AllFreeNovel
Share Us
As soon as I knew Honey was safe, I would make him suffer for every sin he had ever committed. Make sure he tasted every drop of the pain he had caused others, slowly and methodically, until justice was served.
When nothing happened, no guards came to drag me away to his torture chamber, I reached out my hand, stretching across the silken sheets, trying to get an idea of what my room was like.
When my fingers brushed over soft skin, I yelped and jerked back, falling off the bed with a thud. What the everloving hell?!
I jumped to my feet, my knees so weak that I had to clasp the dresser next to the bed to keep from falling again. All I could hear were my own panicked breaths and the sound of someone else shaking on the bed.
"Tatiana?" A whisper, so quiet I could barely hear it, but the sweet innocence pouring from that small voice was unmistakable.
"Honey?" I trembled as I called her name, reaching out blindly with my hands. She lunged forward, throwing her arms around my neck and I fell to my knees, holding her tight.
"I wasn't sure it was you," she cried out into my shoulder. "I was so scared."
I held her tight, feeling her heart pounding against mine. "I know, baby," I said, tears of relief burning the back of my eyes. "I'm so sorry."
"What took you so long?" she choked out. "You said you would always come for me."
"I'm here now." I stroked her hair, attempting to calm her.
"I waited for you. For so long."
"Are you okay? Did he hurt you?" I asked, already checking for any signs of harm, even before she could answer.
She shook her head against my chest. "No. I was a good girl, so he didn't hurt me."
"Of course," I reassured her, feeling a swell of pride at her courage. "Of course you were a good girl." With that, I scooped her up into my arms and settled back onto the bed with her in my lap, holding her.
"No." She pulled away from me, her face contorted with determination. "I was ready to be bad, just like Knight and you wanted me to. I would kill him—anyone who touched me! I would have done it!"
Her words felt like a blow to my chest, my stomach churning with guilt. With shaking hands, I cupped her cheeks and looked into her eyes. "No, Honey. That's never what I wanted for you."
"But I was ready!" she shouted, her voice trembling with a mixture of fear and fury. "If he'd put his hands on me, I'd let out a roar like a mama elephant and beat him until he was dead!" She slammed a fist against her chest. "I'm strong enough—I can do it!"
"Honey, you are the strongest girl I know."
She searched my face for a long moment, eyes narrowed in concentration. "You believe me?"
"Yes," I said, without hesitation.
Her chin tilted upwards. "Good."
"And, it's my turn to be strong now. I'm going to have to do some bad things to get us out of here. And you're going to have to keep being brave, okay?"
Her eyebrows furrowed, intense focus sweeping across her face. "What do you mean?"
"I need you to do exactly what I say, when I say it. No matter what it is."
"And that's all I have to do?"
"Yes," I nodded. "I'll take care of you and me both now."
"Does that still make me strong?"
"Of course. As strong as an elephant facing down a lion."
She hesitated, her eyes searching mine. "I can do that." Then her shoulders slumped, as if all the fight had gone out of her. She suddenly looked small and vulnerable again.
I ran my thumb over her cheek. "I searched for you, you know," I said, my voice tight. "I looked everywhere, desperately hoping I'd find you safe and sound."
