DARK BLISS (Dangerous Games,) Read Free

other’s shirt and pulled him onto his back. The stranger planted a boot on his chest and gripped the knife handle. I turned my head. I didn’t want to see this. There was a wet, sucking sound and another scream, followed by an oath.
    “ Whah hathen?” I cried, head still turned, fearful that somehow the big man had managed to injure him. “Ah yoo ah rie?”
    “Yeah but I’m bloody as hell. Gushed up on me. Happens sometimes. One more thing to do, then I’ll get you free.”
    I turned. His face and chest were drenched in blood. Despite my gag, I almost threw up, barely managing to keep the vomit down.
    He walked out of sight. Then a gunshot roared only feet away, hammering my eardrums. I shrieked, startled and also baffled. What was he shooting at? He reappeared in my field of vision and pointed the gun at the head of the big man. I quickly turned my face away again. Another gunshot, though this time I managed not to shriek.
    A moment later, I saw the stranger’s boot kick the glowing brand away. He knelt and began to saw at the ropes around my wrists. He trickled dead man’s blood on my arms, making me flinch.
    “ Why shoo um?” I asked.
    “To make sure they’re dead. People only die right away in the movies.”
    He had killed the two men for the same reason you’d put down a suffering animal, to end their misery. It was a cold mercy, but mercy just the same.
    “Kindneth?” I said. Even through the gag, my voice must have registered my astonishment. Though he’d saved me, kindness wasn’t something I found in his face or voice. Whatever else he was, this man was no saint.
    He gave a bitter bark of a laugh. “Not kindness, I’m afraid. Friends of these two may come looking for them. Unlikely, but one or the other might still be alive. Might even be walking around in a year, looking for me. I’ve seen men hurt that bad survive. This way, I won’t have to worry about ‘em talking or walking.” He turned to look at me. “Neither will you.”
    He severed the last rope around my wrists and helped me sit up, then unbuckled the leather strap. I spat it out, then spat again, trying to rid my mouth of its vile taste.
    He moved to my feet and began cutting the rope around my ankles.
    I massaged my sore wrists; they were red and carried the angry impression of the ropes. “They were going to brand me!” I cried with mixed anger and lingering terror.
    He nodded grimly. “Couple of psychos. Got their kicks this way.”
    “ The one called Carlos said it was orders.”
    He stopped cutting and looked at me. “Orders? Whose orders?”
    “He didn’t say. Do people like this really brand women?”
    He shook his head. “They don’t. They treat women like cattle all right but they don’t bran d them.”
    “But you told them I was worth more without the brand.”
    “I was as surprised as you. Said the first thing that came to mind. Just trying to stall them until I was close enough to use the knife.”
    I felt the tension around my ankles vanish as the last bond was cut. He stood. “How long were you tied up?”
    “I do n’t know. Forever, it felt like! Maybe a couple of hours in the car, another hour out here.”
    “Well, massage your ankles before you try to stand. Chances are they’re a little numb. Don’t get up until you feel them tingle. I’d do it but I’d just get more blood on you. I’m going to see if they’ve got a rag or something I can use to clean up.”
    He walked to the SUV and poked inside until he found a shirt, which he used to wipe off the blood. I kneaded my ankles and watched him, the first chance I had to study the man without being terrified or tethered. The way he’d talked about not standing made me wonder if he was speaking from experience. As a captive or captor?
    I looked around. What a Godforsaken place! Incredible that he’d been out here just at this moment. Then my eye was caught by the lawn chairs and barbecue grill. The bastards! A couple of sick sadists.
    The