Soon, it would be too much, and they wouldn’t be able to bring me back.
I’d be free.
My head was fuzzy as he looked at me like I was the piece of crap he’d walked on. I felt worse than that. I felt like I was going to die. Why couldn’t he just let me die?
Hardy rose from his squatting position and looked down at me with distaste. “Clean her up.”
Strong hands pulled me up, and carried me inside. I didn’t see who it was, just let my body go. They could do what they wanted to me, so long as Hardy didn’t. I never wanted his hands on me again.
I was put in a shower. Hot water blasted over my skin, making my body tremble even more, but it held a comfort that I hadn’t felt in days. I imagined it were Maverick’s arms around me, washing me, making me feel warm. Getting lost into those memories of him, I hoped they stayed with me until the end.
Once my body stopped shaking, whoever it was, took me out of the cubicle, wrapped me in a towel and set about drying me. I felt like I was out of my body, like I was watching on from another place. I couldn’t even feel the way they would yank my arms and legs with the towel, drying my skin as quickly as possible.
I was marched out of the bathroom and into a bigger room, my eyes finding Hardy waiting. He looked cruel, and even though I knew he was, he seemed to be in a bigger asshole mood than earlier.
Something was bugging him. I had to fight back to the smirk at knowing his carefully executed plans weren’t falling into place for him.
“What about Mannix? He’s been sniffing around.”
The sound of my brother’s name had my spine stiffening. Did he know Hardy had me here? Surely he would have tried to rescue me. Unless Hardy lied and told him I fled. He would believe that. He knew that I was trying to do that for months already. I held back the sob that had been accumulating and kept my eyes on Hardy.
His expression hardened at his men who held me up. “Get out.”
They did, listening to his instructions like the little sheep they were. He came closer, stalking me as he always did since I returned. Hooking a finger in the knot of my towel, he loosened it enough to allow it to fall. Standing before him, naked, bruised and scratched, thanks to his maniacal ways, I forced myself to stay still.
“It’s a shame you couldn’t be bent to my will,” he said, as his eyes grazed over my body. I could see the lust in his eyes, and it made me sick. “We could have built quite the empire together. However, your father’s name only goes so far. It does open doors, though.”
I didn’t respond. I couldn’t.
“How many times do you think your brain can handle being killed and revived? By my count, it’s been three times now. Surely, it’s done something irreparable to your mind.”
I bit my lip to stop the tremble, and the tears from falling.
“If you think me cruel, you’ve no idea what sick and twisted things the men who would love to buy you would do. Your father’s name is hated among so many, and admired by even more. Those who would see his legacy tarnished…ooooh, they’ll pay me enough to overthrow your brother and destroy your beloved Shackled Sons. I suppose you’ve done me a favour by running away and destroying my love for you.”
“You don’t know how to love.”
He chuckled. “I suppose I don’t. Maybe you just weren’t woman enough to tame me.”
I looked him square in the eyes. “I was more woman than you were capable of handling.”
His hand came up so quick, I didn’t have the energy to block it. One side of my face was hot from where his palm had slapped me hard.
“Enough of this,” he said, clearing away his anger. “Dress pretty, will ya? We’ve got a poker game to get to, and you’ll need to look the part of the prize, since that’s precisely what you are.”
My skin prickled as I turned to the dress laid out over the bed. A gold satin dress lay there, with strappy heels to match. A prize, indeed.
I knew the types who went to those poker tournaments while the seedy underbelly happened under the casino, he put on a show with some of the most crooked and corrupt officials and businessmen upstairs.
This time.
I was going to bewon. If anything, he hadn’t been wrong. The men he dealt with were much more dangerous than he was, and held more power. Hardy was effectively selling me off to the highest bidder.
My knees finally buckled, from the pressure of the situation and the lack of sustenance in my body. The tears couldn’t be stopped this time.
I’d never see my boys again.
Maverick
