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“Do you believe me now?” she mutters. I turn back to Lakeland to see her running her gaze over every inch of my exposed skin. She reaches out with her pointer finger and traces the tattoos that cover my body. She squints trying to get a better look at them in the dim light. Feeling utterly robbed and angry by this new revelation, I grip her wrist, halting her movements when she gets too close to one tattoo in particular. She cuts her gaze to me and stills. I see no flicker of emotion except confusion.
“Don’t ever fucking touch me again,” I snarl right in her face before shoving her back into her sister. River shoots me a scathing look while Lakeland just seems… more confused. I tear my gaze from both of them and look out the window. I refuse to allow both of these bitches to trick me. They get each other and have no idea what it feels like to lose your sibling, your only friend, your partner through life. I lost my sister because I let her cloud my mind and trick me. Losing Wave was just the start of figuring out everything she lied about—she knew the fucking truth and never once uttered a single fucking word.
Lakeland
The moment the car stopped in front of the largest log cabin style house I have ever seen, Knox gripped me by my hair and dragged me out of the car kicking and screaming, not caring that I fell to my knees and hurt myself. I had no choice but to quickly find my footing or risk him dragging me the entire way. My sister was held back by his friends. I see men patrolling the grounds but none of them spare me a glance or even a second look as their boss drags me like a caveman, he doesn’t pause when the front door is opened for us. He continues to drag me after him like a disobedient dog, when we reach the stairs I trip and fall. He growls and rather than give me a moment to get my feet under me he just uses my hair to drag me up the stairs. I scream out and tears cascade down my cheeks as the pain in my scalp becomes too much.
“Please, stop!” I cry out as I scramble to get on my feet.
“You’re as fucking useless as an ashtray on a motorcycle,” I hear him sneer as he tightens his grip and ignores my protests. The hair that has fallen into my face obscures my view. I stumble behind him blindly. A shriek leaves me when I’m yanked forward and crash into the side of a large bed. I push off the side and swipe the hair from my eyes as I turn and face the bastard. He stands there shirtless with his tattoos on display. I’m powerless to stop my eyes from dropping lower. His jeans sit low enough on his hips that I can see that infamous V that women cry over and wish their boyfriends had. I avert my gaze and meet his sinister stare. I push through the fear that is strangling me.
“I’ll kill you if you touch my sister,” I vow, only to flinch in pain when a sharp stabbing begins to pulse at the base of my skull. I need my medication.
His upper lip pulls back in a snarl. “I’ll kill you both without batting an eye, you little bitch.” I have no time to mull over the meaning of his words before his hand is around my throat and I’m forced backward. I’m arched over the side of the bed with him right in my face. I claw at his arm, trying to get him off me but he doesn’t budge. I kick out with my legs only for him to trap them between his much larger ones. My vision becomes foggy as spots begin to dance in the corner of my eyes. I strike out and slap him so hard my hand stings and vibrates from the force of it. My grip on his arm slackens as I feel myself drifting into unconsciousness. Before I can pass out, he releases me and jerks back.
I drop to my hands and knees, gasping for air as tears leak from my eyes. I’m light headed and feel nauseous. I gag and begin to cough as I sway, my arms give out and I fall to the wooden floor, sobbing. I don’t look up when his shoes enter my line of sight. I flinch away when he crouches in front of me, the dark chuckle that escapes him has me preparing for him to lash out and strike me, I’m no stranger to taking a beating.
“When you think it’s over, it will have only just begun,” he says quietly. I shift my head back along the ground and stare up into his eyes only to see disgust and loathing in their depths.
“Why are you doing this?” I croak out.
“Because I want to watch you break and fall apart. I want to destroy you. You are going to beg for me to kill you by the time I am finished with you. Shower’s through there, when I get back you better be clean and ready to take whatever the fuck I give you.” Tremors wreak havoc over my body at his innuendo. I say nothing as he pushes to his feet and leaves me here on the floor, closing and locking the door behind him. The moment I can’t hear his footsteps I let the sobs I was holding back free, then curling into a ball on the ground, I allow the tears to flow unchecked.
I feel utterly helpless. I’m not like my sister in the sense she is a badass and gives zero fucks. Ever since the accident I haven’t felt like myself. Six years have passed and I still feel like I’m missing a huge part of my life and no one seems to understand that. Any time I asked Dad about what happened, he would brush me off or get angry. I was never allowed to attend doctor’s appointments on my own. He had to always be by my side, never allowing me to ask any questions. I’ve asked River and every time she would just shut down and say she’s sorry. My life has been a series of clusterfucks one after another and I can’t fucking live like this anymore!
“Get up.” I snap my eyes open to see Taylan standing in the doorway with a bitter look on his face. My body protests as I gingerly climb to my feet. He nods and moves around the room with familiarity. He stands in front of me a minute later holding a fresh towel and shirt. “I suggest you get in the shower, kitten. He’s in a bad way and you don’t need to push him more than you already have.” The tinge of sadness that coats his tone confuses me.
