Page 31 of Lorcan

Whack!

This one cut across my shoulders, taking my breath for a few moments. Again, I kept my eyes on Ronan.

The stinging across the two sites on my back didn’t disappear. It felt like I was cut open, which was entirely possible. That belt was thick and it was stiff. No way in hell I wasn’t going to be bleeding at some point. I was no stranger to a few scars already, a couple more couldn’t hurt.

Whack!

Blood sprayed forward this time, flecking on Ronan’s shirt. The pain was intense, and I could feel my body falling forward. I was only being held up by the metal chains on my wrists, the metal was cutting into my skin from the pressure of my body pushing into the cuff.

Whack!

They were getting more frequent, and if possible, harder. I could hear the sound of the belt hitting the blood on my back and making a wet slushing sound. I could feel the blood and the cuts on my back now, the cold air around me biting into the wounds. The bitter smell of copper filled the air, my blood was being spilled around me and there wasn’t a damn thing I could do to stop it.

Things were turning dark, my eyes were starting to tear up and get fuzzy but I held onto my resolve, keeping myself ready for the next hit.

“Had enough?” he asked me.

“No, I love this shit,” I slurred. “Please, sir, can I have another?”

Ronan was momentarily stunned, his smile dropping and his eyes darted to my torturer before me. He stood up, his hands on his hips.

“Goddamn arrogant prick,” he said. “Your bravado isn’t going to save you. Tell me you’ve had enough now and I’ll put you in a cell where I'm sure Keeva will mount you for the rest of her days. Sounds pretty good to me.”

He didn’t have the balls to keep this up. He never did.

“You heard me,” I spat out. He gave the nod to his man behind me. I steeled myself against the cuffs and waited for the blow but it didn’t come. The door opened, and I heard the startled gasp before I looked up.

That blonde hair I would know anywhere. I loved having those blonde tresses tangled in my fist as I pumped into her as hard as I could, staking my claim on her.

No.

She couldn’t be here.

I tried to make a sound but nothing came out.

“Let him go, now.”

“You don’t give the orders around here,” Ronan said to her. “Get out.”

“Let him go.”

Adrian reappeared, a happy grin on his face that I wanted to kick off with my boot. “Let him go, gentlemen. My daughter has returned, and for her cooperation, I’ve granted her what she wants. His freedom.”

“No,” Ronan stormed toward them. “You and I have an agreement. We need to keep him away from his home. You know why.”

“You’re in my house, O’Brien, you will do as I say. Release him. Now.”

I found a way to look up into her eyes, those beautiful blue eyes that held wisdom far greater than her years and I tried to get to her. I tried to crawl to her, to put her behind me as I fought them, but I couldn’t move. My body fell as my hands were freed, and I landed face first onto the hard floor. I could barely breathe as I inhaled blood, dirt and grime. My body didn’t cooperate, I couldn’t move as I heard the doors slam shut, and I was left in silence.

I was vaguely aware of someone around me as I opened my eyes. My back was in agony, and brief flashes of my torture came back at me as I remembered why I couldn’t move.

“You’re awake,” I heard a familiar voice as I slowly tried to move my head. It wasn’t the voice I wanted to hear though. “I was worried for a moment.”

“Where is she?” I croaked out, my throat dry and sore.

“Who?”

“You know who,” I said, swallowing what saliva I had left in my throat.

---