Brutal Boxer by Naomi Porter

1

Aspen

How many people woke up handcuffed to the bed as I did? With their wrist on fire, cold metal rubbing a raw trench in their skin? Arm numb after staying in the same position all night because they were too terrified to move and risk waking the sleeping sadist?

I couldn’t imagine anyone ever dreaming such evil and maliciousness existed. I certainly never did. Until then.

Stay still. Don’t breathe, or you might get a tickle in your nose and sneeze.

I’d say my dreams were typical for most of my life. Fall in love, get married, buy a home, have a baby. In that exact order. A little cliché. Basic bitch style. The sort of life a simple girl like me expected. My middle-class friends wanted the same. We’d drone on at every sleepover party dreaming up this perfect life.

I hoped they woke up this morning happy, safe, and free.

Not once had I thought my lot in life would be as a possession. But here I was anchored to my bed like a dog to a tree.

I stared at the wall of windows dressed in sheer white coverings, wishing the sun would shine to fill my day with something pleasant. A bit of beauty and hope in my dreadful, depraved life.

Alas, just another overcast, gloomy Seattle morning. The sun hid behind the clouds, as if laughing at my degraded circumstances. You-get-what-you-deserve for trifling with evil.

As if I had known evil dwelled in him. I would’ve given anything to go back to the day we met and tell myself who he really was. Then, perhaps, I wouldn’t be a prisoner in the Devil’s playground.

Like every other morning, he shifted and snuffled. My breathing hitched at once. My heart arrhythmiastarted on cue, trepidation setting in.

He’d wake soon.

There was no foretelling his mood or expectations… ever. The most unpredictable person. A perverse man who intentionally messed with the minds of naïve souls.

To drive them crazy.

Break them.

He got off on striking fear into everyone, then coercing them into submission.

Of course, his beauty and charm blinded most—including me—to the evil dwelling beneath his dazzling smile and Prada suit.

I hated him for seducing me until he had me right where he wanted… Shackled to the iron headboard.

Aching to change positions, I held in a moan. If I attempted to shift my body, he would wake prematurely and likely place demands on me as punishment for his disturbed sleep.

I held still as a stone statue with my arm strained, the cold metal biting into my small wrist like a wolf gnawing on a bone. I’d endure the attack, never screaming in pain or asking for help. I wasn’t weak. Nor would I give him the pleasure of thinking I needed anything from him.

I was forced to remain on my left side, my right arm free. If I needed the trashcan on the nightstand for my morning ritual, I could easily reach for it. Because you know, throwing up on myself would be disgusting and uncouth.

I bit the inside of my cheek, hoping and praying Casso didn’t touch me. His patience had lessened over the last month. Only a matter of time before he ordered me to spread my legs so he could fuck me.

Maybe he wouldn’t if he had someone else servicing him.

If only…

Since Casso moved me into his home two years ago, I’d bet my life he’d been faithful. Miracle of all miracles, considering he didn’t have a loyal bone in his body. For whatever reason, he’d claimed undying love for me. Stupidly, I’d seen it as a gift instead of the curse it was.

Sickening, given my current state of imprisonment.

Casso had hoards of women at his beck and call before we got together. That little detail should’ve had me running in the opposite direction.

Stupid, stupid girl.

Instead, like the unsuspecting woman I’d been, I saw Casso’s harem as a challenge to win his affections. After years of feeling unwanted, my foolish determination to find self-worth in a man had deceived me. I’d only paid attention to his wealth, prestige, and the glamorous life that might be mine if I’d won him over.

What had my distorted desires gotten me?

Pain and suffering… and holy terror.

I needed to get away from the Devil’s playground.

His once smoldering gaze had grown menacing when he looked at me. Vexation bled through every forced kiss.

Submitting, like a good girl, I returned them out of self-preservation. Pretending to love him for the baby he’d put in me.

Not from rape, though I was confident he’d take what he wanted if he so desired.

Lies and deceit were the reasons for my condition.

Casso had wanted a child, an heir, to take over his empire. I’d refused, desperate to flee the hell I’d found myself in. Little had I known the lengths Casso Campbell, the Pacific Northwest drug kingpin, would go to get what he wanted: me pregnant with his child.

Me at his mercy. His property.

Imagine my shock and outrage when I’d learned I was expecting. Shamefully, I’d wanted an abortion. No part of me had wanted anything to do with being tied to Casso for life.

We’d argued over the baby. Casso screamed and yelled hateful words. My mouth had run away with me, admitting I wanted out. I’d even ran to our bedroom to pack.

Stupid, stupid girl.

An hour later, my bags were by the door, so I could flee this elegant asylum. Casso entered, a coldness in his eyes pinning me in place. I’d never truly feared for my life until at that moment.

