“There you are, my lucky charm.” I pick her up, and her hands immediately find my cheeks.
She smiles, and maybe it’s just gas, but I’d like to think she’s happy to see me. She nuzzles against my chest, but then she looks around like she’s searching for Emery.
“I know, I miss her too.” I cradle Charlie in my arms. “I’m going to get her right now, don’t you worry. She’s going to be okay.”
I kiss my daughter on the top of the head, breathing her in. My heart, my soul, my reason for existing.
“I’m going to bring your mommy back to you,” I promise. “And then I’m going to make sure you get every good thing you deserve in this world, Charlotte Roman. Absolutely everything.”
If it’s the last thing I do.
38
Emery
Every creak has mescooting closer to the headboard. My wrists are a mess of dried and fresh blood. Every time I shift the rope, it rips open a fresh patch of skin.
After Eli left, I lost all fight. I couldn’t breathe, much less think. I curled into a ball and gave up hope, fearing every noise from the other room. Every click. Every footstep.
I stared at the closed door until the tears stopped, and I grew numb.
His threats became white noise as they spun in circles.
Then, I decided I’d had enough.
Eli wants me terrified. He wants me desperate for his help. He wants me to be the girl I was all those years for my uncle—afraid to stick up for herself. Easily controlled and manipulated. Except that’s not who I am anymore. It’s not the woman I want my daughter to look up to.
I’ve grown a spine, and I refuse to let him break me.
I wipe my tears on my arm, pulling myself to sitting, staring at the closed door. I stare so long it’s not fear that swells inside. It’s rage.
For what he’s done.
What he intends to do.
I press my back to the headboard, glancing up at the bloody knot restraining my wrists. It’s drenched crimson and impossible to untie, but there has to be some way out of it. I tug, wincing when there’s no give. A fresh bead of blood trickles down my arm.
Glancing around the room, I search for anything within reach that might slice through the rope but come up empty. When I tug again, I fight through the splinters of pain. If I can’t undo the knot, maybe I can loosen it enough to slip my hands free.
With each twist, my wrists ache. Blood soaks my forearms as I turn my hands again and again. The burn is searing. Tears sting my eyes for an entirely different reason, but I don’t stop.
If it’s the last thing I do, I’m going to fight my way out.
The rope begins to fray the longer I work at it. A piece snaps off, but I’m not quite free when voices come from the other side of the bedroom door. Two men near, chuckling with each other, sending a cold chill down my spine.
I shift, making sure my back is to the headboard and my hair hides what I’ve done to the rope. The door swings open just as I pull my legs to my chest, trying to hide my bra, which peeks out of my torn shirt.
Only one of the men enters the room, shutting the door behind him. I recognize him from the car ride over here. He was in the passenger seat, glancing back at me when Eli wasn’t paying attention.
His dark eyes take me in. “I hear you’ve been causing trouble.”
“Let me guess. You’re going to do something about it?” Maybe I shouldn’t provoke him.
But I was raised around men like him. Men who want you to be weak and scared. Men who thrive when they have all of the power. The girl I was before would’ve accepted it. She would’ve been quiet to pacify him. I’m done being that girl.
I don’t so much as blink as he sneers at me.
“Eli doesn’t like them feisty. You’ll learn that soon enough.” His smile turns vicious. “Good thing he has me to put out that fire.”
