Page 101 of Their Dark Rose

I’ll undertake each and every one of them gladly. I’ll wear the biggest freaking smile on my face when I finally start living the life I deserve.

With my leather boots, chunky white knit sweater, and cream-colored Sherpa jacket on, I’m ready.

Before I leave my room, I marvel at my ring again. It’ll glow so beautifully in the snow. It’ll shine the same as my heart does thanks to my men.

I smile to myself, sprinting back down to catch a few minutes outside.

Once I’m at our door, I punch in the code to neutralize our alarm. It beeps twice, and I unlock the door.

Despite how clean our windows are, watching the snow without a barrier hits me differently. Everything looks so much clearer. The earthy smell wafts into my nose, and I inhale deeply, filling my lungs with it.

Remembering my godfathers’ warning, I let my eyes roam across our street. My gaze travels left and right, searching for threats. For Aunt Mallie’s thick black hair or Thorn’s blond one.

I find neither of them. Matter of fact, there’s no one walking outside our gates.

I’m safe. I allow myself to feel it, to lower my guard.

“Snow,” I hum with pleasure, jogging out onto our driveway.

I close my eyes, opening my arms up to the heavens. Accepting this gift from Mother Nature.

I’m happy. Elated, even.

“Damn, Rosie.” I hear the high-pitched voice at the same time I’m hauled into a man’s body.

A large, muscular arm wraps around my midriff. A sweet yet pungent-smelling cloth is being pressed to my mouth.

That voice. I haven’t heard it in years, yet I know exactly who it belongs to.

No one but Thorn ever called me Rosie.

Fuck. Fuck, fuck, fuck.

Tears pour out of my eyes. I’d been so stupid. So naïve to believe these cruel, heartless people wouldn’t find a way to break in here.

“Damn, I knew you were dumb,” he whispers in my ear as darkness claims me slowly. “Leaving the house after we evaded your motherfucking detectives? Shit. That’s some other level of stupid right there.”

I’m trying to talk. To scream. To wrangle out of his hold with every last ounce of my dwindling energy.

He’s too strong. The boy who wouldn’t move his ass for literally nothing turned into a wall of steel.

He’ll kill me just like they killed my mom.

I’ll disappear from the face of the earth like I never existed.

I know that with absolute certainty when I see her through my half-lidded eyes.

Aunt Mallie moves out of the shadows to stand in front of me, her cruel blue eyes gleaming.

“Consider this a favor from us to you, dearest niece.” Aunt Mallie crosses her arms over her long, black trench coat. Her grin scares me worse than any of Finn’s ever has. “A silly girl like you would’ve brought your company down. That’s why your days here end now. Thorn and I will be taking over your empire from here. All you have to do is give us your womb to make it final.”

My hands go to my stomach with the last bit of my strength.

But it’s too late.

I’m too late.

The world goes black, and I pass out.

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