He strode toward me and said, “Clearly, you’re not in your right mind, precious.” In his next breath, I was handcuffed, dragged while screaming, and secured to the bed. “I won’t let you hurt our child or yourself. You both belong to me.”

The past couple of months, I’d been shackled to the bed or a chair.

When Casso left on business, his most trusted bodyguard stayed with me. Last month, Tony had kept me company for Thanksgiving in my room. I’d been kind and engaging, so he’d returned the same. But the way he admired me had revealed deeper feelings.

Tony wanted me.

To win my affections, he’d told me Casso had paid my Gynecologist to administer a placebo instead of the Depo shot.

I loathed Casso Campbell.

Cursed myself for not leaving when my bestie Jill had visited back in June. Not that I believed Casso would’ve allowed me to walk out of his life. Nobody left Casso.

He’d been on his best behavior while Jill stayed with us. The perfect, charming host. She had no clue he was a despicable human. Masterful at the game he played, giving Jill no reason to alert the authorities of my captivity.

Yes, captivity.

I was a prisoner.

Trapped in the penthouse suite of Cass’s gold tower in Seattle well before I was pregnant. Every room was laced with hidden cameras. I could do nothing in private, not even take a shit, without him knowing about it. When Jill was here, I had to mind my words and actions so Casso wouldn’t hurt her as he threatened to do before her arrival.

Not long after Jill left, Cass charmed his way back into my good graces. It worked for a time as he wined and dined me. Bought expensive gifts, danced beneath the moonlight with me. Made love to me.

Tony had said Casso’s actions had all been part of his grand plan to impregnate me.

I hated him with every fiber in my being.

“I know you’re awake.” The deep rumble of his voice speared down my spine like a bolt of ice.

Quiet, just stay still.

If I had any hope of getting away, I had to make him believe I wanted to stay. That meant dying to myself to save my baby and me from his nefarious grasp. No child should have Casso Campbell, the man with a black heart, for a father.

“I need you, Aspen.” His hand glided over my naked hip. “I’m tired of jerking off in the shower.” He peppered my bare shoulder with light kisses. An image of maggots appeared in my head, making me nauseous and my skin crawl.

I didn’t want him, but I didn’t have a choice if there was a smidge of possibility I could break out of this cell.

“Not every pregnancy is easy.” A weak excuse, considering I actually felt fine, but he didn’t know that. Casso had been, for the most part, gentle with me since I got the positive test. His genuine delight made me sick. Still, I milked it as long as I could so he wouldn’t try to get between my legs.

His hand snaked over my waist, splaying his fingers over my stomach. “I’m sorry for that, precious.” His lips dragged along the bend of my neck as he ground his morning erection against my ass. “I read that morning sickness goes away in the second trimester.”

I fought a shudder of disgust. “I’m only ten and a half weeks, and not most women.”

Aside from his evil, violent ways, there wasn’t a revolting thing about him by any stretch of the imagination. Tall and lean with muscles everywhere. A godlike face that made women stare in awe of his beauty. His dirty blond hair and tan skin glittered like gold. If you looked closely enough, you’d see the lack of emotion and empathy in his black eyes. They were a window into his wicked soul.

I’d ignored my gut instinct when I first met him.

I should be committed. Locked away.

Don’t be stupid, Aspen. You are locked away.

“Oh, I know, precious. You’re an exquisite rare jewel. Why else would I want you as much as I do?” He ground into my ass more. “But I need a release,” he told me through gritted, unyielding teeth.

I wasn’t sure how much longer I could put him off. Forcing myself to throw up the second he laid a finger on me couldn’t be good for the baby or me. Vomiting at the drop of a hat had been the only way to protect us from this monster.

He grabbed my free hand and put it on his cock. Precum dripped from the tip as he guided me to grip it. “If you won’t let me fuck you, then get me off.”

“Okay,” I whispered, doing as commanded, swallowing down my pride and nausea.

His hand cupped my breast, pinching and twisting my sensitive nipple. My muscles locked from the pain, but I’d never give him the pleasure of knowing my discomfort.

I raced for the finish line, endearing his mouth on my neck, moans in my ear.

I imagined my child playing in a patch of wildflowers. Laughing and screaming in delight. Me chasing him beneath a radiant blue sky.

We were happy.

Free of Casso Campbell.

Hot ropes of his seed spurted on my bare ass and back as he sank his teeth into the tendon along my neck. I cried out unbidden, my skin breaking under the assault, tears streaking down my cheeks.

Fucking animal.

“That was a lousy handjob. Shame on you for making me mar your perfect skin.” He uncuffed me from the bed, clasped his fingers around my good wrist, and led me to the bathroom.

Jerking me into the massive walk-in shower, he turned the water on and admired my naked body.

