Page 5 of Claiming Charlotte

What's happening to me?

Icouldn’t talk or smile if I wanted to, no matter how hard I tried. If I had a mirror in front of me, I would be willing to bet I couldn’t even look sad or angry. What I could feel was the pain when I was ripped from the cold surface and thrown to the ground. Bracing myself wasn't even possible as I landed painfully on my arm, and there was nothing I could do but lie where I was left and watch everyone interact around me. Whatever I was given had me struggling to stay awake and focused.

My emotions were still very real, and it was a strange feeling; to have an emotion and be unable to express it by any means. Anger was prominent in me that day, but so was a feeling of betrayal. Jace had somehow screwed me over and I had no way of knowing it. Looking back on the last few months, I realized that it was clear how Jace felt about Charlotte and me. I should have known he was a part of this. He’d pushed so hard for me to tell Charlotte everything. Why I would come home hurt, why we were gone so long, or why she was forbidden in the basement. His reasoning didn't make any sense, until now. When Benny told me the job was to split me away from Lottie, something clicked within me, but I couldn’t confirm anything until I saw it for myself.

As Jace jabbed a needle filled with god only knew what and forced it into my neck, I thought back on how I’d told him so many deep and personal things, and I couldn’t help but wonder how many of those secrets he’d betrayed. It made sense to me suddenly how Lacey knew Charlotte was in Hawaii, and how they had pictures of us. It was all Jace. What else was done right under my nose that I knew nothing about?

Jace knelt beside me after the men let me fall to the floor, leaning in close so I could hear.

“Hey, man. Sorry about this. You really are a good friend to me, but I had a job to do. The closer I was to you, the easier it would be to collect,” he said.

If Jace was a traitor, what about Nikki? I had to tell Charlotte. Seeing her cry in her restraints had me furious, she wasn’t relaxed enough to think things through. I needed to find a way to tell her, but I couldn’t even vocalize my concerns to her. I wanted to wrap my hands around Jace’s neck and squeeze until he stopped breathing.

“It’s nothing personal, you should have stayed away; now you’re nothing more than collateral damage,” Jace said, patting me on the cheek as he stood.

I watched in panic as he?approached Charlotte, grabbing a knife held out to him, and I struggled even harder to make myself move.

Please, anything… I tried so hard to lift something as small as my finger to no avail.

He wheeled the chair close to me, the squeaking rubbed against my eardrums, and I couldn’t shield myself from it.

“Charlotte, on the other hand,” Jace continued. “This pampered brat doesn’t do anything but complain about the inheritance she’s about to receive, and I’m so tired of it. She doesn’t deserve it, does she?”

He pulled a lock of hair away from Charlotte’s face and I watched as she yanked her head away from his touch.

Jace kneeled next to her and grabbed her chin, guiding her gaze to me.

“Look at him, Charlotte. Look at how weak Rowan is. The man who’s supposed to protect you can’t even talk.”

Chuckles echoed around the room and the helpless look on Charlotte's face killed me. I hated that I put myself in a situation where I couldn't protect her, and I was forced to admit defeat as he rose to his feet; using the knife to undo Lottie’s ropes.

He nodded to me. “Say goodbye, Charlotte.”

She stared at him, unmoving, until he grabbed her by the arms and threw her down toward me. I couldn't even hold her. Her soft thumb ran along my face and rested on my jaw before she latched onto me, wrapping her arms around my neck.

“It’s going to be okay. Don’t fight for me, fight to live, Roe, then if you can, find me,” she started sobbing.

My heart hurts, is this what it feels like? A broken heart.

“Take him downstairs,” Walker instructed. My stomach sank. I’d heard that same phrase many times before, and I knew what it meant.

Charlotte began fighting them, holding tight as she twisted her hands in my shirt and pulled me into her chest. “No, no, please don’t do this!”

They picked me up, attempting to shake her off, but all she did was hold onto me tighter, digging her nails painfully into my shoulder. Locking eyes with Walker, my drowsy eyes followed his movements as he walked forward and reached for a fistful of her hair yanking back, causing her to stumble. She looked into my eyes and I told her what I needed to say. You have to let me go…

“I love you,” she whispered, allowing him to pull her into the middle of the room where Jace moved fast to subdue her, placing some sort of collar-like device around her neck. It wasn't bulky, fitting around her neck perfectly.

“Don’t worry,” Walker said, keeping one hand tangled in her hair, while the other hoisted her up and slammed her on the desk in front of them. “I’ll take good care of her.”

I kept my eyes on her, she was facing away from me, on her stomach and breathing heavily, fighting against him, but he swiftly took her arm and twisted it behind her back. If he wanted to take her right in front of me, there would be nothing I could do in this state. Don’t fight them, Princess. It will only be worse….

“Should we give him a little show Charlotte? He loves to watch you know,” he laughed, signaling Jason to stand behind the desk. “Always did. Jason, hold her arms, I want another taste.”

“Rowan!” She yelled.

A rumble deep within my chest resembled a sob as I watched Walker press a button and Lottie crumbled against the wood, convulsing. Kneeling, his hand traveled up her dress bunching it against her waist, his lips licked and sucked their way up her thighs. I moved my eyes to Jason, why wasn’t he doing anything? It wasn’t some random girl; it was Lottie. He was just letting Walker rape her like she was nothing, hearing her cry for all of it to stop. His jaw was clenched, yet instead of stopping it, he held her arms tight. Guilt and anger engulfed me as I watched Walker bury his face into her, taking what was mine, hurting the one person that made me feel something in this fucked up world. And I would never forgive myself for this moment.

Hearing her cry as they forced me out of the room and further down the hall haunted me.

---