Page 56 of Wounded Hearts

Chapter 26

Mara movedher jaw up and down, the pain only slight as she kept watchful eyes on Brayden. After the first two blows he’d stopped, wrestling his temper under control for the first time since they’d started dating and he’d hidden his evil from her so spectacularly.

Then he’d untied her and told her to sit in the armchair Rhea had vacated. She thought he’d question her, would demand to know if she’d slept with Drew but he hadn’t. He’d left her alone as he worked on his computer all night, but he never took his attention away from her completely. Not that it mattered because Mara knew she wouldn’t get past the men at the door. He’d been sitting opposite her for almost an hour now, a glass of his favourite brandy in his hand as he silently assessed her.

It was a technique he’d used in the past to make her uncomfortable. He seemed to get off on keeping her on edge, with not knowing what might come next, what he’d do. Mara mutinously stayed silent refusing to play his sick games. The last few weeks had changed her in so many ways. The damage Brayden had done would always be a part of her but now she had the tools and support she needed to understand she had worth and she wouldn’t allow him to pull her back into the pit of despair he’d kept her in.

“You shouldn’t have run from me, Mara. I love you.”

Mara shook her head at the absurdity of his words. “You don’t know what love is. You don’t hurt those you love. You cherish them and the gift they are to you.”

She followed his movement as he uncrossed his legs and leaned forward. She fought the urge to flinch, not wanting him to know how much he frightened her. He saw it though; she knew by the satisfied grin he gave her.

“And is this how you feel about that boy?” His tone showed the disgust he felt.

“Drew is more of a man than you ever were, or ever will be.” Mara was angry now, all the bottled-up emotions and grief pouring forth.

Brayden advanced on her, grabbing her hair, wrenching her neck back as his face came close. “I’ll show you how much of a man I am when I put my seed inside you and watch it grow. Then I’ll give the woman I really love the child she’s always desired.”

“Brayden!” The sharp, blade-like sound of Rhea Winslow’s voice hit the room and he released her as if she burned. Mara fell back, focusing on the woman who’d so much control over her ex-lover. Winslow’s eyes wandered over them both, on the surface she had a bored expression on her face, but Mara could see the calculation underneath.

“It’s time. Take her to the main house.”

Mara saw Nazareli behind her like a constant shadow. Brayden grasped her roughly by her arm and hauled her forward as she fought him. She had no idea what they planned to do, but she knew it was most likely horrible and would involve pain and death.

“No.” Mara pulled away and Rhea stepped up to her back-handing her hard. Mara saw stars as the force of the blow from the smaller woman shook her brain inside her head.

“Enough. Brayden, either control her or I will,” she bit out.

Mara felt the threat and fear like she never had with Brayden and realised she’d been wrong about this woman. She’d suffered a loss, a terrible one, but there was no excuse for how she’d turned out. Using a bad experience or childhood trauma for bad behaviour was a cop-out as far as Mara was concerned.

Mara was led silently along the path from the cottage to the main house, her eyes not lingering on the rose bed where she’d laid her child to rest. Rhea led them into the main drawing room as if this was her house and she was the lady of the manor. Brayden was nothing but a puppet to this woman, a much-loved puppet, but a puppet none the less.

“It seems my nephew loves you more than his friends. He’s just arrived at the main gate with Lizzie, Lucy, and my little Meg.”

Mara tried not to show any emotion to the announcement. Her initial thought was denial, Drew would never bring them here. Then as she thought about it more, she tried not to smile. Drew would never betray his friends, no matter what was at risk and she knew in that instant he had a plan. Mara stayed silent, not wanting to tip her hand, her poker face firmly in place.

Brayden crossed to Rhea and took her arms in his hands. “Rhea, I have a bad feeling about this, we need to be careful.”

Mara watched the guards at the door, their vacant eyes never leaving her. It made her shiver to realise they’d been drugged like Smithy had been. They were pawns in this game, nothing more than expendable pawns.

“Do not question me.”

Mara flinched at the hissed demand from the woman who thought she was a god.

The door opened and Nazareli stepped in, her eyes searching the room for a threat. Mara caught sight of more guards outside in the hallway. Nazareli eventually rested her focus on her boss, before it moved to Brayden.

“Jo, please.”

Mara saw Rhea stiffen at the name, her face turning red, her spine snapping straight as she pulled her arms from his grasp. “Do not call me that.”

Brayden seemed to understand his mistake because he paled, swallowing as he backed away with raised hands. Rhea turned to Nazareli. “Secure them both.”

Brayden looked around seeming shocked at the turn of events. “Rhea, please, why are you doing this?”

Rhea locked her eyes on Brayden as Nazareli advanced on him. “You’re weak, like he was.” Mara was surprised by the grief in her tone when she spoke.

“I am not, I’m successful, I saved you,” Brayden croaked. He was pushed to his knees as the cold, young woman held a gun to his head.