Total pages in book: 266
Estimated words: 250787 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1254(@200wpm)___ 1003(@250wpm)___ 836(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 250787 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1254(@200wpm)___ 1003(@250wpm)___ 836(@300wpm)
“Are you sure?” she questions.
My teeth clench, and I growl. “I’m on the shot. Have been since before the first time he fucked me.”
She drops her eyes to her hands and goes back to lathering the shampoo before washing my hair. I close my eyes and let her take care of me as if I’m incapable of such a small task.
HAIDYN
I’m being kept in a room with no windows, so I have no idea how long I’ve been here. At first, I was keeping track of the days by how long they keep the lights on. It’s like prison—lights on and off at a certain time every day and night. Then they started keeping them on for a full twenty-four hours. Then they switched it up and kept them off just as long.
They either did it to confuse the hell out of me or they want me to go mad. Either way, it’s working.
I’m still weak as fuck, and I’m also starting to hallucinate. I’m not sure if that’s from what they’re giving me or lack of food and water.
They won’t allow me to die but want me to remain on the brink of death. It’s a tightrope to walk, but something that me and my brothers do at Carnage. It’s a physical and mental mind game. It’s the same shit that her and her men put us through during our “training.”
My mind stays on Charlotte. All I can think is that she’s at Carnage. Alive. That my brothers are taking good care of her. Isabella and Hudson can’t touch her there.
After Benny was able to get in, we locked that place down. My brothers won’t allow them to get to her. Anyone who tries will be shot on scene. I don’t care how important Isabella is. Her daughter is safe and far away from her. Plus, the longer she plays with me, the longer she forgets about Charlotte.
Then the thought that I try to push to the back of my mind creeps up—what if Kash and Saint find out who Charlotte really is? Would they still protect her? Will they know that I’m in love with her? That I gave myself up for her to live a different life?
I’m only one man and needed another who I could trust. Do you have any idea how hard it is to know you can’t protect the one person you love?
I feel like I’ve traded one life of hell for her for another. What kind of life is worth living when you’re a prisoner at Carnage? She’ll have to remain there the rest of her life.
I don’t care. Anything is better than what Isabella and Hudson have planned for her. Charlotte being his wife makes me want to vomit—physically ill. Knowing what I’ve done to her—how does he even know? Rage, unlike anything I’ve ever known, eats at me.
She’s mine, and they expect me to watch it? To see her every day and not kill them? I know my girl. She won’t want him, so he’ll have to force her. I’m sure he’ll do it in front of me.
Or Isabella will hold her down. I know what that woman is capable of. None of it good. It won’t matter that Charlotte’s her child. The woman cares about nothing.
The metal door to my room squeaks open, and I squint when the room lights up from the hallway. A man enters and comes to stand next to me while I lie on the hospital bed. I’ve been restrained to it since my operation. Not like I could walk anyway, given the drugs they keep pumping into me. My mind stays foggy and my body heavy.
“Come on, Spade. Time for your meds.” He laughs, and my jaw tightens, knowing they’re about to shove another needle into my arm. At least I’ll get some rest. Last time I had a “round,” I slept through most of it and was able to dream of the life that my wife wanted us to have. The one that she deserved.
SEVENTY-EIGHT
CHARLOTTE
This afternoon, I found myself getting out of bed. I’m pretty sure I gave Adam a heart attack when I sat up and told him I was hungry. He immediately jumped to his feet and called Jessie in to feed me.
The food tasted like paper, and the water was sour. My body doesn’t know what’s good for it anymore, but my talk with Ashtyn last night made sense. They are going to find Haidyn, and when they do, he’ll need me.
I’ve taken a life before. The least I can do is live mine. If what the Spade brothers think is true, I’m going to fight for my life just to spite my mother. When I see her again—if ever—I’ll have questions. And she won’t give me anything if she thinks I’ve gone weak. I still have to prove myself. For my husband.