Glory (Book 1) by Michael McManamon Read Free Book Online Page B

reached over to grab the pen. Her handcuffs rattled as she did. She didn't pay it any attention. She needed the pen.
    She felt the tiny plastic tube in her hand. It felt strong to her. Like her salvation. She'd just have to wait for the man to come back. When he got close enough she'd jab it into his neck. She didn't know if it'd work, but she had to try.
    Claire sat there holding the pen when the man returned. In his hand was a bottle of water. He held it out in front of him.
    "Want some?" he asked.
    Claire nodded her head. He hadn't given her anything since he had captured her. But the real reason was that she wanted him to come closer. She needed to be able to reach out to attack him.
    "What do you say?" the man asked. His voice took on the sound of a parent trying to teach his child manners.
    "Please."
    "What was that?"
    "Please," Claire repeated, a little louder this time.
    "I can't hear you. Speak up."
    "Please!" Claire shouted. She couldn't contain herself. Everything was getting to her. Her situation. The anticipation of getting out of here.
    The man burst into laughter. "I'll give you more than water in a little bit, you slut."
    He threw the water at Claire. She could have easily caught it, but the pen was in her hand and she didn't want to risk losing it. She also couldn't let him see that she had it. The bottle bounced off of her shoulder and rolled onto the ground.
    "Are you fuckin' joking me?" the man almost screamed. "Anyone could have caught that!"
    Claire looked up at him. "I wasn't ready," she said. She made herself sound more useless than she felt. "I'm sorry. Could you please hand it to me?"
    "Hand it to you?" The man took a step toward her. "Fuckin' hand it to you? You're lucky I even offered it to you!"
    Claire nodded her head . She just needed him to get a little closer.
    He walked over to the bottle and picked it up. Then he held out for her. Both knew that it would be too far for her to reach. Claire didn't even try.
    "Now, what will you give me for this water?" he asked.
    "Please. I'm thirsty. Let me at least have a sip."
    "I will. But what will you give me for it?"
    Claire looked down. She wasn't going to answer. She knew what he wanted. And she wasn't going to give it to him. Not if she could help it.
    The man came a bit closer.
    "How about a kiss?" he asked.
    Claire continued to look down. She squeezed the pen tightly, preparing herself.
    "Just a little one," he added.
    The man came closer still. Claire kept her head down. She needed him to keep coming. Just a little bit more.
    "Just one little..."
    Claire stabbed the pen at him, but the man was too quick. He lifted his arm and blocked Claire's attack. She felt her wrist slam against his. He grabbed her arm and pulled the pen free. Once it was out of her grasp, he hit her across the face.
    "What the fuck is this?" he asked. He looked at the pen, carefully. "You were going to try to kill me with a pen? Are you fuckin' joking me?"
    Claire looked up and spat at him. Her plan had failed. But that didn't mean that she was going to give up.
    He hit her again.
    "You fuckin' slut!" he shouted.
    "Fuck you!" Claire shouted back.
    "Fuck me? Fuc k m e ?"
    He hit her again. And again. Each blow sent waves of pain through out the whole of her body.
    "You dare talk to me like that?" the man said after he had stopped hitting her. "Do you even know who I am?"
    Claire didn't answer. She wasn't even sure that she could. Her lip had already swollen and was covered in thick blood and spit. She moved her tongue over top of her teeth and felt a sense of relief that they were all still there.
    The man reached down and grabbed her chin in between his fingers. He forced her to look at him in the eyes. She was close enough to him now that she could smell the alcohol on his breath.
    "I'm Big Mike!" he said. "You don't fuck with Big Mike!"
    At this, Claire started to laugh. It wasn't loud. But it was enough to bother the big man.
    "What the fuck are you laughing at?" he