Page 24 of Jared's Redemption

“Yes.” The lie slips off my tongue easily. Steffen grins, shoving his hand down the front of my pants while I fight against him. He pulls Jared’s pistol up, looking at it with a frown.

“And what is this?” He tsks, raising it up to look it over in the light.

“A gun.” I smart off, realizing my mistake as he brings it down onto my temple.

Chapter 16- Jared

The chopper flying overhead makes unease creep through my veins, but I didn’t have time to give it any thought. We had a mission to focus on and time was slipping away as we neared the meeting point. Just as we get close, Chris’s phone rings, and he taps the earpiece he is wearing.

“What is it?” I ask. Chris’ shoulders stiffen as he casts a look back at me and he waves a hand at the driver.

“Go for plan B.” He says, tapping the earpiece once more. Something was wrong, and it had me on edge even worse than before.

“I don’t have patience for this shit, Chris.” I snarl. He turns to face me and my stomach drops.

“That chopper just landed behind the hotel. Luna walked in on Steffen’s arm. We need to regroup.” He says. My world feels as if it’s stopped, even as the city outside the window blurs past. My Luna had thrown herself to the wolves, even after all the planning I had done. That stubborn girl had screwed up everything yet again, by being reckless. The burning house flashes through my mind once more, and I close my eyes to let the regret wash over me. To let my guilt fuel me as my mind races.

My nightmares were just the beginning of my penance. I deserve to suffer, but Luna doesn’t.

“New plan. We are getting her out of there. Call Alec and Markus.” My voice is nearly animalistic with rage, my fists gripped so tight that my knuckles ache. The idea of him touching her, breathing near her, made me sick and blind with rage. Hold on, my little Lunatic. You’re not in this alone.

Luna

This wasn’t going well. Waking up was hell, and it felt like I had the world’s worst hangover. My hands were tingling from how tightly I was tied to this bed. Thankfully my feet weren’t bound, and I had managed to kick myself up into a sitting position, but it took ages with the throbbing pain in my head.

My clothes were gone. In their place was a sickly tight silk lingerie set. I kept my knees pressed together to fight off the cool breeze in the room, considering the crotchless panties. My mother poked her head into the room, frowning at me as I bared my teeth at her when she let herself in, closing the door behind her.

“You look like a wild animal, stop that. Let me fix your hair.” She reaches for me, and I snap my teeth at her. I would bite if I got ahold of her, and we both knew it.

“Luna, really.” She huffs, wiping her hands down her pencil skirt and matching silk top.

“Did you do this?” I ask, trying to motion to my outfit. She smiles, as if she was proud of what she’d done.

“Well, of course. You want to look your best for your husband on your wedding night.” She says, patting my leg before I can yank it away from her.

“Untie me.”

“You are not screwing this up for yourself, Luna.” She rolls her eyes before stepping back and tucking her hair behind her ears. My plans were unraveling, and fear was starting to creep in.

“Mother, please, just untie me. I’ll do whatever you say.” I plead, nearly begging. Uncertainty crosses her features before the door slams open, bouncing off the wall as Steffen makes an obnoxious entrance.

“I’ll untie you when I decide to, since I own you now. But since you are so eager to please, how about we start with the Barone you were shacked up with?” He grins, pulling a chair up to sit down next to me. Steffen knew what I was planning this entire time. I can see it written clearly on his face.

“They just keep collecting whores. But did you enjoy being shared between them? I could share you with a few of my men if that’s what you’re into?” He says, rubbing a hand up my thigh as I try to twist away from him.

“I wasn’t with them.” I spit the words, glaring at my mother for telling him in the first place. But her eyes are wide, uncertain.

“Felicity. Leave.” He waves a hand, and she hesitates only a moment before scurrying away. “So, my sweet little pet wasn’t being fucked in the woods?” He asks. My face burns as I try to hide the truth, but he obviously knows.

“I have eyes everywhere, sweetheart. Jared had a soft spot for you, so you must know their secrets. I need to know how to get past their security.” He says, pulling a knife out and tapping my leg.

“No, I don’t know anything.” I grit my teeth, steeling my resolve. I bite the scream back as he drags the blade over my flesh, blood dripping down to wet the mattress as tears streak my cheeks.

“How about Jared? Why do they keep their lap dog so close?” He asks, but I shake my head and screw my eyes shut. A cry rips from my lips as he slashes the blade over my cheek.

“No!” I scream when he grips the front of my sad scrap of clothing. The knife cuts through the fabric and clips my chest under it, exposing me as I thrash against my bonds. Revulsion curls in my stomach as he drags hungry eyes over my body.

“Well, you aren’t so bad to look at, bleeding and crying in bed.” He grins, licking his lips before pulling out a lighter.

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