Kidnapped and Caged

Carter Beckett, a college student, is violently kidnapped and wakes up bound, naked, and drugged in a wooden crate. He quickly realizes this is not a random crime—his captors know his name and background, and he's being trafficked for sex, not ransom. Carter is thrown into a cell with other men and boys, all stripped of their identities and hope. The cell is a hellish, overcrowded place, ruled by hunger, filth, and the constant threat of violence. Carter's only solace is the memory of survival tips he once read online, now rendered useless by the reality of his captivity.

The Cell of Despair

In the cell, Carter meets a spectrum of fellow captives, including the steady, wise Casey and the terrified young Elliot. The men and boys are cycled in and out for abuse, with some returning broken and others never coming back. Carter is inexplicably spared the worst of the "playroom," marked as the "Beckett whore" by a sadistic guard, Scarface. The cell becomes a microcosm of despair, but also of fleeting human connection, as Carter and Casey try to comfort the younger boys and each other, even as hope fades.

Casey's Survival Mantra

Casey, a former athlete and the son of a police officer, becomes Carter's anchor. He teaches Carter and the others a mantra for survival: "Keep calm. Breathe. Pay attention. Wait for your moment." This becomes Carter's lifeline as he witnesses the relentless cycle of abuse and loss. The mantra is tested when Casey is taken for more torture, and Carter's attempt to intervene only results in more violence and punishment for everyone. Carter's resolve is battered, but the mantra endures.

The Playroom's Shadow

The playroom is a place of unspeakable torture, and Carter's exemption from it is both a mystery and a curse. He witnesses the psychological and physical destruction of others, and the arbitrary cruelty of the guards. When Carter finally fights back to protect Casey, he is choked unconscious and wakes up in solitary darkness, chained and collared, with no sense of time or hope. The darkness becomes a new form of torture, pushing Carter to the brink of madness.

Carter's Game for Freedom

In the darkness, Carter clings to memories and imagination, reciting poetry and inventing stories for the lost boys like Elliot. He fantasizes about rescue, about being bought by a kind owner, about any future that isn't annihilation. The deprivation and isolation nearly break him, but the act of imagining—even as it becomes more desperate—keeps a sliver of his humanity alive.

The Auction's Cruel Stage

Carter is eventually cleaned up and prepared for auction, displayed as a "pleasure slave" in front of a jeering crowd. He is bought by Nathan Roarke, a powerful figure in the trafficking world, who must publicly rape Carter on stage to claim him. The act is both a performance and a necessity for Nathan's cover, but for Carter, it is the ultimate violation, witnessed by hundreds. The trauma is compounded by the knowledge that his brother, Maison, is the real target—Carter is a pawn in a much larger game.

Nathan's Undercover Vow

Nathan Roarke is not who he seems. Underneath his monstrous persona, he is Travis Kenton, an undercover operative embedded in the trafficking world to bring it down from within. Maison, Carter's brother, is his commander and best friend. Nathan's mission is to save Carter and dismantle the ring, but to do so, he must convincingly play the role of Carter's owner and abuser, even as it destroys him inside. The operation's success—and Carter's life—depend on Nathan's ability to be both savior and monster.

The Monster's Dilemma

Nathan is forced to maintain his cover by treating Carter as a slave, subjecting him to rules, punishments, and public use. He is tormented by guilt, especially as Carter begins to respond to small kindnesses and moments of gentleness. The line between performance and reality blurs, and Nathan's internal conflict grows as he is ordered to keep Carter in the dark about the truth for everyone's safety. Both men are trapped in roles that threaten to consume them.

Slave and Master Collide

In the privacy of Nathan's compound, the dynamic between Carter and Nathan shifts. Carter is subjected to strict rules and humiliations, but Nathan's care and small acts of mercy begin to stand out against the backdrop of cruelty. Carter, desperate for any comfort, starts to crave Nathan's praise and touch, even as he hates himself for it. Nathan, meanwhile, is increasingly unable to separate his mission from his feelings for Carter, and the two develop a complex, trauma-bonded connection.

The Rules of Survival

Carter is trained to obey without hesitation, to kneel, to call Nathan "sir," to never speak unless spoken to, and to accept that his body belongs to Nathan alone. The rules are both a means of survival and a tool of control. Carter is punished harshly for any infraction, culminating in a brutal public beating after he breaks a rule. The punishments are designed to break him, but Carter clings to the mantra Casey taught him, even as he begins to lose his sense of self.

The Price of Obedience

As Carter becomes more compliant, he is rewarded with small comforts—blankets, food, praise. The praise becomes addictive, and Carter finds himself wanting to be Nathan's "good boy," even as he is horrified by his own responses. The trauma-bond deepens, and Carter's identity as a slave becomes both a shield and a prison. Nathan, for his part, is devastated by what he is forced to do, and the guilt threatens to destroy him.

