Part 37 (2/2)

”You're too proud, aren't cha?” Chaz ran the knife up Ash's leg. ”But you weren't earlier after eating the porridge. Didja realise I drugged it so I could clean you? I gave you a sponge bath.”

”You-” The blade pressed into Ash's leg, taking his voice away and drawing blood.

”Again. Be grateful that I didn't f.u.c.k ya, cos I wanted to.” Chaz reached for Ash's hair, causing him to flinch. ”Looks like master needs to train his bad li'l pet.”

”I'm-”

”Watch what you say, pet, cos this knife is so close to making you a b.i.t.c.h.”

”I'm already your b.i.t.c.h.”

Chaz smiled. ”Nice answer.” He stepped back and waved the knife. ”You better hop along b.a.l.l.s of steel before I forget my conscience and take you right here and now, cos my c.o.c.k is ready to explode.”

Ash quickly hopped into the bathroom and slammed the door shut with a shoulder, then leaned against it, scared that Chaz was going to come in. When he didn't, Ash relieved himself then washed his hands, giving the mirror taps with his sore forehead as he cleaned, distracting himself with the pain, because he knew Chaz hadn't given him a sponge bath-he smelt the same and the porridge mark was still on his s.h.i.+rt, which meant that Chaz had drugged him for another reason, something Ash didn't want to know about.

Once clean, he cautiously opened the bathroom door, worried that Chaz was waiting for him. To his relief the lounge was clear, so he quickly headed for the kitchen, hoping to find something, anything that could cut the rope.

Like the lounge, the kitchen was in a state of disrepair, the bare floorboards and unpainted window ledges giving the place a worn out feel. His gaze latched onto drawers underneath the bench. He hopped over and pulled open the top one, only finding plastic cutlery like the spoon he'd eaten with.

”Looking for a knife to stab me with?”

Ash jumped at Chaz's voice. He turned around, finding Chaz only a few steps away.

”Well?” Chaz asked.

”I only wanted to cut the ropes off,” along with your c.o.c.k.

”Just cos you're not too bright doesn't mean I believe your lies.”

”Stop insulting me!”

Chaz took a step back. ”Don't even think about it, Ash. You won't win.”

Ash glared at him. ”What's the point in keeping me here?” He nodded at the fridge. ”You're wasting food on me, and you can't exactly go to the supermarket with your ugly-a.r.s.e face-”

”I'm not ugly.”

”You are to me, you sick pervert.”

”You really are dumb insulting me,” Chaz said, putting his hand on his pocket, the one holding the knife.

”It makes no diff; you'll still rape me, you paedo s.h.i.+t!”

Chaz's eyes narrowed. ”You should be grateful I'm not a paedo, otherwise I would've taken your sweet li'l boy. He's a gorgeous wee thing.”

Rage shot through Ash at the memory of Chaz being at Tiana's place. It hadn't clicked before, his situation and the drugs dominating his mind, but now the thought that Chaz had touched his son spurred him forward. He tripped as he tried to ram himself into Chaz, knocking both of them to the floor, his stepfather grunting in pain underneath him. Ash head-b.u.t.ted him, hurting his injury even more, but he was beyond caring.

Hollering from the blow, Chaz pushed out, knocking Ash into the stove. Ash rolled over and tried to get up, but got shoved onto his stomach as Chaz climbed on top of him. Ash went to b.u.t.t Chaz with the back of his head, but got his hair grabbed and a large hand clamped over his mouth and nose. He struggled to get free, but Chaz held on tight, the seconds without oxygen making Ash's mind go hazy.

Chaz leaned close to his ear, snarling, ”h.e.l.lo, Dante.”

Ash blanked out, his last thought of what Chaz had said about Dante running through his mind: 'I'd f.u.c.k him in a second and would make it hurt like b.u.g.g.e.ry.'

33.

Dante Dante sat in a chair opposite a policeman with Tiana and Juliet on his right. He'd seen this guy a few times, the chin scar hard to miss, but from memory he'd always been drunk when the cop had pulled him in.

The cop turned his gaze on Dante. ”Don't worry, sir, we'll find your brother.”

But in what state?

”New Zealand's a small country; someone's bound to see your stepfather.” The cop smiled, which Dante a.s.sumed was supposed to be rea.s.suring, but it didn't feel it, because although the country wasn't big, there were still plenty of places you could disappear to. His own father proved that when he vanished for weeks on end, leaving Dante alone as a teenager. It was probably why his dad eventually moved to rural Taranaki, isolating himself from everyone. But Dante didn't blame him, because he wished he could do the same.

The cop continued, ”Actually, we've had a couple of leads, one in Orewa and another in Wellsford. Do you know if your stepfather has any relatives or friends from those areas?”

Dante shook his head. ”Only in Whangarei, and from memory it was a cousin.”

”We're already checking there. What about in Maungaturoto? There was a man with teardrop tattoos seen there.”

”No.”

”Your younger brother said he's rung all of your relatives to warn them, but from what you've told me about Dargaville I would suggest you contact the ones up there again, because all of those sightings are along the way.”

”He has no reason to go near my other family members, especially since they'll be gunning for him.”

”Under no condition should they approach your stepfather-”

”Telling that to my uncle and grandfather would be like telling a mongoose not to attack a snake. They won't listen and I wouldn't either if I were them.”

The cop cleared his throat, then looked down at his notepad as Tiana started sniffling again, the sound irritating Dante even more.

Juliet put an arm around Tiana's shoulders and pulled her in close. ”They'll find him, Tiana.”

”Repeating the same words over and over again won't make them happen,” Dante said, gruffly.

Juliet gave him a glare. ”And being nasty won't help either.”

Dante shook his head at her. ”Why're you two even here? You've answered no questions; only sit there sniffling and gettin' on my nerves.”

”Stop being horrible, we want to know what's happening too, and we have just as much a right to be here as you do.”

Dante's gaze moved to Tiana. ”She doesn't. She set him up.”

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