Page 39 of Scorned

Dr. Cuntface let out a huff. “Next time, choose your words carefully.”

“Leave him alone!” Carmen screamed so loud it echoed through the halls. The frantic tone of her voice indicated that she had been crying. “What’s wrong with you people?”

“Stop talking,” I told her in Spanish. “They want you to react. Don’t give her the satisfaction.”

“What did you say to her?” Amy asked.

Peeling my eyes open was similar to pulling the lid off a Pringle can. Every tiny piece of skin stuck together when I painfully ripped them apart. “None of your fucking business!”

Her nostrils flared this time, and I knew the light was coming back on, so I slammed my eyes shut again, bracing myself for the pain.

The flip switched, and my screams echoed throughout the room, the smell of burning flesh filling my nostrils once more.

Despite the unbearable torment, I knew the value of enduring it. Anything was worth knowing Sage was safe.

The doctor flipped the light off and I gasped for air. With a lack of blood in my system, my wounds were healing at an extremely slow rate.

She made her way to the door, her high heels clicking against the floor. “I hoped you were different . . . not like the others.” After putting in her code, she took a deep breath and let out a disappointing sigh. “I guess I was mistaken.”

The door shut with a click. Small sobs filled my ears as they left Carmen. I stayed quiet, hoping Amy wouldn’t bother her. When her walking stopped, and the beeping started, I knew she’d entered her code into Carmen’s door.

Shit.

“Stay strong,” I said loud enough for Carmen to hear, but not the doc.

Minutes later, Carmen screamed, now being punished for sticking up for me. My chest became heavy and I closed my eyes tight, attempting to drown out the sounds of her pain.

My brain went to the only comfort I had. Sage.

I thought about her beautiful face.

Her dark hair.

Hazel eyes.

Sensual voice.

A single tear stung when it exited my eye and rolled down my burnt face.

I was far from a godly man. After my parents were taken from me long ago, I stopped believing in heaven and hell. To me, earth was the only place where hell actually existed. People resorted to immoral actions to gain an advantage or sometimes just for fun.

As visions of Sage played in my mind like an old VHS tape rewinding itself over and over, I started believing in heaven.

Chapter 12

Sage

Twenty-four long and treacherous hours later, I sat in the front seat of Drag’s truck, staring out the window as we went south on Highway 518. The anxiety and nervousness this mission gave me were overwhelming, so I was grateful when I realized the new meds helped a little.

The last thing I wanted to do was ask my mother to help me find Luka. Especially since she thought she was only coming to see her daughter. She would be blindsided by my request. I felt bad, but we had no other leads. If we wanted to save Luka and Strike, she was the only possible answer.

“Ya good over there?” Drag’s question brought me out of my internal monologue.

“I’m nervous.”

“Obviously. Your heart rate keeps speeding up.”

I glanced over my shoulder when I heard Lynx speak. “Sorry.”

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