Page 45 of Unforgettable

20

Matthew

That motherfucker is goingto die.

I’ve already plotted his death a dozen different ways, but the most painful death isn’t enough for Nelson fucking Grant. I’m livid that he somehow managed to get Rose’s number. He called my Rose and made her afraid. The hunted look had just started lessening in her eyes. She laughed more. She was finally finding her footing in this new life of hers, and now all that progress has been lost.

When I think about the crazed look in her eyes as she tore through the living room dread settles in my gut. I’ve seen that kind of rage before. It can destroy a person if they aren’t capable of controlling it. I lived that life for a long time.

At first, I drown it with alcohol. I spent the first two months after Rose disappeared drunk. Then I got my shit together and started searching. My search led me deep into the underbelly. That’s how I found the underground fights. I found a new outlet for my rage.

I channeled my anger into fighting. I became the one to beat in the underground ring. I met Kisten during that dark time in my life. Like me, he had a lifetime worth of rage to work out. We were both undefeated until we came against each other. I was the only one that came out of that fight undefeated. I left Kisten a bloody heap on the mat.

We became friends after that. Once I had enough money, I opened up my first club. I’d like to say I always knew I was a dominant, but that’s not the truth. I spent my childhood being beaten down by one circumstance or another. It wasn’t until the underground fights that I realized the truth about myself. And the rest is history.

I bury my nose in Rose’s hair, breathing her in. I worry that my girl won’t know what to do with this newly awoken anger. She internalizes everything. Years of abuse have forced her to seek solace inside herself. After losing control tonight, I can see her forcing that anger down until it darkens her soul.

I won’t let it happen. I tighten my arms around her. I’ll protect her from anything that comes against her. Even herself.

We’ve tiptoed around the whole dominant and submissive thing since the day she kneeled at my feet that first time. Neither of us willing to rock the boat as we fumbled our way through the emotional landmines, but now I realize what a mistake that was.

Rose isn’t the first damaged submissive I’ve taken. In fact, all of the women who have come to me have been broken in some way. They all needed to be healed, and I did that for them. Kisten, Slade, and I rescue slaves. Some of them can’t wait to go home to their friends and families. Others are so utterly broken they can’t function without a master to tell them what to do.

Those are the women I’ve taken. I help rehabilitate them. I pull them back from the brink and give them their lives back. Slade and Kisten never fully understood my reasoning. Hell, I didn’t either at the time, but now I know. I did it all for her. For the beautiful perfection sleeping in my arms. She’s broken on the inside, but not for long.

“It will be okay, love. I’m going to be everything you need me to be. I’ll help you through this.” I just hope you’ll forgive me for what it’s going to take to help you heal.

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