Page 21 of Scar

“Sweetheart, you loved him,” I said, cutting her off. “You just didn’t admit it to yourself, and he did the same. Don’t feel guilty, and don’t feel bad about how you feel. I just wanted you to be happy, and you are happy, right?” I arch my brow. She smiles brightly and nods. “Then I’m fucking happy, but if you change your mind and fancy a ride, you know where to find me,” I tease, breaking the tension.

She laughs and shakes her head. I look at her, really look at her, taking in her soft lips, the way her eyes sparkle when she laughs, and I still feel that pang of pain in the pit of my stomach. It’s just not as painful as it once was. Maybe it’s easing because I was away, or maybe it was something else, someone else. My thoughts drift to Elsie, to the way she cared for me, her smile, her gentle touch. I wonder if she’s okay. Hell, I pray that whatever she said to her family, they bought the bait.

“Hey, where did you go?” Rhea asks.

I blink, snapping myself out of my thoughts. I smile. “Just wondering if a friend is okay.” I shrug.

Rhea eyes me sceptically. “She helped you get out?” I nod. She smiles. “Well, if you speak to her, tell her thank you from me, from all of us.”

I don’t tell her that I probably won’t ever see her again. I just nod.

Star calls Rhea over and she smiles before leaning over and placing a feather light kiss on my cheek. “I’m happy your home,” she whispers.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

ELSIE

4 weeks later

Dark circles surround my eyes,my pale skin had somehow managed to look even paler, and my clothes were starting to hang from my body. For once, my mother was right. I should have ran with Scar. Part of me wished and begged that his club would seek revenge and kill my father, mother, and especially Layton. I slowly apply some heavy make-up to hide my dark circles and the fresh bruise on my cheek before I style my hair to try and cover what I could of the mark. Though my mother and father both knew, they must have heard, especially after the engagement party. Layton didn’t like that I was talking to some associate of theirs, said I was being too friendly and that I was acting like a whore. He slapped me hard in my father’s office, so hard that I fell to the floor just as my father walked in. He took one look at me sobbing on the floor and one look at Layton, said nothing, and then left, closing the door behind him.

When I had walked out of the office clutching my cheek, my mother had merely smirked and muttered‘I told you so’under her breath as I passed. I had contemplated topping myself, figured I could just take the full bottle of my mother’s anti-depressants, and then all this hell would be over. I would be free, but something in me still hoped that one day I would be free of them.

Layton walks into my room, never knocking. He walks up behind me and wraps his arm around my waist as he kisses my neck. My stomach recoils. “You look beautiful,” he compliments as he places a velvet box in front of me. “A gift for my beautiful fiancé.” He smiles.

I look at him in the reflection of the mirror and force a smile before I open it. My huge diamond engagement ring sparkles up at me like it’s mocking me. I hated looking at the constant reminder. As I open the box, a diamond necklace shines up at me. It was beautiful, but I hated it because it was from him.

He takes it from me and places it around my neck. “Now you’re even more stunning.” He smiles.

I swallow and look at him in the mirror, playing the dutiful fiancé. “It’s beautiful, thank you,” I beam.

“Glad you like it. You know that I don’t mean to be so forceful, but if you would just behave like you are supposed to, then I wouldn’t have to discipline you,” he sighs, like I’m the fucking problem.

I grit my teeth and smile. “No, it’s okay. It’s my fault. I will behave better.” My voice is sickly sweet and Layton smiles pleasingly at my tone.

I would give anything to stab you in the balls right now,I think to myself while still smiling sweetly at him.

“Right, I have some business to see to. I won’t be back until tomorrow. Can I trust you to behave?” he asks, like I’m a toddler or some kind of pet.

You’re a fucking prick.

“I’ve got a few appointments to try on some wedding dresses and I’m going to view a venue later this afternoon,” I tell him. Hesmiles and nods, happy with my answer. Even though he won’t be here, he’s happy that it will still revolve around him.

“Keep your cell on you so I can track where you are. You need someone with you?” he asks.

I raise my brow, lifting up the small gold handgun he had got me as a gift for our 4 week anniversary. He knows my father trained me to use a gun, but if he had bothered to get to know me at all, he would also have known that I despise guns. My whole life, I had never wanted to cause harm to anyone, well the exclusion of Layton, and now my father and mother. Hatred for them was growing and growing, and I wondered how long it would take until I finally snapped. I would happily blow this house up with us inside it if it meant ending their lives, mine included. Shaking my head, I quickly rid myself of those thoughts. This place, this life was consuming every part of me, destroying me minute by minute.

“Good, take that with you. We can’t afford to put a man on you right now as the business we are seeing to is dangerous,” he states, meaning that his life is more valuable than my own. I quickly act concerned and place my hand on his, while wishing that I demanded a man follow me around if it meant I had more chance of him getting killed.

“Be careful,” I whisper.

He nods, his eyes searching mine. “I know how we started wasn’t the conventional way, but I’m glad you came around to seeing just how right we are. I will be king one day, and the king needs his queen,” he says with a deep sincerity. If he carried on beating me black and blue, this queen would soon be dead, but that didn’t concern him. Why would it?

I nod. “I’ve accepted the role I was always meant to take in life, and I’m thankful every day that it is with you.” I almost retch at the words leaving my mouth. As I look down at the gun, I knew that I could just shoot him right now. One bullet betweenhis eyes is all it would take, and I would be free. Except I know I wouldn’t. I would be free of him but living my life in jail. There is no way my father would help me, and if anything, he would kill me himself for shooting his right hand man.

Layton turns me to him and cups my face. “You will be my perfect wife, and once we are married I will get you pregnant with my son.” He smiles. Has he lost his fucking mind? It was only a month ago he knew I was helping Scar out, then he threatened me and raped me! He now truly believes that I’ve gone full circle and I am happy to be his woman, and want to have kids with him. Right now, I pray that he’s firing blanks, or I’m barren and can’t have kids, because I would never want to bring a child into this.

I open my mouth, not sure what to say, but thankfully I’m saved by his cell ringing.

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