Page 3 of Claiming Charlotte

He searched my face with narrowed eyes, and I could tell I had his attention. He walked around the desk and stood in front of me.

“Kneel,” he commanded.

I shot daggers at him. I didn’t kneel for anyone but Charlotte, but he needed to believe me. That meant meeting his demands. With a growl, I knelt in front of him and waited for orders like the obedient bitch he thought he owned. Of course I didn't want to comply, but I had no choice.

“You,” Richard said, pacing around me. “Are pathetic. I want you to know that what happens to Charlotte is all your fault. You thought she was safe, while you disappeared like a coward. She always thought it was you stalking her every move, boy was she wrong, and so naive. Now, thanks to you, she's just another number.”

Walker was doing a great job at making me blame myself, and I resolved then and there that if I couldn’t save Charlotte, I wouldn’t save myself, either. It was a sad thought, but I refused to live a life where she wasn’t included. We had been through too much for it to end like this, and I would never start over.

Before I could register what was happening, he backhanded me across my face, and I went down, feeling the jagged edge of his ring slice across my face. Keep fucking pushing me old man. He stepped on my chest, taking my breath away, and I attempted to grab his ankle and lift it off, but he only pushed harder, and I grunted in pain as he spoke.

“You're going to be chained up like an animal for the rest of your life, Rowan, listening to her screams. Then when I'm done with her, and she's used up, I'll slit her throat and make you watch her bleed out.”

I cried out in pain as his weight continued to hold me hostage. Just as I waited for a crack to come, the pressure released me from my confines, and I shakily tried to push myself up.

“Now get back on your knees like a good boy and take your punishment for the disgusting lack of loyalty.” he barked.

“I just want to let you know that if I’m going down, I’m taking you with me, you bastard,” I chuckled dangerously. He's only giving me the motivation I need.

2

CHARLOTTE

My head pounded as I stirred, and it took a moment to remember what was going on. Dad was dead. Richard’s men grabbed me…. I shifted slightly in the chair I was in and felt the tug of restraints on my wrists and my heartbeat quickened in my chest. My head hurts, what happened? The last thing I remembered was calling Roe for help, then I was grabbed; beyond that, darkness. I had to play this smart. I knew then that they had tied me up and would be watching me, so I feigned like I was still unconscious.

I heard Richard speak about doing horrible things to me, and I peeked up through my eyelashes to see Rowan on his knees. One side of his face was a deep shade of red, and he had a cut on his face that started from his cheekbone, extending to the top of his upper lip. It bled, but he was chuckling. My senses narrowed as I focused on what they were saying. Rowan was the type of person who could show his emotions through the features of his face, and it made it easy to tell what he was feeling to an extent. But this gaze, it was different, he was already planning his revenge.

I had heard Roe say something about going back to the Walkers if they let me go. Fear coursed through my body as I realized that he was trying to trade his life for my own, and it broke my heart to hear him vocalize it. Over my dead body that was happening. How dare he give his life away so easily, like it means nothing. I zeroed in on the current conversation, listening closely.

“I’ve had my sights on Charlotte for a long while, son. When I found out you two reconnected, it was such a treat for me. Two for the price of one, right?” Richard said.

Just like that, I knew that neither of us would be leaving unscathed. But we would be leaving this, I would keep fighting and he needed to concentrate to do the same. This was my legacy and my father worked endlessly so I would be okay when he was gone.

However, I had underestimated Walker’s dark tendencies.? The most concerning thing to me was that he was true to his word. He never told a lie; at least, not directly from what I had heard about him. I raised my head, no longer wishing to remain unseen.

“You bastard,” I spat. “Let me go, you sick son of a bitch.”

I pulled at the ropes that held my hands down, hoping for any kind of friction or loose ends to slip them out. Walker snapped his finger and a man stepped out of the shadows standing behind me with his hands on my shoulders. His touch repulsed me, and I struggled to stay still so he wouldn’t have to painfully dig his fingers into me further.

“Charlotte. How sweet of you to join us,” Walker said joyfully. “I was just telling Rowan here about all the fun you and I are going to have.”

“Fuck you,” I spat, shooting a look of disgust his way.

“Oh, yes. That will come, eventually. You and Roe had a lot of fun in Hawaii, didn’t you? Now it’s my turn, and I can’t wait to get my hands on those legs of yours.”

I felt the blood drain from my face. Rowan was right…Richard was a creep, a man with no morals. I broke eye contact with him and stared at the floor, embarrassed at what he said.

Suddenly he crossed the room and I sank into the chair before he grabbed my chin harshly, yanking my head up toward him so I could look him in the eye.

“Don’t touch me,” I spat.

Walker wrapped his hand around my throat and ran his tongue along my jawline up to my cheek, and I resisted the urge to vomit.? “Come on, Charlotte. Tell me you’ve thought of this moment.”

In an attempt at resistance, I spat in his face and reveled in my victory as he released me and backed away with a repulsed look on his face. I released a breath in a false sense of security before hearing his dark chuckle. My eyes followed him as he paced around me, and my fear was starting to get the best of me. Not knowing what his plan was for us allowed thoughts to swirl around my head.

“Lottie!” I heard Roe call out before a stinging sensation spread to my mouth and nose. Before I could react, Walker pulled himself close to me again slamming his hands down on mine, crushing them into the arm of the chair. I bit my lip, swallowing down the painful cry that sat within me.

My body reacted trying to pull them away and it only caused me to groan in pain, my face heated and my eyes flitted to Roe. He wasn’t moving, his jaw clenched, and his eyes were closed. I wanted to tell him I was okay, but Walker's face swam into view and my gaze hardened. I could feel his hot, rancid breath on my neck.

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