Page 132 of Death Wish

Easier said than done. However, now that Simone knew the man she loved was still alive, she’d do whatever she must to survive Trevor.

Her ex twisted the knob and shoved the door open so hard it banged against the wall and bounced back to hit him in the side.

“Out,” he shouted. “I told you what would happen if you took more than a minute.”

She hadn’t gone over her deadline.

Trevor gripped her by the upper arm and propelled her from the bathroom to a room across the hall. He shoved her inside and followed her. Fists clenched, he advanced on her.

The first blow caught her off balance and sent her to the floor.

Trevor was on her in a flash. His fists flew. Blows rained down her torso and face. When he finished, he rose and kicked her in the side.

Simone cried out as pain ripped through her. He just had to kick her in the same side where she’d been shot.

Warm liquid trickled to her back. Oh, man. Her wound had reopened. She prayed help would arrive sooner than later. If they didn’t, she’d have to find something to staunch the blood flow until operatives found her. She would not let Trevor win this battle. She wanted that life she’d dreamed of with Jesse.

Trevor swaggered from the room, shut the door, and locked it.

With shallow breaths, Simone struggled to sit up. Pain consumed her and her vision narrowed.

No. She couldn’t pass out. If she did, she feared what Trevor might do to her while she was unconscious.

Her watch vibrated. Simone glanced at the screen. Safe to talk?

“I’m alone for now,” she whispered.

“You okay?” Zane murmured.

“The wound in my side reopened.”

“Don’t lie to me,” he snapped. “I heard what he did to you. Body blows and face, right?”

She rolled her eyes, the only body part that didn’t hurt. “You have a camera?”

“Don’t need one. I’ve been on the receiving end of beatings. How is your breathing?”

“Hampered. Not sure if it’s the bruising or fractured ribs.”

Zane hissed. “If an operative doesn’t kill White, Brent and I will. No one beats our people and gets by with it.”

“Don’t get in trouble on my account.”

“Look around you. What do you see?”

She obeyed Zane’s order. “Nothing. This room is totally empty.”

“Are you on the bottom floor?”

“Only one floor.”

“Windows?”

She looked. “One.”

“Find out if it’s locked.”

Simone groaned as she climbed to her feet. Gritting her teeth, she walked hunched over to check. She pulled aside worn curtains to peer at the grimy window. So much filth had built up that she couldn’t see outside. She did, however, see bars across the window. Trevor hadn’t been kidding about calling this her jail cell. “He put bars outside the window.”

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