Page 6 of Blind Sin

“He didn’t want to be seen by your father’s men,” Edward says sadly, guiding Lucinda to a set of stairs. “Honestly, it’s not a closet he should be in, but a safe room. Tell me, was that really your twin sister I had the pleasure of meeting the other week? I honestly had no idea you had one.”

Lucinda nods. As they move to another part of the yacht, their conversation fades into the sound of the waves crashing against the hull.

I glance outside, scanning the coast for any sign of the goon. He's nowhere to be seen, but I know it's only a matter of time before he shows up again when we dock. Peter Waldgrave is a man who likes to have control over every aspect of his life, and that includes his daughter. Having use of a helicopter is only good if the other side doesn’t also have one, and I’m pretty sure Waldgrave has a whole fleet of them.

Ten minutes later, after a quick meal of the eggs benedict I promised Lucinda, we pull into a private dock on the Brooklyn side of the river. My heart pounds with trepidation as three cars race toward us.

“Ed,” I shout out, desperation in my voice. “Please tell me those cars are yours.”

Ed rushes over, followed by Lucinda, who takes one glance at the approaching cars. “I told you we couldn't outrun my father.” She glares at me. “You might as well have put a gun in my sister's mouth and pulled the trigger.”

4

LAUREN

Pain courses through my body, a cruel reminder of the crash and my father's men and their violent handling of me. They dragged me, pushed me, and even slapped my face when I dared to speak up. Eventually, they threw me into an empty room. Being locked in a room doesn't scare me; it's nothing new. What terrifies me is the thought that Lucy won't come to my rescue like she always has before. I am utterly alone in this room, and I doubt I'll ever make it out.

A long, ragged sob escapes my lips, but the act only exacerbates the pain in my ribcage where I hit the floor. Sharp shockwaves reverberate throughout my body, causing me to gasp and whimper.

Startled, I flinch as the door creaks open, the sound jarring my senses. Pain shoots through my body, and I gasp for air, struggling to catch my breath as I sit up.

“She's still alive,” a gruff voice says. It's the man who pulled me from Lucy's mangled car, speaking on a phone.

“I don't know. She was messed up pretty bad,” he continues. I cry out as a shoed toe prods my side, sending waves of pain radiating through my body. “Probably broke a few ribs,” the voice says, and I whimper.

“Tell my father to rot in Hell!” I screech. I’m rewarded for my outburst by another kick, this one much harder, knocking the wind from my lungs.

“On it boss.” There’s a moment of silence before he starts talking to me. “Looks like your daddy doesn’t want you dead after all, but he said nothing about not touching you. If I can’t have Lucinda Waldgrave, I might as well have my fun with the next best thing.”

Terror reverberates round my body and I pull my legs up to my chest as he steps closer. I’m almost petrified with fear as I hear the sound of leather pulling through metal as he opens his belt. Then, if that isn’t enough to strike fear to my core, there’s a crash and a thump as something heavy falls to the floor inches away from me.

“Not tonight, fucker. You’ll have to get your jollies with your left hand as usual. We’re taking our girl back.”

Dacre! My heart leaps in my chest as a hand wraps around mine, spreading hopeful warmth throughout my body. “What did that fucker do to you, Sin... Lauren?”

I lean forward and cling to him, great sobs heaving from my chest. My entire body is wracked with agony as he gently picks me up from the ground and cradles me into his arms, but I don’t care anymore. I’m safe.

“Shit fuck!”

I inhale as I hear Nix’s deep voice ring out behind Dacre sending another wave of relief through me.

“I’m going to fucking murder him,” he grows, “but not before I squash his balls into the ground with the sole of my boot.”

The guard groans somewhere below me.

“I’ll deal with him. Take our girl out of here.” As Dacre passes me to Nix, my body clenches involuntarily, a visceral response to the fear and pain he's inflicted on me in the past. However, Nix's touch surprises me with its gentleness as he takes me, carrying me through a doorway and up a flight of stairs.

The sound of the guard’s pained screams echo through the building, making my heart pound.

“Is Dacre going to hurt him?” I ask, my voice shaking with worry.

Nix’s grip tightens slightly. “I really fucking hope so!” he growls, but then his tone changes. “No one is going to hurt you ever again, especially that asshole down in the basement. Dacre will make sure of that.”

“Is Lucy with you? Is she...” I can't bring myself to say the words out loud, the fear of what might have happened to her is terrifying.

“She’s okay,” Nix reassures me, his voice calm and steady. “I've not seen her, but she was on TV and looked okay. Mercier is with her. We're taking both of you somewhere safe, but we need to move quickly before any more of your father's men show up. Did you hear anyone else?”

Shaking my head, I try to focus on the fact that Lucy is alive and well. “She was on TV with Mercier?”

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