Broken: Bluff Lake, #4

By Prometheus Susan

Shelby was living her dream, teaching kindergartners and dance. She had her life all planned out, until that one fateful day. Where once she was happy, and full of life, within months her soul was broken.

 

He sold women for profit. Those he kept for pets had not satisfied his needs. Until the hunt for a special request from a client. Leonard knew the first time he saw her that Shelby was the one to fulfill all his darkest fantasies. She would be the perfect pet.

 

Josh was ready for retirement after they found and destroyed the last one of this sex trafficking ring. The hunt became personal when his wolf recognized Shelby as their mate. Time was of the essence.

 

Can Josh and his wolf save Shelby from all the abuse she has endured or will she be forever broken?

 

Trigger Warning. This book contains sexual and physical abuse. 

 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Prometheus Susan
• Release date: Dec 27, 2022
• ISBN: 9798215645826

Prometheus Susan

Prometheus is the mother of two boys, 19 and 26. As well as a loving wife to her husband of 31 years.  She lives in northern Illinois with her family, two cats,pet bunny, Fred and a puppy, Bear.. An avid Chicago Bears football fan regardless of how bad they play. But differs from the rest of the family in regards to baseball. They are Cub fans while she is a Brewers fan.  For years, Prometheus has had stories floating around in her head when she finally decided to put them to paper. Following a long-held dream of being an author. Bringing the crazy muses that she had to life, sharing them with everyone else.  Besides her love for her family and friends, coffee is her biggest love and addiction. The summer will find her at the beach or waterpark, soaking up those beautiful rays of sunshine. She finds cooking to be very relaxing, experimenting with new recipes. Crafting is one of her other ways to relax and unwind. Pink and sparkly is her signature. 

Book preview

Chapter 1

It’d been a while since she had a dream while she slept. Shelby had gotten used to the pain-filled nightmares invading her sleep the same way they had her life. The empty blackness of sleep was what she welcomed when she was awake. She had lost track of how long she’d been Leonard's pet. It was an endless torment that had no end in sight.

At first, she’d hoped to be rescued. Her boyfriend and parents had been on the television begging, pleading for her return. Leonard had made it a point to show her those broadcasts as he laughed. He took greater pleasure when, after a year, her parents had held a memorial service for her. From the pictures he showed her, he’d attended the service.

After that, she lost sight of who she was. She couldn't blame her parents or friends for moving on with their life. The longer she was missing, the less likely she would return home alive. She was considered a cold case at this point. There was no hope left. The life she had was gone. Shelby knew she would die in his care. The question was when. When he got tired of her? When he was forced to move on? When his play became too sadistic?

There was a time when she repeated her name over and over in her head. It was an attempt at holding onto something that would keep her from falling into the dark despair that came with being his property. Shelby had a new name. It was Pet. He’d called her that since he kidnapped her. She was no longer a person. Instead, she was a toy for his enjoyment.

It had been a typical day. She was a kindergarten teacher, moonlighting as a dance instructor on the weekends. Shelby loved to dance and enlighten little minds. It was the best of both worlds. Her boyfriend was also a teacher. They were talking about moving in together, furthering their relationship. She was happy with her life. It was all she had dreamed of as a little girl.

She had an apartment that was decorated the way she liked. A kitchen where she could bake when the mood struck. A cozy living room for nights when she wanted nothing more than tot watch a movie with popcorn. Half days of school, she went to lunch with friends. Friday nights, she went out with her boyfriend. On Saturdays, she taught dance. One Sunday a month, she had dinner with her parents. She’d loved her life.

Shelby's dream had been to become a prima ballerina. That had been cut short during a winter ski trip when she was a teenager. Fresh snow had fallen, and a few trail markers had been covered. She thought she was on the correct hill for her skill level. In the beginning, she’d been further down than she thought and the trail split off. She went the wrong way.

