Page 426 of Rage

Suddenly, Carl slams into my back, wedging me between his body and my door to freedom. He presses up against me so hard that I can’t move, can’t draw in air, can’t escape him.

“Not so fast,” he snarls. “You want me to do you up against this door, then that’s what I’ll do. There’s no getting away, Ginevra. So stop trying, for fuck’s sake!”

I gasp as he leans away far enough to undo his trousers and lift my dress up to my waist. Cool air briefly hits my backside. His heavy breath in my ear. His bruising touch assaults my ass, my breasts, my thighs. He shoves a knee roughly between my legs.

I close my eyes, willing all of this to go away, searching for an escape somewhere deep inside my psyche. I just want it to be over.

“Told you I’d make you pay,” he grunts.

I whimper, clawing at the wooden door, desperate to get away from him. Bile rises in my throat. Mentally, I attempt to brace myself for what’s coming next. Not only for the pain, but the humiliation and the shame. The powerlessness.

I’ve made so much progress on working on myself, on my trauma, and this is going to set me back to square one. I’ll have to start all over again. And who’s to say this will stop here, that this time will be the last?

Suddenly, he’s jerked away. Cool air replaces his body heat. There’s a thud, followed by a grunt.

Peeling myself off the door, I spin around, eyes wide, heartbeat raging. Agony shoots through the bottoms of my feet, then relief swells in my chest with such staggering force that I sway.

“Blake.”

“Magpie.” He gazes down at an unconscious Carl, his shoulders rigid with tension.

I must be in shock because I can’t seem to move my limbs. I just stand frozen in place and ask the first question that comes to mind. “H-how did you get in here?”

Blake lifts his eyes, meeting mine, and the fury in them sends shivers of ice through my veins. He jerks his chin toward one wall. “Hidden exit.”

“O-oh.” My voice trembles.

When Blake approaches me, his gaze softens, but his tone remains steely. “He hurt you.”

I nod, even though it wasn’t a question. He reaches for me and the numbness I’m feeling fades away, leaving me a shaking, sobbing mess in my husband’s arms. He doesn’t shush me, he just holds me close as I cling to him. He came for me. Of course he did. I never should have doubted that he’d find a way to get to me.

“Christ,” Blake curses, picking me up and carrying me away from the glass-riddled floor where I’ve been standing. “Baby, your feet are bloody.” He glances over my head. “Get me doctor. Now.”

For the first time, I notice that we’re not alone. A man hovers near us. It takes me a second to put a name to his face. Jet black hair, green-grey eyes, foreboding presence… Greyson Hyde, owner of Leonidas Gentleman’s Club, as well as this new establishment. While everyone knows his name, and has seen his picture in the papers, this is the first time I’ve seen him in person.

“Doctor’s already on her way,” Mr. Hyde growls. His gaze lands on Carl’s prone form. “I’m assuming you want to deal with that in your own way.”

Blake nods. “Put him on ice for me, will you?”

“Consider it done.”

I glance questioningly between the two men. “Y-you can’t. Don’t you know who he is? His father?—”

“He’s Carl Jones the third, and when I’m through with him, there won’t be a fourth.” Blake sits on the bed, setting me on his lap while we wait for the doctor to arrive. “He could be the most powerful man on this planet and I’d still make him pay for what he’s done to you, magpie. You’re mywife. No one touches you.”

I melt against him. He holds me closer, wrapping his strong arms around me, and inhales the scent of my shampoo.

“I’m sorry I wasn’t here sooner, my love,” he murmurs.

“You’re here now. That’s all that matters.” I nestle into him, doing my best to ignore the pain I’m in.

The doctor arrives at the same time as two men dressed in black. The men lift Carl’s unconscious body between them and drag him from the room. Mr. Hyde disappears with them, leaving me with my husband and the doctor.

Blake remains close to me, growling at the doctor every time I hiss as she plucks shards of glass from my soles. He holds me while she examines the bruises on my body. Though she scowls at him, she efficiently does her job, gives me meds for the pain, and eventually tells me I can go home to rest and heal.

There’s no point in getting the police involved. This isn’t going to court. Carl got caught. We are his judge, jury, and executioners. If he survives the week, I’ll be surprised.

Chapter Two

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