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He grunted and retaliated.
He struck me in the jaw, sending me swaying to the side.
If I had two legs, I would’ve absorbed the blow.
But with only one, I fell.
My balance forgot.
My body believed it had two feet.
That awful fucking phantom feeling convinced me that if I just put my left leg out, I’d be stabilised and could throw another strike.
I cried out as I landed on the end of my stump.
Blinding pain shot through my remaining bones, and pain-sweat flashed over my skin.
“I told you you should’ve held onto the wall.” Cem stood over me and snapped his fingers. Two guards came running. They crowded into the walk-in wardrobe, towering over me on the floor.
Ducking to his haunches, Cem lost any signs of being my shame-filled father and instead turned into my torturer. “This is my fault. I see that now. I wanted to give you time to heal, and you’ve done that. You are strong. You are healthy. But your temper is corrosive, and your hate for me will only lead you down a path where I cannot save you.” Clucking his tongue, he added, “And yes, you’re right. I did speak to Nerida. We had a lovely chat. She’s here, actually—”
“What?” I looked up, riding through the waves of agony. “She’s in Turkey?”
What was she thinking?
She disobeyed me.
She broke her promise!
White-hot panic whipped through me at the thought of Cem selling her, using her, hurting her.
Of course, she came.
Of course, she wouldn’t let me go that easily.
She was impulsive and reckless and passionate and—
Fuck!
“Don’t touch her, you bastard. I-I’ll do whatever you want. Just leave her the fuck alone—”
“I’ve given her a few days to mourn you in our homeland, and then she’s aware she has to leave.” Cem sighed. “I won’t hurt her. I have no animosity toward her. She’s technically my daughter-in-law, after all, and I’m loyal to my family. Unlike some. She loves you enough to refuse to believe you’re dead—”
“She knows,” I breathed, a certain kind of unexplainable understanding slamming into my chest.
She knew.
She knew because we shared the same heart. We’d vowed to be one and she could feel, as well as I could feel her, that she was out there...somewhere...alone and in pain but alive. I had no doubt that if she died, I would feel it. I would know the moment she took her last breath because it would be the end of mine.
I’d heard her screaming for me when Ethan hurt her.
She heard me screaming for her now.
Neri.
I’m here.
I’m yours.