That mistake ended all hopes of her dancing professionally. She’d hit a slick spot of ice underneath the snow. Losing control, she tumbled head over skis down the mountain until a tree stopped her. At times, she can still hear the sound of her bones crunching when she landed. Both legs were broken, a few broken ribs, fractured hips, and a broken arm. She was lucky to be alive.

Nothing was the same after she healed. Weather changes pained her whole body. Although she could stand and walk like she did before, putting any kind of strain on her legs made them ache. Shelby had tried to go back to ballet dancing once she was healed. The jumps were not happening. Her legs would give out. No matter what she did, the strength in her legs never recovered after the accident. She put all her weight on her toes and her legs at an angle that made them scream in pain.

She moved past that dream being dashed. Instead of heading to Juilliard, she chose a state university. Shelby didn't give up her love of dance, though. She took classes in different areas. Learning tap, ballroom, and salsa. Being able to teach dance had become more fulfilling than dancing on a stage for thousands of people. Seeing the delight in a child's eyes when they got a step mastered was something she had looked forward to. That was the reason she loved teaching.

Chapter 2

One day, everything had changed. She had her class out for recess on a beautiful, warm spring day. The kids were laughing, playing tag, and being carefree. Shelby never thought harm could come to any of them at the school. The playground was surrounded by a fence. It gave the illusion of being a safe haven.

While she was calling the kids from the playground, a strange man had approached her. He had asked about picking up his daughter early from school. When she’d explained that he needed to go to the office, he showed her the pistol he had in his pocket. Shelby was more concerned for the children than her own life.

Since he was asking about a daughter, she was afraid he planned on kidnapping one of the little girls. How wrong she’d been. He wasn't after the children. She was his prize. Shelby remembered his words plain as day. Come with me, or I'll start shooting these little crotch goblins.

What choice did she have? She could see in his dark eyes the truth that was there. To save the kids, she’d complied with his demands. Shelby had turned back towards Maggie, her teacher's assistant. Take them back to the classroom. I'll be in after I help this gentleman. She had silently mouthed. Get help.

Shelby didn't know if Maggie had understood her or not. It wouldn't have mattered. Leonard had whisked her away before a police officer could have responded. They had a sketch of him. Nothing came of the investigation. He took great delight in proving to her that he could do what he wanted without anyone being the wiser. In the eyes of the world, she had vanished into thin air.

At first, she knew the police were looking for her. She fought Leonard every step. Looked for any way to escape, any way to harm him. Didn't do her any good. It’d just left her covered head to toe in bruises and welts. Shelby had tried to keep hope alive in her heart that she would be rescued by some miracle.

Shelby had thought of herself as a fighter. Before college, she had taken self-defense classes, carried pepper spray, and was always aware of her surroundings. She thought she’d prepared herself enough to be able to handle any threat that arose. None of that had helped her in this situation. She’d done the only thing she could at that time. Sacrificing herself to save twenty children.

Those first few months had been a living hell. She hated Leonard with all of her being. He was cruel, sadistic, mean, and evil. Shelby wondered what made a person be that way. Were they born as such? Had there been abuse that destroyed them and turned them into that?

Like an idiot, she’d tried to help him. Asked him to talk about his feelings. Shelby thought that was when she was going to die. He’d wrapped his hand around her throat so tightly. She couldn't breathe. Her vision wavered before he loosened his grip, shaking her as he screamed at her. Your job is to make sure I am pleased. You speak when I tell you to. You move when I tell you. Your life depends on my pleasure and demands.

She was to be seen, do as she was told, and only speak when given permission. Even when she followed those rules, he beat her. Leonard loved taking off his belt and hitting her with it. There had been one time Shelby was feeling brave. She’d grabbed hold of the belt, yanking it. He’d hit her with his shoe and the strap that time. She quickly learned to do as he said. Most times, she didn't get the beatings.

