Page 66 of Taken By Him

My insides shake. “You sent the Kominski family to take me, to steal me away so you could sell me.” I can’t seem to get the volume in my voice to match the rage in my chest.

“Klamac!”Lies.

“It was supposed to be me in that car, how many times over the years did you remind me? Me! But you didn’t want me dead...you wanted me here. Tied up like this, taken away and sold.” My voice breaks toward the end, but I can’t help it. Tears build in my eyes. This is my father. My dad. The man who taught me to ride a bike when I was little. The man who once held my hand as we crossed the street.

Before it was confirmed my mother could never get pregnant again, he held some tenderness for me. He was kind. That’s the father I’ve been holding in my heart. But this man standing here, looking disgusted by my presence. This isn’t him.

I raise my gun higher, pointing it at his head.

“What? You think you can pull the trigger? You’re a badass now?” He taunts me, raising his square chin. “Go on. Show me what a bad ass you are.”

A tear falls down my cheek. Why can’t I be steady? Why can’t I tug on this fucking trigger? He deserves worse, he deserves to burn in hell.

“Why?” The question leaves me on a breath. “Why do this when you could have just let me leave?”

“Leave?” His brows raise. “You wouldn’t leave. You’d come back, you’d always be there, always need me. You’d always be a spot on my family name. You needed to go away.”

“You could have just killed me.” A sharp pain hits me. I knew he didn’t love me, but this, this look of disgust squeezes my heart.

“You were worth more alive.” His lips twist into a disturbing grin.

“Ah, butyouaren’t, Garska.” Dominik’s voice booms from behind me. Tension eases in my shoulders, but I don’t lower my gun. This is for me to end. Not him.

“What are you talking about?” Dad sneers. “Zabij ich!”Kill them!

I swing my gun to the left of my father, to his men, and pull the trigger. One yelps, but doesn’t go down. I think I’ve hit his shoulder. Dominik rages behind me, grabbing me and shoving me backward. It takes only a second for him to pick off the two guards. One shot to the one I wounded, then one to the second man. They both crumble to the ground.

My father looks behind him. The women are in a panic, screaming behind their gags.

“Where is everyone! Come! Come!” my father yells.

Dominik stalks up to him, his gun lowered. “Your men have been taken care of,” he says, coming toe to toe with him.

“Dominik!” I yell. He doesn’t turn away from my father. “He’s...let me,” I say still holding my gun up.

“Michael, take this prick over there for now. If he moves, shoot his cock off.” Dominik grabs my father by the collar and shoves him toward Michael who is already making his way to him.

I want to demand they stop moving. To stop taking over this moment from me, but I can’t get the words out. My hands shake so hard, I’m not sure I’d even hit my target.

I lower the gun and run to the plank leading to the train car. I need to see. I need to know how many there are.

Air escapes me. The car is nearly full. More than twenty women. All tied together with rope, all dirty, their gags are around their necks. Some have been beaten. Others injured in other ways. All of them look back at me with terrified eyes.

I cover my mouth, unable to bear the horror. A few of the girls are barely teenagers.

“I’ll get you out,” I promise them as I run to the closest woman and tug on the knots. I need a knife. “I’m sorry...so sorry.” I’m sobbing and tugging on their restraints.

“Kasia.” Dominik enters the car. “Kasia.”

It’s not until he touches me that I realize I’m not moving anymore. He turns me to face him, brings up my chin.

“They’re hurt,” I say, a numbness starting to cloud me.

“They will be taken care of. I promise.” He holds my face in his hands. “Are you hurt?”

“He wanted this for me.” I blink, tears stream down my cheeks.

“He won’t hurt you ever again.” His jaw clenches.

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