Total pages in book: 60
Estimated words: 58808 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 294(@200wpm)___ 235(@250wpm)___ 196(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 58808 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 294(@200wpm)___ 235(@250wpm)___ 196(@300wpm)
I wasn’t.
“He sold you to someone. I never wanted that. I sent you to him because you ran away again,” Marcus says, trying to justify what he did.
“Wrong. You sold me because I was scarred. But you never gave him permission to sell me, which he did anyway. Thankfully, to a great man, one I could never have dreamed of being near.” I smile, thinking of Jake.
“Jake is as much of a monster as I am. He buys more women than I do.” He scoffs.
“To save them,” I whisper.
It’s not known in that dark circle what Jake does with the women he buys. But that’s okay.
“You tried looking for me, didn’t you?”
“Yes. I even found you, but you ran again.”
“How did you find me?” I question.
“Police report,” Marcus says, and I raise a brow at Grayson.
“I told you,” I tell him. Then I smile before he can say anything and reach up and stick the knife into Charlotte’s stomach. She buckles over, but Grayson’s hold on her waist is the only thing keeping her from crumpling to the floor.
“Fuck, we like her,” I hear someone mutter.
And I know it’s one of the men who came in with me.
Chapter 28
Always the prettiest in every room.
Grayson
Well, shit!
“Now she isn’t as pretty. She’s scarred, just like me,” Avani says, stepping back.
Marcus runs over and reaches for his daughter. “What have you done? What have you done?” Marcus screeches. His hands are now covered in blood from trying to stop his daughter’s bleeding.
Avani didn’t cut her deep enough to kill her, but she will be scarred.
“You should remove your shirt,” I tell him, hovering over them. I can feel Avani behind me.
Marcus looks up at me, his hands still clutching his daughter. “M-my what?” he stutters.
“Remove your shirt,” I repeat.
“No. Now fucking get out.”
I start to laugh, and he leaves his daughter lying on the floor as soft whimpers leave her mouth and her eyes stay squeezed shut as if to expel the pain, before he stands in front of me.
“You think this is funny?” he shouts.
“Last chance to remove your shirt or my men here will remove it for you. And trust me, you don’t want that.” I point my thumb over my shoulder. “Maybe you have heard of them. The Hunters?”
Marcus’s eyes go wide as they fly to the brothers.
“You’ve done work for me before. I can pay you double whatever Grayson is paying you to leave and take him with you. But leave her.” Marcus points to Avani.
“Boys, that sounds like a fair offer. You should consider it,” I droll.
“We are,” they say, making me smile.
“Kill him!” Marcus yells.
Zuko is the first to move. When he reaches us, he taps my shoulder and steps forward to Marcus. Then he whips out a knife and, in one swift movement, slices open the front of Marcus’ shirt.
“I’d suggest you remove the rest of the shirt,” I tell Marcus. He does so, glancing at his daughter on the floor.
“How does it feel?” Avani asks, coming closer. “To feel as helpless as you made me feel. Would it upset you if I went over to your daughter right now and cut her again?”
Charlotte whimpers at my words. Her hands are still holding her stomach as she lies on the floor. “Please, just let us go,” she begs softly.
Avani gives her a quick glance, then walks over and stands in front of me.
“Undo the back of my dress,” Avani orders, not looking back at me. “Grayson, undo the back of my dress,” she says again when I remain still for too long. Her eyes find mine over her shoulder and beg me to do as she asks. I reach up and unzip the back slowly. She holds the front of the garment to her chest so it doesn’t fall. “Thank you,” she whispers before she walks to Charlotte, bends down, and tells her to sit up.
“I can’t,” Charlotte says through her tears.
“You can,” Avani tells her. “I’ve had worse than that flesh wound at the hands of your father. Now be a big girl and do it.” Charlotte listens and sits up, crying as she does. “Good. Now look at this.” Avani turns around to show Charlotte her back and says, “Do you see all those scars? They are courtesy of your father. Isn’t he sweet?”
Charlotte looks to her father, then back to Avani.
“He would never,” Charlotte hisses.
“Tell her.” I give Marcus a cold glare.
“Did you do that?” Charlotte asks.
“He did worse. This is just what is left to remind me of my time with him,” Avani says, standing and walking back to me. She turns so I can see her back, but I reach for her dress and zip it back up. She walks over to Marcus and spits in his face. “I hate you.”
“I hate you as well,” Marcus replies.