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At the mention of Nash’s name, my head snaps up to take a better look at the girl in the room.
Fuck.It’s her. I recognize her right away.
I’ll never forget what I saw.
“I had nothing to do with that. I’m not an animal.” I turn my attention back to Quinton. “Is that what this is about?”
He crouches down beside me again, wrinkling his nose at the smell. “You mean to tell me you knew nothing about it? Matteo’s own sister?”
“We shared blood, but that’s about it.”
“Were you close with Nash?” My throat tightens at the mention of his name. I have no option but to lie to them.
“Not very. I heard about what they did to you.” I glance up at Aspen. “I was disgusted, and I told him so.”
“Nash is dead now.”
I’m deadpan. No. No…
Nash.No, he can’t be dead.
I don’t have time to even process that, so rather than flinch, I force a snort. “So he got burned, too. They took it too far.”
Apparently, my act isn’t enough to convince him because he reaches for the gun anyway.
“Shall I do the honors?” he asks Aspen.
“I told you. I didn’t know anything about it.” My desperate pleas fall on deaf ears. My whole body is shaking, and if I wasn’t on my knees already, I’d probably be by now.
“You’re a part of the family. And they’re dead now. I don’t like leaving loose ends.”
“A family that wouldn’t let me share their name. They kept me a secret because I was a girl. Do you think I give a shit whether they’re alive or dead? I couldn’t care less. And I don’t deserve to die for what they did.”
Aspen exchanges a look with Quinton. Does she believe me? “I’m tired of death,” she announces. “She wasn’t there that night. That’s good enough for me. And if she was guilty of anything…” She shivers, looking around. “I think she’s paid her price.”
“Do you hear that? My wife is granting you mercy. If it were up to me, your brains would join his on that wall.” He points at the grotesque splatter as if to remind me. “But Aspen is compassionate enough to let you live. She’s endured far worse than you have since you got here, and she wants to let you go. Every morning you open your eyes, I want you to remember that, and I want you to be grateful to her. Do you hear me?”
“Yes,” I manage to whisper, then look up at Aspen. “Thank you.”
Quinton pulls out a cell phone and types a message into it. “They’re going to take you home,” he announces. “And if you say a fucking word about this, so help me God, you won’t live to see tomorrow. I’ll be watching you. Got it?”
I’m too scared to ask whotheymight be. I just hope it is not those two goons from before. “Understood.” A single sob bursts from my lips as I fight to get back up on my feet.
Quinton motions for me to wait here before taking Aspen’s arm and leading her away. He doesn’t close the door behind them, and for a moment, I’m thinking about making a run for it.
I take a single step toward the door when two large figures appear in my way.
“Well, hello there, sugar. Looks like we’re getting to spend some more time together.”
I swallow the lump forming in my throat. “Quinton said you are taking me home.”
“Welcome home, baby.” Rick grins. “You didn’t actually think he was going to let you walk out of here, did you?”
“Back to your cell, stupid bitch. Unless you want to stay here with your dear brother. We’ll even let you use the ten-inch dildo we shoved in his ass.” They both start laughing at their sick joke, and the image makes bile rise up in my throat. My heart sinks into my stomach. I can’t believe I thought I was going to get to walk out of here. Part of me hoped he would let me go, but I should’ve known. I’ll never be free of Quinton, his family, or my father’s namesake.
I’m forever trapped with no escape, and with that knowledge, a sliver of me wishes Aspen had let him kill me because, at least in death, I’d be free.
