Page 25 of Jared's Redemption

“You can tell me what you know, or I can start marring more of this pretty flesh.” He says, shrugging and flicking the flame to life. A guard steps forward, holding a phone to his ear and tapping Steffen on the shoulder.

“You need to take this, sir.” The tall guard says. Steffen snatches the phone and shoves the knife and lighter into the guard’s open hand.

“Burn her, cut her, do whatever you want until she gives us something. But don’t kill her. We still have to consummate our marriage.” Steffen says, winking at me and leaving the room. The guard smiles as he sits next to me, using the flame from the lighter to heat the blade.

“Well, you heard him.” He says, but I turn my face away and brace for the pain. I try to imagine I’m in Jared’s home, curled up safely in his arms.

Nothing can prepare your body for hot metal being pressed to your bare thigh, and I know my scream echoes through the hotel. For the next few hours, as I endure the torture, the only word to pass my lips is Jared’s name.

I say it like a prayer, as if I’m seeking my salvation.

Chapter 17- Luna

Prying my eyes open is exhausting, as my body comes alive with each agonizing injury, but I keep my lips pressed tight. The room is darker, but the curtains are still open. My time is slipping away, but Steffen called off the torture at some point and I hate myself for being grateful to him. My wrists are in agony and I’ve stopped trying to sit up, accepting my fate as I lay in my misery.

A shuffling sound makes the hairs on my body stand on end, feeling somebody else in the room. But I can’t react. I won’t even lift my head as my mothers face peers over me.

“Oh my Luna.” Her voice shows remorse, tainted with disgust. Hatred twists past the pain, giving me a burst of energy I didn’t know I had.

“Get out.” My voice is hoarse from the screaming, and I mentally kick myself for even speaking to her. This is all her and Steffen’s fault. The moment I was loose from these bonds, it was going to come down to which of the two was closer when I decided who I would kill first. A cool wet cloth rubs over my face and I realize she has a black eye, and her hands are trembling. Somebody hurt her too and my anger fades a little.

“What are you doing?” I rasp, watching her closely. Her eyes flash around the room before locking onto me as she leans closer. There is still a man standing by the door, watching our every move.

“Just hang on a little longer. He’s coming.” Her lips tremble and tears spill over her cheeks as she grips my restraint on the hand closest to her, loosening it before moving towards the next one. Until a guard steps forward to stop her.

“Hey, boss didn’t say you could do that.” He snaps, grabbing her wrist. She giggles, flicking her hair over her shoulder as the careless mask slips back into place. She slides her hand up his arm and nods like a bobble head.

“Oh, I know, but look what a mess she is. Steffen is expecting a lovely prize at the end of the night, is he not? It’s my job to make her presentable. Can’t do that with her arms all twined up.” She purrs, batting her eyes at the guard, who snorts a laugh and nods, waving a hand for her to continue. I almost burst out laughing at the exchange, shocked that he would buy the act.

“Just make sure she’s still tied up when he gets back.” He shamelessly grips her ass as she turns away, giggling into her hand like a schoolgirl before she sits on the bed next to me. Venom is bleeding into her expression as she loosens my last binding and my hand falls to the bed as I lay there.

“This is not the life he promised for you, Luna. I just wanted you to be protected and treasured.” She confesses through gritted teeth, gently using the washcloth now stained with my blood.

“You wanted me to be a leaders bitch.” I spit the words, my eyes burning with tears that won’t fall. I can’t let them. Her hands are still for a moment, but she shakes her head in denial.

“I wanted you married to somebody who would treat you like a princess. Who could protect you and give you everything you would ever want.” She says, pleading with me in her quiet voice.

“I don’t want to be a fucking princess, mother.” The fight has drained from my body, so my words are soft and lifeless. Footsteps echo the empty hallways outside and panic grips my heart as blood pounds in my ears, knowing what he’s coming for. I nearly tell my mom to run, save herself, but the words die on my lips. This is her fault.

The door swings open, his obnoxious entrance now expected and I don’t bother looking at him.

“She’s exhausted.” My mother begins, pleading my case while I lay there and pretend to be asleep.

“Put a coat and shoes on her. We need to fucking move.” Steffen snarls, throwing clothing onto my body and making me flinch.

“Sir?” the guard standing at my door asks.

“The Barone bastards’ dog is on us. Let’s show Jared what it is to suffe, shall we?” He says, grinning down at me while I fight to shrink away from him. Jared was here for me, and that’s what I hold onto as the guards cut away the ropes keeping me in place, but I bide my time. Staying complacent, acting as if my soft smile is obedience to lure them into trusting me. Their grip isn’t tight, just light enough to tell me it works as I’m stuffed into my puffy coat. My shoes are still wet when my feet are crammed into them, but I bite my tongue.

Two soft pop sounds come from outside, and I look up into the panicked eyes of Steffen. They’re here and sooner than he was expecting. Shouts fill the hallway, men running to assist their comrades. It’s useless, though. The Barone brothers and their men are each meticulously trained and ruthless killers.

“I’ll show them what power really looks like.” Steffen mutters.

“The Barone’s have true power. Their men don’t bow to them from fear, they do it from respect.” I hiss the words, and from the corner of my eye I see my mother cover her mouth with her hand.

“Fear is power.” He snarls, gripping my hair and wrenching my head backwards while I clutch at his hand. Steffen drags me to a window, slamming my face to the glass and drawing a cry from my throat as it rattles. The empty field is littered with bodies, men in suits rushing to their death for a leader that can’t be bothered to remember their name.

“Your precious Jared will lose everything tonight. While they’re all here, sweet Isabelle and her brat are left weak and unprotected.” He says, using a fake whining tone in his voice. I try to shake my head, but he just slams me against the window once more. Warmth drips down my cheek as my eyes rake over the trees through the blood smeared glass. Praying I don’t see him out there, amongst the gunfire and red stained snow.

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