Page 4 of Claiming Charlotte

“Do you know what happens to bitches that don’t listen?” he hissed. His words were cold, evil. No but I bet you're going to tell me.

I stared at his beady eyes and was shocked to find nothing within them. I don’t think this man even has a soul.

“They get punished and make no mistake; I’m not against carving you into tiny pieces until you get the hint. Understood? One more chance, Charlotte. Be good.”

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Roe clamber quietly to his feet. He was going to take a chance, and my heart pounded at the thought that freedom was close and so was Walker's demise, and I wouldn't stop Rowan from whatever he had planned.

From behind Roe, I saw two of Walker's men approach, ready to interfere if needed. It’s a trap, he wants him to attack. Attempting to give any sort of warning, I gently raised a few shaky fingers, motioning for Rowan to stop. He listened for once and froze quickly standing down, and I tried to communicate with my eyes hoping he would understand what I was trying to say. I don't want them to hurt you…

My gaze leveled, and I took a deep, steadying breath. Rowan relaxed his stance a little, and Walker spoke.

“I’m going to love breaking you. You're going to make me so much money, but I'm not going to sell you?off. No, people will pay to have their way with you, and I’ll watch with pride as my new pet takes it so well.”

Bile rose threatening to expel from my body as his hand slithered in between my legs parting them to rest on my thigh. “And when you are not in use, you’re mine. If you're not by my side, you will be helping others…adjust, but only when I can trust you won’t run.”

His fingers hovered just outside my panties, and I felt humiliated knowing Rowan and anyone else present in the room had a front row seat to my assault. I heard Roe growl behind Walker and a tear escaped my eye as I twisted my hand around trying to get free in any way I could.

“Don’t worry Charlotte, it will hurt at first, but you will learn to love it. I mean look at you already; so wet, you like this don’t you?” I shook my head furiously as he pulled my panties to the side and shoved his fingers inside of me roughly.

Crying out, I tried to close my legs, trying to relieve the pain being caused to me. The man standing behind me slithered his hand around my throat squeezing tightly, and Walker forced my knees open again. He dragged his fingers back and forth spreading his sharp fingertips along my walls, and I was useless to fight against him.

Rowan lunged forward, aiming for Walker's throat when the men standing behind him moved fast, and grabbed his arms pulling him backward.

“Get off of her!” he screamed. It was laced with panic and anger, which made fresh tears of embarrassment fall down my face. I couldn’t bring myself to look at him.

Walker smirked and straightened his posture, his mouth wrapping around his fingers, tasting what he had just taken from me. He fixed the hem of his coat and turned toward Rowan, laughing.

“I bet you weren’t expecting that,” he said. “I always have men to bend to my will, Rowan. I’m not that easy to take down. You, on the other hand. Piece of cake.”

He walked to the door of the study and opened it, ushering someone through the door. In the darkness of the room I couldn't tell who it was.

“Hold him, boys,”

In a flash Rowan was held over the edge of the oval table where so many meetings were held. I could hear his panicked breaths and growls of frustration as he squirmed and fought against them.

“Stop!” I cried out. “He’s panicking, you animals!”

A familiar clearing of a throat snapped my attention back to the door. Blinking a few times to make sure this was right, and I wasn't going crazy, dread overcame me realizing that I wasn't dreaming.

My mouth dropped open. I had never felt such betrayal in my life.

Jace was prepping a needle and filling it with some clear liquid from a tiny jar. He approached Roe slowly making sure they were holding him down in a way where he had the correct access and stuck the needle in his neck.

The man standing behind me still had his hold, crushing my windpipe, yet, I was able to let out a scream as I watched his body twitch; and his once angry growls became whimpers as his situation caught up to him.

Rowan weakly turned to me as his struggling arms stilled.

“I’m sorry, Lottie,” he whispered. His head relaxed and he stopped moving completely. Seeing him in that state forced my wall to crumble and I sobbed.

“Why isn’t he moving!?” I screamed.

Jace turned toward me and stared at me with cold, hard eyes.

“Jason, what did you do!”

3

ROWAN

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