Casso insisted on washing me, demanding I do the same to him. When he left for days at a time, I wasn’t allowed to get clean until he returned.

No freedom.

A captive.

His property.

“You don’t have to be silent, you know. I miss your sweet voice.” He dropped to his knees and lifted my leg, draping it over his shoulder. “Even more, I miss your sweet cunt.” He licked me slowly at first, then turned into a starving wolf ravaging me.

I grabbed onto his head to help steady me, but of course, he took it as me enjoying his forced oral sex. Thank God we were in the shower, so he couldn’t tell I was crying as water rained down over us. I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of knowing he broke a piece of me.

It took longer for him to make me come, but I managed to by the grace of all good things in the world. I moaned, digging my nails into his scalp.

How could my body betray me? How could I come on his tongue?

I hated myself for being weak, even though I knew it was a physical reaction to stimuli I couldn’t control.

“Fuck, Aspen. You took forever, precious.”

“Must be the pregnancy hormones.”

He lowered my leg. “Hmm.”

Casso seemed to accept my answer, but knowing him as I did, he’d do his own research.

After our shower, he stared at me as he tied his striped red and black silk tie. “I want you back, Aspen. Completely. I want us the way we were before your friend came.”

“Cass, we haven’t been good for over a year.” I was on the edge of the bed, brushing my long blonde hair. My damaged wrist ached as I gingerly rested it against my stomach. “If you loved me, you wouldn’t hold me hostage.” I bit my tongue to keep my stupid mouth shut.

“If?” he yelled.

Why didn’t I stay silent?

“If I loved you?” His face turned red, eyes strangling me with the intensity firing out of them.

I flinched, cowering away as he grabbed my arm and tugged me to my feet. He wrapped his other hand around my throat. Applying enough pressure, I gagged, fighting hot tears.

“You’re mine, Aspen. My baby is inside of you. Stop fighting your fate.” His grip tightened, nails digging into my delicate flesh.

My vision blurred, the lack of oxygen ratcheting up my heart rate.

Please, Tony. Help me.

Tony watched me from the security room faithfully. I needed him. Would he not help me? Casso might end me once and for all, though I didn’t think he would with his baby inside me.

“I’m… sorry,” I whimpered weakly, hating myself for showing fear. For giving Casso what he wanted most: my submission.

I’d do anything to survive.

Holding me in place, he dragged his nose over my cheek. “I just want you to love me, precious. Let me back into your heart, back into your body. It doesn’t have to be like this.” He squeezed his hand tighter.

Darkness closed in.

This was it.

He’d finally had enough of me.

“We can have a beautiful life together.”

I’d rather die.

My legs gave out, head dropping back. His arm caught me around my waist, holding me up, then he relaxed his hand around my throat.

I gasped, gulping oxygen into my lungs. My body quaked violently, tears streaming down my face as I coughed. The bastard took choking me too far this time.

“My precious girl, don’t cross me. I sense your dismay. Don’t try anything. It won’t end well for you.” His lips descended on mine.

I didn’t fight it. If I refused him, I’d never get away.

Casso plunged his tongue into my mouth despite my attempts to catch my breath, seeking to dominate. His hand cupped the back of my head, fisting my hair to tilt it to his liking as he smothered me.

And I took it—every goddamn thing he unleashed on me.

“You’re mine, Aspen. Say it,” he hissed through his fierce kisses, tugging on my hair.

When I didn’t answer, I was pushed onto the bed. Leggings ripped off. I gasped as his face went between my legs, without permission.

Tears streaked down my temples, biting the inside of my cheek until I tasted blood.

Where was Tony? Why wasn’t he interrupting us? Surely he saw what Casso did to me. Tony saw and heard everything.

A loud pounding on the door made my attacker flinch as he sucked on my clit. “What?” he yelled and crawled up my body. He brushed his lips over mine. I nearly spewed vomit, hating the smell of myself on his face.

He unzipped his pants.

My heart seized.

God, no.

“Cass, traffic is bad. If you’re going to make it out of the city on time, you should get a move on.”

Casso held my gaze as he wiped the tears off the corner of my eye. “Give me a minute.”

“Yes, sir. I’ll tell Rico you’re coming.” Tony’s heavy steps faded.

“When I return, I expect you to welcome me back into your cunt. Understand? I won’t accept your excuses anymore. I’ll be back early on New Year’s Eve. I’ll have the cook prepare a nice dinner, complete with candlelight. We’ll dance until the strike of midnight. Then I will have you fully, Aspen. With or without your approval.”

I nodded and swallowed. “Yes, Cass.”

He kissed me once more before handcuffing me to the bed.

“Rest up, precious.” He pecked my lips and dragged his thumb down my neck, studying the marks he made. “See you in three days, my love.”