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  LARK

  The Dark Duet: Book One

  ©Lark by Emma Cole 2019

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.

  The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, businesses, or locales is coincidental and is not intended by the author.

  GRAPHIC CONTENT WARNING

  Subject matter is not suitable for all readers. Mature (18+) ONLY.

  Includes explicit and disturbing content. Reader discretion is advised.

  Chapter One

  Purgatory

  Disbelief courses through my body as I sit in my favorite café. Mid motion of dipping my biscotti into my coffee cup, my hand hangs suspended as I glare at my long-term boyfriend, Rex. He looks pained yet resolute. As if he’s not the one that just told me, in public—obviously to minimize the meltdown— that he loves me, but he has issues he needs to work out. That it’s not fair to make me deal with them and if I’m still willing once he works them out, he’ll tell me about them and hopefully, we can get back together. Well, he said it in a lot more detail than that, but that’s pretty much what I got from it. The old 'it's not you, it's me' routine. I'd met him here tonight, tentatively expecting a proposal, and instead got dumped.

  I know that something has been both, and him lately and that it started when his childhood friend came to visit and then abruptly took off without a word or his belongings a couple months ago. Obviously, now I know more than just his absent friend has been on his mind. Unsure how I could have missed something as big as him wanting to end things, I stare at his handsome face. The shock begins to turn to anger, bringing on the urge to punch those perfect white teeth. Years, I've wasted on the d-bag.

  Objectively, I realize that even while wanting to deck him, he's still attractive to me. His blond hair is buzzed short on the sides, a little longer on the top. He's fresh-shaven, making his dark blue eyes more prominent than usual. I want to blacken them both. I’m frozen, speechless, trying to process everything he's just said.

  He leans in to kiss me after gathering his things up and telling me he’ll see me around. Right, like that’s going to happen. Leaning back, I refuse to acknowledge his hurt look; I’m sitting here with a mouthful of biscuit that I can’t swallow because the lump in my throat is threatening to choke me if I attempt it. I see Emmett, Rex’s investigative reporter partner and best friend, waiting on the sidewalk through the window. He looks anxious and a little sketchy. And hot. Unfortunately, the hotness is outdone by the sketchiness. Guy is weird.

  He’s got an angel's face that draws looks from men and women alike, crystalline blue eyes framed by lashes darker than the light blond hair on his head that’s currently shaved in textured lines on the back and sides with a shock of long sun-bleached locks in a wedge overhanging his face. He reminds me of an anime character or one of the main characters from a fantasy video game. Like I said, seriously fucking hot.

  Something is going on with them, but as my heart has just been ripped through my ribcage, in public no less, I’m not apt to try to figure it out right now. It’s all I can do to not scream obscenities at Rex. I can't believe he brought his partner with him for this, even if we were all friends. Well, as part of the break up rules, I’d imagine he’s no longer going to be a friend of mine.

  Trying to gather my composure, I watch them through the window as they meet up outside, exchanging words before they walk out of my line of sight. I get my phone out to text my best friend and roommate, Braeden. I instantly get a text back telling me what a douche my now ex-boyfriend is, and that he’ll be here in ten minutes. Profusely thanking my past self right now for not moving in with Rex and Emmett months ago when Rex had asked, I gather my things and walk outside, going around the building to the mouth of the alley, not wanting anyone to see me if I lose my composure before I get home with Braeden. They have a mammoth-sized modern cabin in the woods. I’d been tempted but liked living with Braeden. Rex always accused him of being secretly in love with me, even though he most definitely would have preferred Rex if he were to choose between the two of us. Not exactly sporting the preferred equipment. Even so, Rex never believed me, and that had caused a bit of a strain where my best friend was concerned.

