CHAPTER THIRTEEN – AUDITION

"Do you trust me?"…The words raced straight from her brain to her heart.

"Do you trust me?"…These were words once used lovingly in a warm bed that now seemed an eternity away.

"Do you trust me?"…These were the words Ranger used before taking her to sensual places that she never knew existed.

Then she caught his scent…Bulgari…Green.

Had she begun to hallucinate in her panic and desperation? Was God going to allow her to at least die with a comforting fantasy on her mind? But then he whispered again in her ear, and she knew this was not a fantasy. It was real. Her beloved had found her and was here to rescue her.

"Babe, can you hear me? Just nod if you do. Don't talk. I know there are cameras in here but I can't be sure of microphones."

Her body experienced an avalanche of physical reactions. She began to shake. She gasped. She sobbed uncontrollably. Then she remembered to nod. My God! Ranger is here! What the hell kind of rescue is this? Where are the troops? Why are you alone? How can this help? Trust him. Trust him.

He walked around to her front and spoke softly, all the while his hands continued to explore her body. "This is going to be hard. I promise you that you won't be hurt. But this is the only way to get us both out of here alive. Do you understand?"

Stephanie nodded inconspicuously. He continued his instructions. "In a minute I am going to grab you. I want you to fight me with everything you've got. Don't worry about hurting me. I will slap you…hard. Keep fighting until I say the words 'be still'. Then I want you to just go limp and be very still. I'm just praying you are as good an actress as you are a liar."

She stiffened at the "liar" remark, but kept her head in the game. What did he mean by "both of us" getting out alive? I can do this. I have to do this.

Suddenly, Ranger forced his hand between her legs and penetrated her with his finger. The movement was violent and feral. It wasn't hard for Steph to react with displeasure and anger. She began twisting, swearing and attempting to use her knees to defend herself. He swore, stood quickly and with his open hand slapped her across her face. She fought back. He slapped her hard on her ass. This was repeated two more times before she heard the command "be still."

Steph went limp in her chains. Her ass was on fire. Ranger fiercely grabbed her face and forced a hard kiss on her trembling lips. "Good girl. It's almost over. You'll be safe in a little while. Trust me." With that promise, he exited the room, shutting the door behind him.

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Gwyn was waiting outside the door with a manufactured look of curiosity painted on her face. "Is everything satisfactory? I hope the merchandise was what you had in mind."

It took all of Ranger's training to keep a stoic face. Merchandise! You cold-blooded bitch! That is a precious human in there…MY precious human. I'll be happy to jack-off watching you get yours. "More than satisfactory. Let us go and discuss business." Like a salesman and a car buyer, they headed off to Gwyn's office to seal the deal.

"I want her dressed in her own clothing. The rest of her belongings are to be packed and accompany her. Administer this drug," he handed her a pre-loaded hypodermic, "and have her placed in the rear of my car in a seated position. Does she have a vehicle here?"

"Her car is on a lot we own in the village." Gwyn relaxed knowing the deal had been made, but she still hadn't seen the money. How much was the pain-in-the-ass woman worth to this uber-pervert?

"Give me the keys. I will have one of my people dispose of the car. In the spring it will be found submerged in the river. The body supposedly washed away by the current during the winter." He handed her an overstuffed envelope. She hoped it contained sufficient cash for her to siphon her usual 10%. What the partners don't know can't hurt me.

"I will have some more of your excellent wine and wait here while you have my instructions followed." Kane dismissed Gwyn with a wave of his hand as he settled back in the leather chair and poured from the crystal decanter.

Gwyn was conflicted in her feelings for this man. She resented his dismissive and arrogant attitude. Yet she was drawn by his total alpha magnetism. She found herself with an uncontrollable urge to please this man…this Dom…in any way she could. She would work out these emotions later on Victoria and Rafiq. They hadn't done a proper scene with her in a while and were due for some retraining. She peeked in the envelope as she walked down the hall. It contained hundreds of one-hundred dollar bills. She would count it later and decide how much she could safely skim. For the present, all she wanted was for both Plum and especially Kane to be gone from the Hermitage and out of her life.

Half an hour later Gwyn was escorting Kane to his waiting vehicle. Miss Plum was seated and belted in the rear seat taking, what looked like to the world, a good nap. Her belongings had been placed in the trunk and the car's engine was purring, waiting for the owner's departure. Not soon enough was Gwyn's thought as she took Kane's hand. "Please, think of us if you have any further needs, Lord Kane," she said through her trademark false smile.

"Yes, yes, of course," Kane mumbled under his breath as he got behind the wheel. And with no further ceremony he drove away.

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Steph awoke with a start. She was in an unfamiliar bed in an unfamiliar bedroom. Light was pouring in the window. It had to be close to noon or better. When she peeled off the covers, she saw that she was wearing an oversized Rangeman tee shirt. Her heart wanted to leap out of her rib cage. It wasn't a dream! Carlos, Ranger, her Batman had rescued her from hell. But he wasn't in the room. She leapt out of bed and raced for the door. She had to find her knight in shining armor.

Ranger was seated at a desk in the adjoining room. He was not alone. He was in a heated discussion with about a half dozen men and Jeanne Ellen! What the hell?

Steph looked around. They were in what looked like a cabin in the woods. All she saw when she looked out the windows were trees. She recognized some of the men as core Rangeman employees…Tank, Lester, Bobby and Hal. There were men there whom she didn't recognize. One was in a dark suit and two others were in dark tees and jeans. Conversation stopped when Ranger spotted her at the bedroom door.

Jumping to his feet he walked hurriedly to her side. "Babe, you shouldn't be out of bed yet. You need to rest."

"I need answers. And I need to explain. And I need to apologize. And I need to thank…"

Ranger cut her off in mid-ramble. "Babe, all you need to know is that you are safe."

"But the others, God, Ranger they are going to be sold like slaves! We can't let that happen." She could feel her knees shaking in fear and pure anger. She may be safe but what about poor NeeNee and the others?

"That's what all these people are working on right now. Timing and coordination are vital in pulling off this operation. You can help the most by just going back to bed and getting some rest."

"I'm wide awake. I'm starving. And I'm staying. I need to know that the others will be OK," Steph was obviously recovering from her trauma and was her old stubborn self.

"I don't have time to argue. Jeanne Ellen will see that you get something to eat. You can sit over there on the couch. But keep quiet and don't interrupt." Ranger knew when not to challenge her obstinate side and opted for a quick compromise.

Jeanne Ellen smiled at Steph, and it was a genuine smile. She tenderly took Steph's hand and walked her towards the kitchen. "I don't cook, so it looks like it's PB&J and milk, if that's all right? I'll fill you in on what details I have. Your little adventure has half the East coast readying for battle."