Page 143 of Brutal Savage

He lets out a low growl, pushing me down on the bed, his body climbing over mine. His kisses turn deeper, more urgent and demanding, like he’s reminding me that I’m his.

A hand sinks into my hair as he gives me every ounce of passion and affection that’s been growing between us day by day, hiding between words trapped in our withered hearts.

And in this moment is when I know that all I want…

All I really want…

Is to stay.

Breathlessly, he rears back and pins his forehead to mine, not saying anything for a few seconds.

“I want to know everything, Elara. I promise, he won’t ever hurt you again.”

I believe him. I believe he wants to protect me. But I know there’s no way he can ever keep that promise. Sometimes our best is just not good enough.

He slides off me, helping me sit up while I try to find the courage to dig into my past and give him that ugly part of myself.

“It all started when my father owed money to Isaac, Jerry’s dad. When he couldn’t pay it back, he told them they could have me in exchange.”

He holds my hand in his large one, his thumb rolling reassuringly over my skin. “What did they do to you, baby? How did you get that scar?”

Tears burst from my eyes as the memories overtake me.

He’s there to wipe them away, his face contorting with his own wretched pain. “I’m sorry for doing this to you.”

“It’s okay.” I grab his wrist and stare right at him. “Though you should know, you might hate me for it.”

“That’ll never happen.”

He sounds so sure.

I let out a breath of a laugh. “We’ll see.”

CHAPTER 30

ELARA

ABOUT A YEAR AGO

Three girls and I stand beside one another, all of us trembling, knowing what’s coming next. It’s not the first time, yet every time they make us do this, it feels like it’ll be the last.

A girl named Carly stands inches away, her fingers close to mine, grabbing my hand with her shaky one as she tries hard not to cry. Her eyes overflow with tears, but she keeps quiet. They don’t like it when we cry.

“I can’t do this again,” she whispers.

“Shh. They’ll hear us,” I warn her, not wanting her to end up like the girl last week who was shot for talking back.

“Shut up!” Ludwig, one of Jerry’s guys, hollers, a canister of anesthesia in his hand.

Another man with gloves on rolls a metal cart toward him, and Ludwig brings it the rest of the way toward us.

“Open your mouth,” he tells me.

The tightness in my glare only makes him angrier. But I don’t want to do this anymore.

His palm whips out, and he strikes me hard across the face. “If I tell Jerry you’re not doing your job, he’s gonna do far worse to you.” He grabs my jaw and squeezes. “Open your fucking mouth!”

I shut my eyes and open wide, knowing I don’t have a choice. The cool liquid coats my throat as he sprays all the way down.

---