  Braeden is six two, two hundred thirtyish pounds of muscle. He religiously works out as a personal trainer and self-defense instructor. We go running several times a week and work out just as often together. He's Italian/Greek with midnight hair, swarthy complexion, and refined features. If that isn't enough, the brightness of his sea-green eyes pops in all that gorgeousness, hinting at more than the primary ethnicities he claims. I can see why Rex would be worried, but he's my best friend and has been since he was an exchange student our senior year. My parents adopted him when his grandparents passed while he was here in the States. So technically, he's my adopted brother, but neither of us acknowledge that other than legally. We moved in together during college and have been inseparable since.

  I see Braeden getting out of his car down the block where he parked and send him a quick text telling him where I am. As soon as I send it I hear a muffled scuffle and grunts. Going a little further down the alley, I peer around a dumpster. Dark silhouettes appear in the low light filtering from a streetlamp at the opposite end. After a moment my eyes adjust, bringing into focus men fighting. I briefly debate running back to the cafe for help before Braeden comes around the corner, headed toward me. At my frantic motioning, he notices the scuffle going on. Shaking his head, he’s reaching for my arm, presumably to pull me away, when I hear the voice that just left me yelling at the other men.

  “Rex!” I know it’s him. Even after what happened a few minutes ago, I can't not try to help him. “Braeden, call the cops!” I take off for the struggling figures with Braeden right behind, whisper yelling at me to stop. A moment before I reach the group, I notice Emmett is unconscious on the ground, and his hands and feet are bound together. Looking further back to Rex, his expression turns to one of horror as he makes eye contact with me, and the hesitation is enough for one of the attackers to sink a needle into his neck. An abrupt “NO!” is all he gets out before he crumples to the ground. I turn to run when the men who are in masks and gloves turn toward me. Braeden catches up to me at the same time, trying to pull us both back to safety. I feel the prick of a needle in my neck from behind and a burn of the fluid as it's being injected. The world starts to go fuzzy as I see Braeden receive the same treatment; everything goes black.

  Chapter Two

  A Lie on Top of a Lie

  “She shouldn’t have been anywhere near us when it went down,” are the first words I hear whispered as I drift back to consciousness, but I can’t place the voice right off. I’m still too fuzzy-headed. I know something's wrong, really wrong. It’s just not coming back yet.

  “What the fuck are we going to do now? They took both of them. I can’t concentrate on this with them here. We were warned how bad it was going to be, but she didn’t sign up for this. Neither of them did.”

  “We have to tell them. If our cover is blown, we’ll all be killed, and so will anyone else they think is involved.” What the hell are they talking about? My head hurts, and my mouth feels like it’s been stuffed with cotton balls. I hear a pained moan, realizing there’s a third person near me. I try to force my eyes open to see where I am. Turning my head, I manage to get them to open up a little, and the light hurts my eyes. As they adjust, I realize there isn’t much illumination, but it’s enough to make the little dwarves that have taken up residence in my head increase their mining efforts on my brain.

  As my focus comes in, it registers that I
’m on a concrete floor, and it's cold. My head is resting on something cushy, and I’m covered with something that feels like fabric, I'm guessing a blanket. I take in concrete walls, no windows, and three men. Rex, Emmett, and Braeden. Braeden is the one moaning, lying not far from me. Rex and Emmett are sitting up against the walls across from me, still zip-tied. I realize then that I’m also bound. This instantly pisses me off, and as what I heard when I first woke up begins to register, my fury increases.

  “Are you telling me you know how I ended up here?” My voice is rusty and weak, yet I still manage to convey my scorn for the two men propped on the wall. “Someone better start explaining.” As I try to sit up, I realize my head is laying on bundled up fabric, and I'm covered in an old flannel shirt. I’m thankful, but it doesn’t do a thing for the anger coursing through my veins. As soon as I regain my equilibrium, I'm going to kick some serious ass.

  “Lark, baby...”

  “Don’t fucking ‘baby’ me, Rex. You said we were over.”

  “Lark, I’m sorry. This is why. I had to. I didn’t want to chance you being involved with this.” He looks nervously at the door like he’s waiting for someone to walk in. Based on our treatment so far, I don’t doubt that it’s not going to be a good thing.

