

I swallowed any sarcastic response I might have had. “Please leave Jacey alone.”

“I will. On one condition,” Mr. Masterson said.

“Am I going to like the condition?” I asked warily.

“You’re not in a position to argue it. And no, you’re not going to like it. You’re going to loathe it. But it’s my price.” Mr. Masterson steepled his fingers under his chin. “As a beating didn’t seem to teach you anything.”

“I learned plenty. I promise. I did all that work you gave me without complaining, remember?” I argued.

Mr. Masterson shook his head. “No. I don’t think you did. So, my condition for allowing you to live today–”

“I won’t fuck you. You’ll have to kill me,” Jacey said firmly.

“Me, too,” I added.

“Yes, yes, we’ve been over that. I liked watching you at my house. I’ve decided I’d like to watch a live show,” Mr. Masterson grinned.

“Oh fuck no,” I said right away.

Jacey shook her head slowly. “I won’t.”

“Even under threat of death?” Mr. Masterson asked, raising his eyebrows. “You’d just come in here on your lunches and–”

“What, you’d even want us to do it every day? Pass,” I cut in.

“So you would do it once?” Mr. Masterson smirked at us.

I had a dark feeling that once was going to turn into twice, and then before we knew it, we’d be putting on a show for this bastard three times a day, every day.

Mr. Masterson turned the gun on me. “Would you do it once?”

Jacey paled. “Don’t hurt him.”

“I could beat him down every day, Jacey. Is one little public fuck worth that?” Mr. Masterson asked.

“I’ll do it. I’ll do it, just leave Caleb alone,” Jacey begged.

“Jacey…” I murmured a warning.

Jacey turned to me. “Please, Caleb? Just once.”

My nostrils flared as anger took over my whole body. But Jacey was asking now, and I’d never been able to deny her anything.

“Fine,” I conceded. “But not today. You beat me so bad I’m not sure I physically can.”

Mr. Masterson regarded us a while, then nodded. He put the gun away. “I’ll give Caleb time to heal.”

“What, no conditions?” I grunted.

“No. I think I’ve pushed you as far as you’ll go. Today,” Mr. Masterson added with a smirk.

I could see where this road was leading. Ultimately, that man intended to fuck my Jacey.

Toby put me down and cut the zip ties. I took Jacey’s hand and nearly ran from the office, dragging her behind me.

“Caleb. Caleb!” Jacey said, breathless as we boarded the elevator.

My heart stopped pounding in my ears when, blessedly, the elevator doors closed behind us. “What is it?” I asked.

“What are we going to do?” Jacey clung to my arm. “We can’t just let him watch us.”

“He wants to do more than watch, and eventually he’s going to wear us down, in little baby steps,” I told her. “I’m not going to let that happen.”

“So… again I ask, what are we going to do?” Jacey inquired.

“I’ll show you.” We walked out of the building and to my car.

We got in, then I drove us to a supermarket and picked up two burner phones. When we got back into the car, I handed one to Jacey.

Then I took the stiff business card out of my pocket and dialed.

“Church,” came the clipped answer.

“This is Caleb Killeen. We’re in,” I said without preamble.

“Meet me at Jake’s Diner. We’ll talk there,” Darren replied, also not wasting words.

“We’ll be there.” I hung up the phone.

Jacey looked from her burner phone, to me, and back again. “What exactly are we doing?”

“Helping the FBI,” I replied.

“Oh. Oh dear,” Jacey mumbled.

“It’s our one chance,” I said. “The only way through this is to take that bastard down.”

Jacey leaned her head against my shoulder. “But we hate the authorities.”

“We do,” I agreed.

“And this is going to be very, very dangerous,” Jacey pointed out.

“It’s going to be worth it. I’m going to do this or die trying. I’m not going to let Masterson hurt you,” I stated.

Jacey looked up at me with wide green eyes. “I don’t want him to hurt you, either.”

“Then let’s do this,” I said.

“Okay,” Jacey replied.

I put the car in gear, and we headed to Jake’s Diner.

***

Inside, the diner was nearly deserted. I wondered if that was by design.

Darren was sitting in a corner booth, nursing a cup of coffee. “Caleb. Jacey. Go ahead and sit down.”

We sat down across from him. I winced at the movement.

“So you’ve changed your minds,” Darren observed.

“First of all, Jacey and I need some sort of escape plan. If we need to pull out fast, you’ll be able to get us out fast.” I ticked my points off on my fingers. “Second of all, if something happens to me, you’re going to take care of Jacey. Get her out. Put her in witness protection. Third, we’re going into witness protection after this. No more of this going from agency to agency to see what kind of mileage you can get out of us. After this, we’re done. You understand?”

“Perfectly,” Darren said. “I’ll bring your demands to my superiors.”

A waitress approached, and Jacey jumped.

“Oh dear, honey. Rough day?” the waitress asked.

“Very,” I replied for her. “Could we get two slices of that apple pie with some ice cream? Thanks.”

“Anything to drink?” the waitress asked.

“Just water, thanks,” I answered.

As the waitress walked away, Jacey took several deep breaths and buried her face in my shoulder.

“I want an agreement in writing before Jacey or I do anything,” I informed Darren. “In writing. Signed documents.”

“I’ll have to run it up the flagpole, but your requests are not unreasonable,” Darren said.

Jacey popped her head up. “The same goes for Caleb.”

“What goes for Caleb?” Darren asked.

“If something happens to me, you take care of Caleb,” Jacey insisted.

I wanted to tell her nothing would happen to her. But we didn’t tell each other lies, and there was no sugar coating here.

“What made you decide to help us?” Darren looked back and forth between Jacey and me.

“It’s very simple,” I replied. “We have nothing to lose.”