Chapter 104

Claire’s furious anger had abated. She no longer had any real intention of torturing the three traitors for long stretches of time. Of course she wasn’t about to let them live. But until she let Willow dispatch them, she wanted them to suffer extreme mental anguish. To experience real fear.

She was keeping her three former whores in a secluded farmhouse a few miles from the Four Corners commercial strip. Holly and Tammy were secured with ankle cuffs attached by a chain to the leg of a sturdy radiator. Millie Ransome had set both of Tammy’s broken arms and encased them in synthetic casts made from fiberglass.

The chain was long enough to allow them bathroom and kitchen access. Claire planned to make them wait, and stew, before she and Willow started in on them.

Millie Ransome gave Tammy a bottle of 100 hydrocodone pills for her pain.

Claire had told her Ransome, “I don’t care if she becomes addicted — it won’t matter once Willow and I start on her.”

Ransome handed Claire another vial of large, yellow pills. Claire smiled, “This will keep them from passing out?”

“Yes, it’s my own formula — a mixture of a strong stimulant and Alpha-1-agonists to increase blood pressure. Corticosteroids to increase sodium and fluid levels. Serotonin retake-inhibitors to moderate any nervous-system responses.”

She nodded at Holly and Tammy, “One pill is strong enough to keep them alert for a couple of hours no matter what you do to them. If you have any trouble getting them to swallow their meds, call me. I have an injectable version too. Those cunts won’t faint on you.”

Holly and Tammy stared, open-mouthed. Claire had staged the little scene for their benefit. Just one more added mental torment.

She kept Cora Sloane locked in a separate bedroom. She didn’t bother to cuff the woman. Cora was naked, had no place to run to, and was nowhere near as desperate as the other two prisoners. Plus, Claire had one important task for Cora before she joined the others.

Claire opened Cora’s door. “Miss S, can you find it in your heart to cut me some slack? I know I fucked up, but I had no idea they were planning to kill you. I’ll do anything — _anything_ — to make it right.”

Claire had already decided to let a faint flicker of hope keep the woman in a hyper-compliant mode.

“Cora, when you were 7-years-old, I paid your cunt-mother $5,000 for you. And that was knowing I wouldn’t be whoring you out for several years.” Claire shook her head, “You were such a delectable little girl, I thought the investment was worth it.”

“I been a good earner, ma’am, real good. An’ when you bred me to Hank, I give you Val an’ Vic — an’ they earn more than I do.”

“That’s what I came to talk with you about. You know I can never trust you again.”

“Oh, yes ma’am, I understand. But tell me what you want, and you plumb got it.”

“Okay, I hope I’m not making a mistake. Here, put on these shorts and a tee. I’m taking you to see your daughters.”