Total pages in book: 139
Estimated words: 127146 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 636(@200wpm)___ 509(@250wpm)___ 424(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 127146 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 636(@200wpm)___ 509(@250wpm)___ 424(@300wpm)
"Now, tell me what do I expect from you, and please get it right so we don't have to do this song and dance anymore tonight."
I lick my swollen busted lip and croak out the words that make me sick. "Marry the girl and fall in line."
It’s not about marrying the girl of his choosing anymore. It’s about protecting Bel and my mother. It’s about destroying him and watching him burn in the aftermath of his own doing. Reaching out with the same hand that has given me countless injuries, he pats my cheek, and I wince from his touch. "Good. Now stand up. I'll have the guards carry you out the back and get you home. I'm sure one of your friends can find a bandage or two to fix you up."
It’s hilarious how nonchalant he is about my friends' knowledge of the way he abuses me, yet no one will ever say anything or do anything because of who he is, what he does, and who he works with. He thinks he’s invincible, but I will find a way. I will end this motherfucker, even if it costs me everything. I sputter and cough, my chest aching as I spit more blood onto the floor. I shake my head. I can't stand, not yet. The room spins each time I try.
“Are your ears broken? I said to get the fuck up.” Dragging me up off the floor, he delivers another quick punch to my face. The world spins all around me like I’m on a Tilt-A-Whirl, but thankfully, I land against the counter, catching myself. It’s better than the floor. Now I just have to get my legs to fucking work.
It’s at that moment that a scream pierces the heavy fog clouding my mind. It comes from somewhere, somewhere that is still far away. Slowly, I grasp onto reality, sinking my claws deep into that space. There’s a scuffle and movement to my left. With substantial effort, I lift my head and turn, looking up just in time.
I try to speak, but the words are lodged in my throat. No. I know I hurt her, and I know this whole thing is fucked up, but I won’t let my father, our father, now touch her. I have no time to cringe at the thought. It's Bel. She's here, and I need to make sure she leaves unscathed to the best of my abilities. My father takes one long look at her, one that forces me to stand despite every cell in my body protesting.
No, I won't let him hurt her. Not to get back at me.
I have to keep her safe. This is my fault. All of it.
I step forward, wobbling, an arm wrapped tightly around my middle like it can keep my lungs from spilling out the holes and fractures in my rib cage. "Please… leave her alone. She doesn’t deserve this.” I move between them, shielding his gaze from her.
He sneers at me. "What are you doing?”
"Stopping you from doing something stupid. She's just a girl trying to earn some extra money for school. That's it. She has nothing to do with our world."
His eyes narrow once more. "She has everything to do with our world, Son. More than you can comprehend at the moment. That's why we need to get rid of her."
Get rid of her? His words seem so final, and there’s no way he would actually kill her, right? He’s crazy and fucked up, but surely, he’s not a murderer?
I take a step back, forcing Bel to take one as well. From experience, I know she's not going to let him break her. Not like he's broken me over the years. Bel is stronger than I’ll ever be. Caught up in my thoughts, I don’t notice one of my father’s men moving in on us, not until it’s too late. A thundering crack echoes in my ears, and the world catches up real fucking fast. I twist around just in time to witness with horror as Bel's head is forced to the side, her fragile features absorbing the impact of Baxter’s hit.
Something inside me snaps, and I charge forward, my shoulders slam into Baxter’s stomach, and my feet don’t stop until we crash into the wall. I pull my arm back and land a punch against his face, the sound of bone cracking fills the space.
“Don’t ever fucking touch her again.” I seethe, barely standing on my own two feet. Baxter snarls his lip at me but doesn’t move. My father chuckles from the other side of the room, and I slowly walk back toward them. Every step takes significant effort, and I take even shallow breaths to stop the pain from swallowing me whole. "Father, stop. Let me take care of this. Let me prove myself. I’ll do whatever you want me to do. Just don’t… please.”