Chapter 3

Leonard remembered that first time he saw her. David's idea was to sell women and girls as special orders with a hefty price tag. These buyers paid the price. Did he agree with what they asked for? Yes and no, but who was he to judge? To each their own. The payout was all he was concerned about.

Everyone had a kink. Society viewed some of it as immoral or illegal. Who were they to say? Each person was different. What turned them on was what it was. You had to give in to your own desires. Leonard had lived his life by his own set of rules. It had been profitable all these years. Why change something that was working?

David had lined up a buyer who wanted a thirteen to fourteen-year-old. One that had gone through puberty. He didn't want a boyish-looking girl. The request was for long blond hair, nice breasts, and a nice ass. Leonard had been with David scoping out different middle schools. Even went to a few high schools trying to find the girl that their client was asking for.

They had driven by the school while classes were in recess. That was when Leonard spotted her. Something clicked inside of him. She was the woman of his dreams. He had to have her. She would be his pet for all eternity.

He never shared his plan with David. This pet of his would only know him. There would be no sharing. Leonard knew his partner too well. If he knew about this woman, he would want to sample what she had to offer. Leonard wanted none of that. What was his was his. And she was his.

After he had kidnapped her, he’d kept her hidden in his home. Whenever David came by, Leonard made it a point that his pet was to keep quiet. He locked her away in the attic, bound and gagged to not make a sound. It wasn't easy to concentrate on business, knowing that his toy was bound and awaiting his return. If there was any sound, he blamed a squirrel in the attic. His associate was none the wiser.

He’d met David at an investor gathering. They’d hit it off right from the start. It was that weekend that they had become partners. The enjoyment of sharing women, binding them, and using them for what they were put on the earth for was a connection that Leonard hadn't found with another before David. Each was after the same lifestyle. It was an easy way to make a lot of money and to fulfill their deepest desires. It had been a profitable partnership. Until it went wrong.

When Anthony came aboard, the meetings at Leonard’s home stopped. There was something about Anthony he’d never fully trusted. Letting him know where he lived wasn’t a chance that Leonard was willing to take. Anthony took chances that would draw attention to a person. The key to this business was staying low-key and blending into society. David had understood that, but Anthony never did.

They’d gone from being the hunters to being the hunted. Anthony had been the fall guy. The one who would be blamed if they were caught. Leonard never expected his best friend to be the first to die. Death wasn’t an option either of them had figured into the equation. David had been smart, sly, skilled. The same as Leonard was. How his death happened was still a mystery.

Leonard applauded his gut instincts for keeping a separate account and housing. When David died, he allowed Anthony to take on more responsibilities while he stepped back. Something didn’t add up to the raid on that mansion. It never should have happened by all accounts, statistics, and planning. Leonard went underground when Anthony's location and dead body were found.

He had a team that worked for him. They’d never met in person. David and Anthony hadn’t known about those that answered to him. Leonard trusted them... to a point. Business would continue when he felt it was safe to do so. No one would take his pet away from him. He was more intelligent than all of them.

Chapter 4

Shelby wasn't stupid. She knew what Master and Pet meant. What it looked like in her head and what it was with Leonard were two different things. There was no consent given on her part. She had no choice in the matter. He had taken her against her will. Even if he twisted that, she had gone with him willingly.

She had read romance books with BDSM in them before. Enjoyed the dynamic between the couples and the stories. Never in her mind had she thought it was a lifestyle for herself, even with the happily ever after from the books. Each person had their likes and dislikes, passions, and desires. Everyone was an individual. A relationship was a meeting of two that desired the same things.

No matter what Leonard said, they were not in a relationship. She did not desire him, wish to be with him, nor want to be his pet. Each time she voiced her opposition, he punished her. He especially liked to use a ball gag. Shelby hated that thing. She felt like she couldn't breathe. Each time he had put it on her, she had fought him. The panic attack that it triggered got worse with each time. It earned the desired response he was looking for. She had stopped speaking altogether.

After he had taken all her clothing, she started wrapping up in the sheets from her