Page 42 of Tainted Essence

“Why would you tell me? You said only three people know this story, why would you trust me with it?”

He smiles sadly and drops his chin to his chest and peeks up at me through his lashes. “That’s precisely the point, I do trust you, Slayer.” His words hit me in the chest and have warmth spreading throughout my body.

“You can trust me but not be more than my fuck buddy?” The words spew out before I can stop them. He takes a shuddering breath and stares down at the floor. I snort, even with our futures facing uncertainty he can’t be honest about his fucking feelings.

Taylan

I can feel the betrayal wafting off her in waves. I can’t say what she needs me to even with our lives hanging in the balance. I may feel something for her but that doesn’t mean I can make myself say what she wants to hear. If I give in and allow her to consume me, then I could end up like the bitch who gave me life. There’s a reason I was never taken by child services, no one cared enough to search for me when the bodies were found. I have no idea who my father is and even if I did, I don’t think he would have cared.

A thought hits me, pulling me from my thoughts. I dart my gaze around the room and frown.

Where the fuck is Kimber’s kid?

Not once has anyone uttered a word about Kimber’s kid, if he had the girl surely he would have said something. That’s when the truth slams into me like a ton of bricks. Holy fuck, the realization is more crushing then I want to admit. She never knew who the father was but now she knows. He does have her but she isn’t a slave.

“Why do you look like you just got sucker punched?” Destiny asks. I open my mouth to answer but snap it shut when the internal door opens and Koda and four of his men enter. I have a newfound hatred of this cocksucker, I’m going to enjoy killing this cunt.

“Ready to begin?” he taunts her.

“Where’s your daughter?” I ask. He snaps his gaze to me and narrows his eyes. I smirk. He just confirmed my suspicion. “Did you tell Kimber after we escaped or before?”

He marches toward me, wraps his hand around my throat, forcing my head back as far it can go. “Shut your filthy mouth.” Spittle smacks me in the face but not even that can stop my smile from breaking free.

“Kimber searched for her for years. She thought her daughter would suffer the same fate as she did. She didn’t though because her daddy rescued her from Karl.” His grip on my throat tightens but I force the words out. “You thought you fucked up after hurting Destiny, but when you learned the mother to your child was working alongside the DLCF you saw your way back in,” I wheeze out. He releases me with a hard shove.

“You think you’re so smart,” he sneers.

“Smart enough to know no is a full sentence, which you seemed to have ignored when you raped your daughter’s mother.” He whirls around and clips me across the jaw, the pain doesn’t register. “When you learned about Kimber you had to find a way back in. You were at the club tonight because your cousin is your partner. You own the club with him.”

Destiny gasps. “Oh my God, Unique!” she breathes out in worry for her cousin.

“Well done, you figured it out. Yes, I own the club with my cousin, that idiot is too stupid to know when he’s being used.” Hearing that his cousin has no idea about what Koda’s true intentions are, Destiny relaxes slightly knowing her cousin isn’t in danger. “Kimber was a faceless whore, someone I fucked on the regular when dealing with Karl but I knew the moment she gave birth that baby was mine. The DNA test proved that.” Hearing him confirm it makes it real. “Kimber’s too stupid to know I’m Lila’s father. A couple of pictures were sent to her and she was eating out of the palm of my hand wanting to do whatever it took to get Lila back.”

“You have a daughter?!” Destiny screeches drawing his attention back to her, the disgusted look on her face is clear. “How the fuck could you do this to me when you have a child, a daughter, what would you do if someone did this to your baby?”

“Don’t try to analyze me and don’t think for a second that you can try to manipulate me. Unlike your fucking stupid parents, I know who I am and also know the risks that come with the life I lead. My child is nowhere near me and this life. Don’t worry, butterfly, she won’t ever know you existed.”

This guy is fucking delusional.

If I didn’t want his blood coating my hands so badly I would admire his smarts, instead of running for his life after he hurt Destiny, he plotted. He used what he had and wormed his way back into her life without anyone knowing. No one looked at how close he already was to her because she didn’t tell them the full story, so he was free to amass an army and grow because he made her feel ashamed because of what he did to her!

“You are sicker than I thought!” she spits out. I take in the sight of her shivering and loathe the sight of the bruises covering her beautiful face—her right eye is swollen and almost shut completely, her lips have crusted blood on them.

“Hold him, I want him to watch,” Koda orders. Before his men can reach me, I speak.

“No need, I won’t look away.” The painful regret in my tone has him smiling. Destiny shifts her gaze to me when he steps between her legs forcing her knees to widen as much as the cuffs on her ankles will allow. Her lip begins to tremble when he cups her tits. My breaths come in rapid pants as I grind my teeth so fucking hard my jaw protests. I clench my fists and pull against my cuffs when he trails his hands down her body, the metal biting into my skin, drawing blood. I sound like a rabid dog growling and grunting as I try to break free, even though I know I can’t but it doesn’t stop me from trying when he cups her pussy.

“Taylan,” she whimpers my name like a plea, and that right there crushes me more than I can even admit.

“Eyes on me, baby,” I say softly. I fight to keep my face blank of rage when he pushes a finger inside her. I watch her body stiffen and her eyes fill with tears as she begs me with her eyes to save her. “Kill me!” I scream. Koda keeps his fingers inside her as he looks over his shoulder at me.

“Where would the fun be in that? I want to torture you both. You seeing me break her will crush you. Her knowing you are right there, within reach but unable to save her will destroy her more than anything I do to her body.” I hate that he’s right, she’s right in front of me and I can’t save her.

I’m weak.

“You’re fucking useless and weak just like your mother. You can’t save that bitch, fuck, you can’t even save yourself. Now bend the fuck over before I get the belt.” Vance’s words slam into me, for years his words haunted me more than the pain he inflicted on me.

Koda drops to his knees and forces her knees wider to accommodate his size. He grips her red lace thong and rips it off her. She cries out and I die a little inside.

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