  “Explain. Now.”

  “Yeah, someone tell me why in the big blue sky I am tied up in a cell.” Braeden's voice comes out, low and raspy. I start scooting over on my bottom in an awkward crab crawl across the floor to check on him.

  Rex sighs. “I'm going to be blunt here. We don’t have long before we’re monitored. Lark, Braeden, I’m so, so sorry you got caught up in this. Emmett and I are actually undercover agents. Being investigative reporters is our cover.” He winces at my surprised inhale. He knows he's fucked up and not just from the sharp glare I affix to replace the betrayal I know was written all over my face a moment ago. He continues his explanation. “We were supposed to be ‘kidnapped’ in three days as part of our new assignment. Only it’s way too early, and now you’ve both been pulled in too.” Rex pauses and closes his eyes. Very quietly, so I can hardly hear, he says the next part, “They’re a human trafficking ring that deals in the sex trade. The victims get kidnapped, trained, and then sold at auction every six months. I stumbled onto it after Donnie took off; it wasn't willingly. Emmett and I were supposed to get as much intel as we could and then the agency we work for would ‘buy’ us. Frankly, I still shouldn’t tell you all this, but since you’re here, too, I just don’t see a way to get you out without most likely getting you killed. Baby, I’m sorry, but if you want out alive, you’re going to have to play along.” I hear a sharp intake of air from Braeden. Yeah, buddy, I feel the same way. I don't think I can make it a day, let alone have to continue to be a kidnappee for six months until I can get sprung.

  “Rex, are you telling me that if I don't cooperate with being trained as a sex slave, I'll be killed? You’re fucking insane if you think I’m not going to fight that shit, and you know it. I’ll keep my mouth shut about what you’re here for, but I will remove the balls from any asshole that tries to touch me. I’m not keen on being murdered, but I’m also sure as fuck not sitting there and taking it like a goddamned whore.” I’m yelling now, and all three men are shushing me. Maybe I shouldn’t be so loud, but this shit is not happening. I want off the boat and I want off now.

  I return my attention to Braeden, noting that he looks okay for the most part, just a little bruised up. “You okay, Brade?”

  “Yeah, I think so. Really sore, might have some nasty bruises come morning.” Braeden pauses to take a breath. “So, you two were going undercover to infiltrate a sex and human trafficking ring and somehow managed to get the two of us kidnapped with you? Am I following, correctly?” His voice has turned dark and angry.

  “It wasn’t on purpose, dude. Rex, I told you to take care of this earlier. If you had, they wouldn’t be here.” Emmett is just so sensitive. What an ass. Wait, he was saying something earlier about this, that means…

  “You were just breaking up with me for this? Really, you couldn’t have just said, ‘Hey Lark, I’m gonna go fuck some people for my job, I’ll let you know when I’m back in town?' I would have been pissed, sure, but you didn’t need to make me think I did something wrong, you ass!” I know I’m not making much sense as I hear the words come out of my mouth and still want to smack him, instead I turn to Braeden.

  “Hey Brade? You think we should be proper kidnapped slaves, or try our luck at trading these two?” Holding up my hand, I silence the two in question as they begin to object. I love Rex, and I care about Emmett to a point. This doesn’t change that, but I’m pissed. They could have handled it differently.

  “Honey, I think we’d all be killed. I think for now, we resist where we can and make a good show out of it. Just don’t push anyone to hurt you. I don’t think I could stop myself from retaliating.” Braeden looks resigned.

  “Umm...sex slaves. Since this is your gig, do you know who I’m going to be forced to fuck?” My words as well as my gaze are venomous and directed at both Rex and Emmett. I'm still not believing this shit. I'm waiting on someone to jump out from a reality show.

  Rex rubs the back of his neck. “See, about that— we were entering as a pair already selected out for a lady that runs the Eastern Europe branch of this. We were— well, um—Lark, I'm pretty sure Emmett and I were designated as a pair intended to fuck each other, and I’d imagine a woman would have been tossed in for 'training' as needed.” Rex closes his eyes with the last part. He should be ashamed of himself. Taking the assignment in the first place and breaking up with me over it. I can see where I rate. Directly below his job and partner.