Breaking and Belonging

Carter's resistance is gradually worn down by a combination of violence, deprivation, and Nathan's calculated kindness. He begins to find comfort in belonging to Nathan, in the certainty of his rules and the safety of his arms. The two share moments of genuine connection, and Carter starts to fantasize about a future with Nathan, even as he knows it is impossible. The trauma-bond becomes a lifeline, and both men are caught between hope and despair.

The Party of Pain

At a high-profile party, Carter is forced to perform as entertainment, enduring public torture and rape as punishment for breaking a rule. The event is a test of Nathan's loyalty to the trafficking world, and a demonstration of Carter's value as a commodity. The spectacle is both horrifying and dehumanizing, pushing Carter to the edge of sanity. Nathan is forced to participate, and the experience leaves both men shattered.

The Aftermath of Betrayal

After the party, Carter falls seriously ill, his body and mind pushed to the breaking point. Nathan and Benny (Nathan's second-in-command) care for him, torn between their roles as protectors and perpetrators. Carter's sense of self is in tatters, and he begs Nathan to kill him when he is no longer useful. Nathan, devastated, promises to do so, even as he secretly vows to find another way. The aftermath is a crucible for both men, forcing them to confront the reality of their situation.

The Edge of Sanity

Carter is haunted by nightmares of the cell, of Casey and Elliot, of being forced to choose between survival and humanity. He confesses his love for Nathan, even as he begs for death. Nathan, equally broken, confesses his love in return. The two cling to each other in the darkness, finding solace in their shared pain. The line between victim and perpetrator, love and abuse, becomes impossibly blurred.

Love in the Abyss

In the rare moments of privacy, Carter and Nathan allow themselves to be "Carter and Nathan," not slave and master. They share laughter, stories, and genuine affection, creating a pocket of humanity in the midst of horror. But the reality of their situation is never far away, and both know that their love is as doomed as it is necessary. The trauma-bond is both a lifeline and a curse.

The Tightrope of Self

Carter describes his existence as walking a tightrope between the person he was and the slave he is forced to be. He knows that eventually, he will fall—either into total submission or into death. Nathan, desperate to save him, promises to kill him rather than let him be broken by someone else. Both are trapped by the roles they must play, and the only hope is that the operation will end before Carter is destroyed.

The Promise of Death

Carter's only request is that Nathan kill him when the operation is over, rather than let him be sold or broken by another. Nathan, heartbroken, promises to do so, even as he secretly plans to save Carter and bring down the trafficking ring. The novel ends with Nathan deciding it is finally time to tell Carter the truth about who he is and what he is fighting for, setting the stage for the next chapter in their story.

Characters

Carter Beckett

Carter is a young college student whose life is shattered by abduction and sex trafficking. Initially resourceful and defiant, he is gradually broken down by violence, deprivation, and psychological manipulation. His relationship with Casey in the cell gives him a mantra for survival, but the trauma of captivity and the complexity of his bond with Nathan erode his sense of self. Carter's journey is one of desperate adaptation—he clings to small acts of resistance, but is seduced by the safety and certainty of submission. His psychological arc is a study in Stockholm syndrome, trauma-bonding, and the impossibility of survival without loss. Carter's love for Nathan is both a symptom of his trauma and a genuine connection, and his ultimate request—to be killed rather than broken—reveals the depth of his despair.

Nathan Roarke / Travis Kenton

Nathan is a former soldier and CIA operative who has spent years embedded in the trafficking world as Nathan Roarke, a ruthless and powerful trafficker. His true identity, Travis Kenton, is buried beneath layers of performance and violence. Nathan's mission is to bring down the trafficking ring from within, but the cost is his own humanity. His relationship with Carter is both a cover and a lifeline—he must convincingly play the role of Carter's owner and abuser, even as he falls in love with him. Nathan is tormented by guilt, self-loathing, and the fear that he has become the very monster he set out to destroy. His psychological struggle is the heart of the novel, and his love for Carter is both his salvation and his undoing.

Casey

Casey is a fellow captive in the cell, a former athlete and the son of a police officer. He becomes Carter's anchor, teaching him the mantra for survival and providing comfort and wisdom in the midst of horror. Casey's fate is a constant source of anxiety for Carter, and his suffering and loss are emblematic of the cost of resistance. Casey represents the possibility of survival with dignity, but also the inevitability of loss in a world designed to break people.