“I haven’t done anything to him,” I rasp out, his eyes narrow before gripping my chin and lifting my head to expose my neck.
He growls in disapproval at the sight, I no doubt have bruises. “He do that?” I look away. “Answer me.”
“It won’t change the outcome, what’s done is done,” I say bitterly.
“Nothing is set in stone, Lakeland. Things can change but you have to want them to. Don’t cower behind your sister, you were never meant to be a sheep, you were always meant to be the shepherd.” I study him and take in the way he stares at me like he knows me. It fucking baffles me how he thinks he can speak about me like he knows something I don’t.
“You don’t know me.” He smiles, his dimples are on full display and I’m sure those weapons garner him a lot of attention from the ladies. He tentatively reaches out and brushes his fingers along my cheek. I gasp as a feeling of longing hits me in the chest.
“Lakeland Deveraux, I know you better than you know yourself right now, kitten.” His softly spoken words have my pulse thumping. The longer I stare up into his eyes, the more I feel like there is something I’m missing.
“Get away from her, Taylan.” Both Taylan and I jolt in shock. His hand drops back to his side as he turns around to face an angry Knox who stands in the doorway looking like an unhinged tanned God.
“You gonna choke me too?” Knox’s eyes narrow at his friend.
“Stay out of it. She isn’t who the fuck you think she is, get out.” Taylan’s shoulders bunch, I must be out of my fucking mind because I reach out and place my hand on his arm drawing his attention back to me.
“Thank you for the towel.” His brows furrow for a second before he nods and leaves, shoulder checking Knox on the way past. Not wanting him to unleash his wrath on me again I hastily make my way toward the bathroom across the room. I try to close the door behind me but Knox shoves it open, causing me to stumble backward and catch myself on the edge of the counter.
“It stays open.” I want to argue but the dark look in his eyes has me swallowing down my retort. I place the shirt and towel on the counter as I turn my back to him. I feel utterly violated knowing he is watching me. My hands tremble as I grip my shirt, pulling it over my head while forcing myself not to cry. I have road rash scars down my side from my accident. I’ve struggled with being okay with the way my body looks. I have more scars down the sides of my legs due to breaking them from the impact of the hit and run. I shakily reach behind me and unclasp my bra, dropping it next to my shirt. It takes me a full minute before I work up the courage to unbutton my cargo pants. I want to curse him out and demand he get the fuck out or scream for my sister but I don’t do either of those things, instead I strip down to my thong. I feel his gaze on me as I bend and push my panties down, kicking them to the side.
I keep my back to him as I shuffle toward the shower, it has frosted glass which I am grateful for. He will be able to see my silhouette but that’s it. I practically slam the glass door closed behind me and release the breath I didn’t know I was holding. I turn the shower on and gasp when the cold water hits me. I jump out of its trajectory only to smack into a warm body. I scream and spin around so fast I nearly lose my footing, but manage to catch myself on the built in shelf. The ice-cold water pelts my back but I can’t feel the sting of the cold as I stare up at Knox.
“What are you doing in here?” I screech as I wrap an arm across my breasts and use my hand to cover my pussy. I force my eyes to remain on his. I’m disgusted in myself for wanting to check him out after everything he has done to me. He runs his gaze over my body, taking his time to document every detail and not caring about the fact he has no right to see me like this.
“You could stand to lose ten pounds.” My jaw unhinges. I hate that his nasty remark has old insecurities rushing to the surface. I know I’m not a stick figure like my sister or many other girls my age, unlike them I have hips and an ass. It doesn’t help that I’ve been a double D since freshman year at high school. Girls would call me all types of names because boys would always stare at my ass or tits. They hated the fact their boyfriends would openly check me out thinking I would spread my legs for the team. Dumb bitches, their disgusting boyfriends are the reason I’ve chosen not to spread my legs at all. I refuse to allow my first time to be meaningless.
“And you could stand to get Botox on those crows’ feet.” The words flew out of my mouth before I could stop them. His arm lifts as if to grab me and instinct takes over. I smack it away and shove him against his chest but he doesn’t budge. We become a flurry of shouts and flailing arms as he keeps coming for me while I fight him off. He manages to catch my wrist and uses it to spin me around and slam me against the tiled wall. I cry out as my head bounces off the wall. He bends my arm halfway up my back, drawing a cry of pain from me as I rise to my tiptoes.
“You ever fucking touch me again and I’ll snap your fucking arm.” Tears prick the backs of my eyes but I refuse to allow this asshole the satisfaction of seeing them fall. I try to breathe through the fucking pain, refusing to submit. I won’t allow the likes of this fucker to break me. I did not escape one tyrant to wind up at the mercy of another.
