Page 50 of Tainted Reasoning

“Him?” I question but don’t get a response. “Turn this car around and take me back to Oakfield Hall. I will see the brothers pay you handsomely to disappear. You won’t get into any trouble from whoever is paying you to take me.”

“Do you think I’m stupid? The brothers will kill me and drop my body parts around the country as a warning to others. No. It’s going to be your parts delivered, not mine.”

The car turns left, and we drive up what looks like a deserted road at the end of which is a small house. Trying to stay calm, I think of what I need to do and look for ways to escape, but my stomach is tied in knots. I’m struggling with the emotions flooding through me because all I can think is…Will I see my father when the doors to the house open? Is he the one who’s come for me? I don’t think I’m ready to face him, yet. I can’t. I can’t know what he did to my mother. I shut my eyes and whisper in my head for William. I know he can’t hear me, but I want to believe he can.

The car comes to a halt, and the driver unlocks the doors. I make the split-second decision I need to run for it, and thrusting the door open, I’m out of the car and running as fast as my legs can take me. I wish it was William chasing me and this was a game, but I know it isn’t. Men shout behind me, and footsteps thunder in pursuit. I don’t know how I’m keeping in front of them. It’s sheer determination. I can see the road, and I know there were houses as we pulled in. If I can make it to one of them, I’ll be safe. I will my legs to propel me faster, and they do. I lost my smart shoes ages ago, and I’m now running bare foot. I can see a house – it’s there in front of me, my sanctuary, my safety. I’m going to make it, but a hand wraps around my waist, and I’m hoisted backward. I go to scream, but another hand slams over my mouth. No. No! I’m dragged back toward where the car is parked as my sanctuary disappears into the horizon. My legs kick furiously, connecting with solid matter, and I sink my teeth into the hand over my mouth.

“Fucking bitch!” a man shouts, and he drops me to the ground. I’m pushing myself up ready to run again, but he kicks me in the stomach with his heavy snow boot so hard all the air is expelled from me. A fist meets my face, and the pain shatters through me. The fist connects again, and then the boot repeats its action only this time higher and in my ribs. I hear them crack.

“Enough,” an authoritative voice orders.

“The bitch drew blood,” the man who’d been hitting me protests.

“And I’ll give you time with her to punish her, later. First, we have business to conduct, and I need her as conscious as possible for that.”

My head is spinning from the assault, but I try to focus on where the commanding voice is coming from. Is it my father? I can’t distinguish the inflections, because of the ringing in my ear.

“Get her inside. Remove her clothes and strap her up. It’s time for me to have fun and destroy the Cavendish brothers, forever.”

I’m lifted up, my head flopping uncontrollably as I try to maintain consciousness. Behind me, I see figures as I’m carried like a rag doll into the house, but everything is blurry. I can’t see who gives the orders, a flash of blue swipes in front of my face and words flood into my ears.

“Don’t worry, Tamara. I’ll make this as painful for you as possible.”

It’s then I realize who holds me, and I know I won’t make it out alive.

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