Benny

Benny is Nathan's right-hand man and the only other person in the compound who knows the truth about Nathan's mission. Outwardly tough and pragmatic, Benny is a stabilizing force for Nathan, providing support and reality checks. He is also the only person besides Nathan who shows genuine care for Carter, tending to his wounds and advocating for his well-being. Benny's role is to keep Nathan focused on the mission, but his compassion for Carter reveals the cracks in the operation's moral calculus.

Maison Beckett

Maison is Carter's older brother and the commander of the undercover operation. His decision to use his real identity as bait for traffickers is the reason Carter is targeted. Maison's love for Carter is both a strength and a weakness—his guilt and desperation drive the operation, but also put Carter at risk. Maison's presence is mostly offstage, but his influence is felt in every decision Nathan makes.

Scarface

Scarface is the most brutal of the guards in the cell, a figure of terror and arbitrary cruelty. He singles Carter out for special treatment, both sparing him from the worst abuse and marking him as a target. Scarface represents the capriciousness of power in the trafficking world, and the impossibility of understanding or predicting the logic of abusers.

Todd Henley

Henley is a high-ranking trafficker and one of Nathan's rivals. He is the first to use Carter after Nathan, and his sadistic enjoyment of Carter's suffering is a stark contrast to Nathan's conflicted cruelty. Henley's presence is a constant threat, and his desire for Carter is both a danger and a test of Nathan's loyalty to his cover.

The Doctor

The doctor in Nathan's compound is responsible for the health of the slaves, but his care is purely pragmatic—he is more concerned with keeping valuable property alive than with alleviating suffering. His interactions with Carter reveal the normalization of abuse and the complicity of professionals in the trafficking system.

Jamie and Charles Kensington

The Kensingtons are wealthy, influential figures in the trafficking world, hosting parties where slaves are used as entertainment. Their charm and hospitality mask a deep-seated cruelty, and their approval is both a prize and a threat for Nathan. They represent the banality of evil—the way horror is normalized and celebrated in polite society.

William Dugray

Dugray is the owner of Casey and a "cleaner" in the trafficking world. His treatment of Casey is a reminder of the fate that awaits those who are not protected by powerful owners. Dugray's expendability in the hierarchy of traffickers is a reminder that even the abusers are subject to the whims of power.

Plot Devices

Dual Identity and Undercover Narrative

The central plot device is Nathan's dual identity as both Carter's abuser and his would-be savior. The undercover narrative structure creates constant tension—Nathan must perform cruelty to maintain his cover, even as he tries to protect Carter. This device allows for deep psychological exploration of complicity, guilt, and the cost of resistance. The reader is forced to confront the impossibility of clean heroism in a world built on violence.

Trauma-Bonding and Stockholm Syndrome

The novel uses the psychological phenomenon of trauma-bonding to explore the relationship between Carter and Nathan. Carter's growing attachment to Nathan is both a symptom of his abuse and a genuine connection, blurring the line between love and survival. The device is used to interrogate the nature of consent, the seduction of safety, and the impossibility of escape without loss.

Mantras and Survival Games

Casey's mantra—"Keep calm. Breathe. Pay attention. Wait for your moment"—is a recurring motif, providing Carter with a mental anchor in the midst of chaos. Carter's use of imagination, poetry, and games is another device, showing how the mind resists annihilation even as the body is violated. These strategies are both acts of resistance and signs of trauma.

Public Spectacle and Dehumanization

The use of public punishment, auction, and parties as spectacles of suffering is a key plot device, highlighting the dehumanization at the heart of the trafficking world. The spectacle serves both to enforce obedience and to bond the abusers together, making violence a communal ritual.

Foreshadowing and Narrative Irony

The narrative is laced with foreshadowing—Nathan's internal conflict, Carter's fantasies of rescue, the operation's promise of a happy ending. The irony is that every act of kindness is also an act of control, and every hope is shadowed by the threat of betrayal. The reader is kept in suspense, never sure if rescue or destruction will come first.

Analysis

These Monstrous Deeds is a harrowing exploration of the psychological and physical realities of sex trafficking, told through the lens of a dark, trauma-bonded romance. The novel interrogates the nature of survival, complicity, and love in a world designed to annihilate both self and hope. Through Carter's journey from defiant victim to compliant slave, and Nathan's transformation from undercover hero to reluctant monster, the book forces readers to confront the impossibility of clean choices in systems of abuse. The trauma-bond between Carter and Nathan is both a symptom of their captivity and a genuine connection, blurring the line between love and survival. The novel's unflinching depiction of violence, dehumanization, and the seduction of safety is both a warning and a challenge: in fighting monsters, we risk becoming them, and in seeking rescue, we may find only new forms of captivity. The ultimate lesson is that survival is never simple, and that the cost of resistance is both unbearable and necessary.

Last updated: May 17, 2025