Page 71 of Big Red

“I know that had to hurt,” Colt mumbles before grabbing the air freshener off the bedside table and spraying Jeffery in his eyes.

“Ahh!” he yelps, falling over and rubbing his eyes.

“Let's go!” I scream, grabbing Colt's hand and heading for the door.

As soon as I step out of the room, I run into a rigid body. On instinct, I begin to fight. I’m punching and kicking, trying to get the attacker off me.

“Cindy! Sweetheart, it’s me! Uncle Dice!”

Hearing his voice, I snap out of it. I look behind me to make sure Colt is there. Uncle Bear has him in his arms as he cries on his shoulder.

Knowing I’m finally safe, the need to be strong falters. My eyes water as my shoulders shake. Uncle Dice swoops me in his arms, making me cry harder.

“Shh, it’s okay. We got you.”

As they load us into the SUV, I watch a few of my uncles go inside the motel room. As we sit in the back seat watching, Colt lays his head on my shoulder, and my thoughts drift to my mom and dad. I don’t know where they are or if they're okay.

God, I don’t know if you’re real or not, but please don’t take my parents away.

ALICE

When I finally come too,I’m lying on a couch I’m much too familiar with. He brought us to the cabin his mother left him. The only time Declan brought me here was when he was planning some kind of sick punishment he convinced himself I earned.

Well, not today, Satan!

I will no longer be his punching bag.

Just like the egotistical maniac he is, he doesn’t bother to tie me up. He believes I’m still not a threat. I’m glad because his mistake is my blessing. I know I can’t afford to get into a full-blown altercation with him since I’m pregnant, but I’m for sure not about to take any more hits.

Sitting up, I grab my throbbing head.

“I should really knock your teeth down your fuckin’ throat,” Declan growls from the recliner.

I resist the urge to roll my eyes. I know what I have to do, and the thought literally repulses me. One day, during one of my sessions with Cara and Sara, they told me what to do if I ever find myself alone with Declan.

Play with his ego. Say everything you know he’s thinking, so he lets his guard down. Once he does. Attack.

“I know,” I say in a somber voice.

Declan rears his head back, stunned. I continue.

“I should have never left you. I should have known no one could love me like you.”

“How stupid do you think I am? You’re wearing a fuckin cut claiming you ashisproperty while wearing his ring!”

He points to the coffee table in front of him where my cut and engagement ring are.

Shit. Think Alice.

“Because I was trying to trick them into trusting me,” I cry. “They kept me locked inside that compound, never letting me leave. I didn’t want to divorce you, but they swore they would leak the footage from the parking lot if I didn’t. Did you know Cara’s dad is the CEO of Roman’s Palace? You would have lost everything.”

Declan sits back, speechless, and some of the anger washes away.

Good. He’s falling for it.

Standing up, he follows suit as I approach him. Palming his face, I look into his eyes lovingly. “I know I have to be punished because we wouldn’t be in this mess if I had never called them. So, I accept whatever you have to give me. But before you do, I need to feed you. You’ve lost so much weight.” I rub my hands across his chest.

Declan's cheeks turn red as he looks away. “Y-yeah, I couldn’t really cook with a broken arm.”

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