The pain continues to rip through me, my lungs heaving in raw, broken gasps. The trembling starts, and there's nothing I can do to hide it. My body feels like it's been turned inside out—nerves shredded, muscles locked in a panic.
“There really is beauty in pain.” Dakota hums. Then starts all over again.
I snap back into my body and run to the toilet, throwing up everything in my stomach.
“Isobel!” Luca and Maeve rush in after me.
I feel trembling fingers pulling my hair away from my face as I empty my stomach.
Finally, I sit back on the cool marble. Maeve wipes my forehead with a washcloth. Luca hands me another and I wipe my mouth.
“What happened?” Maeve sits next to me.
“I'll get you some water,” Luca says before walking out of the bathroom.
“The pictures.” I shake my head, pressing the heel of my palms to my eyes. “There was something my mind blocked out, but somehow Dakota knew, and the picture brought it all back.” I wish I could forget. The pain of it all makes my skin tingle.
Luca returns with a glass of water. I take it, taking a few sips.
“She showed me a photo of my mom, then of her and Daniel together.” I gag again.
“Ew, what the fuck.” Maeve's face pinches.
“She moved on fast.” Luca mumbles. “That's fucking gross,” Luca adds, his own nose scrunching.
I reach for Luca, and he takes my hand, helping me off the floor. I move over to my sink to wash out the vile taste in my mouth.
Noah and my dad walk in, holding the photos.
“So, she's fucking Daniel now?” Noah says, looking around at us.
“Don’t,” I say before continuing to scrub vigorously at my tongue.
“I just don't get it. What's the point of this?” Luca takes the pictures from Noah, shuffling through them.
“Daniel’s fucking with me. He knows I’m worried about my mom. He's trying to taunt me with Dakota. Then he reminded me of how Dakota inflicted pain on me.” I gargle with some mouthwash.
“He can't hurt you, so he's trying everything he can to hurt you in other ways,” Lucian says.
“Well, fuck that.” I spit. “I'm getting back to training ASAP and we're taking these fuckers down. I'm sick of them messing with my life. Gideon, Dakota, and Daniel. They all need to get fucked.” The rage simmers in my veins.
“I second that,” Maeve says cheerily.
“Then that's what we'll do.” Lucian nods approvingly, “We'll get you back to fighting shape and we'll take them all down.”
28 REBUILDING
It takes a couple of days to see a doctor, at Luca's insistence, to confirm I'm clear to do the workout Savvy lays out for me. However, they finally cleared me yesterday, but with a stern warning to take it slow.
I open the doors to the gym, expecting silence, but instead, I'm met with the sound of grunting. Jace is across the way at the squat rack, sweat glistening across his muscles as he finishes his set, putting the bar back on the rack with a loud clang. He grabs the bottom of his shirt, wiping his face.
I stand there, stunned for a moment. But I shake it out of my brain.
He literally kidnapped you, bitch. Get your mind out of the gutter.
I head over to the mats to start my stretches. I keep my eyes down as I select a playlist, and the music starts in my ears.
I roll my head around slowly, feeling the muscles flex and relax. Making sure I keep my breathing deep and even. Next, moving to slow shoulder circles and light arm raises.
