Page 6 of Claiming Charlotte

“Rowan!”

Her screams faded and those gathered against the wall watched me in sorrow, unable to help the cause. Now everyone knew, I had failed.

Charlotte

I couldn’t hold my tears back as Richard’s men dragged Rowan away. As I lay there in pain from the current of the collar, and the roughness of Richard as he assaulted me, all I could think was I lied to him…

Even if I didn't believe my words, as long as they gave him comfort, I accepted them. He needed to focus on staying alive.

I knew that he was unable to move or speak, and I could see by the look in his eyes that he was trying to tell me he loved me. I didn’t want to think about the kinds of things they would do to him. I knew that there was a strong chance I’d never see Rowan again, especially if Richard was putting Jason in charge of the torture. Jason's hands wrapped painfully around my wrists and held them straight out. The only thing I had as another painful shock ripped through me was the hope that Roe would find a way and we would be together again.

Before long my hands were free and my panties returned to me. My hand immediately flew to the collar tugging at it, trying to relieve any amount of pressure I could. In my haste, I tripped over something, falling painfully to the floor.

“Take Charlotte downstairs, too,” Richard said to Jace. “I want Rowan to hear her scream.”

Jace nodded and knelt down holding a hand out for me to take. I stared at it, holding my fury back for fear of worse backlash. After all of this he wants to be nice? I stared at his open hand, and I had no intention of going willingly, not anymore.

Jace rolled his eyes and grabbed my arms, lifting me to my feet.

“Move,” he commanded.

“Fuck you, Jace,” I spat. “All you are is a fucking traitor.”

In the blink of an eye, he had me pushed against the wall with his hand clamped tightly around the small area of my throat between the collar and my jaw, and my eyes went wide as his breath blew across my ear.

“You’re going to get your ass moving, or I’ll make sure it’s worse for you,” he whispered. “Don’t test me.”

He released me roughly and then pushed me toward the door. I stumbled a little but put one foot in front of the other as I held my head high. Jace kept a hand firmly on my upper arm, and as we walked through the office door and into the hallway, I saw all of my father’s men— my men— lined up along the wall, held at gunpoint by more of Walker's men. This isn’t an ambush; this was carefully planned. A hostile takeover.

My eyes scanned the room looking for Thomas or Arthur, and hope flared within me that they had escaped and would be the ones to save the Bennett’s. I kept my expression flat, and thoughts to myself. Jace paraded me in front of the men and paused next to one of Walker's men.

“If they don’t agree to join us,” he said, scanning each man standing against the wall. “Kill them.”

He pulled me away from my men and shoved me further down the hallway away from my father’s legacy.

“Why did you let him do that?” I asked shakily. “You let him hurt me.”

“Because you deserve it. Rowan couldn’t put you in your place, now, Walker has to.”

“What does that mean Jason? Where’s Roe?”

I couldn’t help the tears that continued to fall as we walked. Part of me didn’t really understand why this was happening, or maybe I was just in denial; like I had always been. My breathing quickened and the walls felt like they were closing in on me.

“Jason, I don’t want to die.”

“Trust me, you will,” He mumbled almost inaudibly.

As we turned a corner, I heard the first gunshot resound through the house. Men I had known my whole life, most watching me grow into the woman I am, rather should be, died for their loyalty and nothing more.

They deserved a stronger, smarter leader. I'm sorry.

4

ROWAN

My head hung to the side as my consciousness returned gradually. It was hard to keep my eyes open, but I forced myself to focus. My arms were numb, but after a few tries I found that the feeling was gradually coming back. Using my arms, I pulled against my restraints trying to break free.

My back was pressed against a cold wall and my wrists were tightly held above my head leaving my bare chest open and vulnerable. Where is my shirt? My memory was fuzzy, but I vaguely remembered being drugged by Jason and dragged away from Charlotte as she screamed. They were shocking her, a fucking shock collar they use now, making it impossible to run. Even if she had the chance, she couldn’t take it.

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