  Emmett pipes in. “Only way I see to salvage this is for our contact, who is also supposed to be our trainer along with his assistant, to add you two to the equation. And Lark, this isn't our usual type of gig. Most times we're more of a get in, get out, no hanky-panky nonsense. Rex thought he was doing you a solid by not cheating.” Emmett is direct and to the point. And not a bit repentant about it from the tone of his voice. Sketchy asshole. Thinking about the scenario, I flush from my chest to the roots of my hair and bury my face in my hands with a groan.

  “This is not happening. I’m never dating again.” I look up, and my gaze touches on each one of them. “I’m going to be fucking you all, and you’re all going to be fucking each other and possibly two others. You guys are nuts.” I'm incredulous that this is happening, and about two seconds from freaking the fuck out.

  “That about sums it up. I’m sorry, baby. I never meant for you to even have a chance at this touching you. I love you.” I stare at Rex. I still love him too, but I’m not about to say it right now. Instead, I flip him off and ignore him, choosing to speak to my bestie instead.

  “Brade, sweetie, I’m sorry, but you're going to have to figure out how to get it up for me. Better you than some gross stranger, anyway.” He rolls his eyes at me.

  “Thanks, honey, glad to know I rate right above perverted men,” Braeden says dryly, recognizing my lame attempt at levity well enough to not be hurt.

  Turning a glare on the other two, I demand, "Which one of you is done and ready to fess up?" Neither answers me. "Fuck." It's not a joke.

  Still speaking to him and ignoring the others, I ask, “So, you with me on this?” I’m not gonna lie. I’m nervous and scared as all get out. If I think about it too much, I might have a panic attack. In this room, I’m scared, but I know I’ll be terrified once something actually happens. Right now I’m trying to keep it together the best I can. Fake it ‘til you make it is a thing for a reason, right?

  “You know I’m with you all the way, honey. Never going to let anything separate us.” He’s hugging me with his body the best he can, and I take some small comfort in it. As I think about it, I realize it really doesn’t matter how I ended up here. Even if it wasn’t Rex and Emmett’s fault, it still could have happened; shitty things happen on the daily in the news. I hear
the scuff of shoes outside the door and a beep, then the lock disengaging as my breathing gets shallow. I have no control over what happens to me from here, and I know it. I’ll eventually get free, but what will be left of me when I do?

  Chapter Three

  Shit Gets Real

  A tall man walks in with another of a more average height behind him. Auburn hair and brown eyes on the first. Those eyes are hard when they encompass the room, then light up with surprise and maybe a hint of concern when they land on me and Braeden. He immediately turns a dark look on Rex and Emmett, and I get the feeling that this must be their contact, and things are already not going according to plan.

  "What the fuck," comes from the shorter man, confirming my thought. Dark brown curls and, from what I can tell in the dim light, either light blue eyes or maybe gray. The look of surprise on his face as he turns to the other man makes me think he’s in on this too.

  So glad everyone else was in the know. Might have been nice to have been forewarned to drop my boyfriend like a hot rock as soon as this little plan was hatched. It's still surreal that I'm in this type of situation, and honestly, I think I’m in shock.

  More footsteps sound, and both men don expressionless masks. The men coming in are big, and there are many. I'm thinking our escorts have arrived. They separate and pull us up one by one. I’m trembling and begin to freak out when they pull me away from Braeden. Quickly and quietly, before I start to struggle, he says, “Honey, just cooperate for now. Save it for when you need it.”

  I really think this constitutes as needing it. I must silently convey it well enough with my mutinous look because he gets uncharacteristically sharp with me. "Lark, shut up and cooperate. We'll fix whatever later. You have to stay alive. Understand?" I nod, and his eyes soften. Quietly, he whispers, "Love you, bird brain."