Page 65 of His Obsession

“Will do, man. Thanks,” Lucian says.

“I can’t wait to not be sore anymore,” I sigh.

“It’s a process,” he says. “You’re pretty swollen, so it will take some time.”

“I’m going to brand him,” I say.

“Oh? With what?”

“My initials. I’ll do it on his chest,” I explain. “I want to torture him the way he did me, but I want him to die more.”

“He deserves far worse than death, but it’s a start,” Lucian says. “Let me clean your back and re-bandage you. I’ll have Bradley bring up some food.”

“Okay. I want to keep my shirt off. It feels better that way,” I say as he helps me take it off.

“Yeah. We can try icing it now too, since your body temp is back up and consistent.”

“That sounds heavenly,” I admit as he helps me lie down on my belly.

“You’re gonna be okay, babe,” he says. “I’ll make sure of it.”

Chapter Twenty-Two

Elise

One Week Later

I am finally upand moving around outside. Today is the first time I’ve left the bedroom since I got home. I made Lucian leave the house to get time away from me because I know he needed space. He wouldn’t admit it, but he spent eight days waiting on me hand and foot. The last few days I have felt so much better.

Tonight, Jake dies. We have everything we need, and they’re still held up on their compound. Jake’s face is being blasted on the news. He’s wanted now in connection to over a hundred different rapes, kidnappings, and murders. Daniel has been named for at least triple. Crimson Covenant is a smaller branchof a massive group of people that believe that women are property and nothing more. Clark and Sheriff Donaldson have everything worked out so that it will look like a mass suicide. We are hoping they haven’t killed any of the women or children, but we will see.

“Hey,” Bradley says, standing beside me.

“Hey,” I say, glancing at him.

“What’s on your mind?”

“Murder. Why do you keep asking me that?” I ask.

“Because I don’t think asking you if you’re okay is appropriate. Nothing about this is okay.”

“It’s getting better,” I say. “I detach from trauma easily, so it’s getting better.”

“Physically?” he asks.

“A lot better,” I say. “A lot of information you might not want.”

“Well, now I’m curious,” he laughs.

“Well… I ended up getting chlamydia from the rapes,” I say.

“Oh shit,” he says.

“Mhmm. Well, this morning I tested negative. It doesn’t hurt to pee anymore and it no longer feels like I’ve been gorilla-punched in the pussy,” I say.

“I’m glad,” he says, smiling.

“Yeah. I’m just glad I only caught something curable,” I say. “I read that it’s common for survivors to catch an STI.”

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