Chapter 119

When Dante looked over one shoulder and yelled, “Mosely, get in here!” Sam knew he was done for.

* * * *

Dante dragged Sam towards the bed. Sam resisted. He lashed out with his feet, but Dante let him struggle for a moment before grabbing him by the throat and pressing hard on his windpipe. Sam’s vision wavered and he tried to claw at his hand, but the cuffs made it impossible. Dante yanked his arms up and hooked the cuffs onto a chain that hung from the ceiling expressly for that purpose. Sam thought of all the times that he had used them for pleasure, but there was no pleasure here now. Nothing. This was not the kind of fear that arouses; it was the kind of fear that deadens.

“You disappoint me,” Dante said as he paced up and down in front of Sam’s strung out body, breathing heavily. “I thought you understood.”