Page 116 of Coercion

As soon as they’re off, I jump up, pushing her out the way. She lets out shriek, grabbing my arm and I smash my fist into her face.

But the door crashes open.

Two men I don’t know grab hold of me and I’m slammed back into the mattress face first.

“What the fuck?” Jett says, as he marches in.

“Little bitch.” My mother says, grabbing my hair wrenching my head back. “You keep this up and you’re going to regret it.”

“Like you will when you double cross Nico.” I shout back.

She pushes my face into the duvet, pushes so hard she’s suffocating me. I jerk but the men hold me still.

I kick out but it does nothing.

Black spots punctuate my eyes. My heart is pounding in my chest. My head is screaming.

And then it stops.

Everything stops.

Blackness takes over everything and I drift off. I give in. I welcome it.

Ruby

It takes all my strength to stand still, to not glare, to not lash out at the man gawping at me.

The drugs are still in my system, still making my head feel hazy, still making my eyes struggle to focus. I swear I’m swaying slightly but either no one notices or no one here cares.

Jett stands off to the side, arms folded, frowning as he watches me and I can’t tell if it’s because he’s ready for me to act out or he’s hating this as much as I am.

But my mother flits about making sure this significant new being gets her full attention.

He steps up, grabbing my face, staring at me like I’m some precious jewel he’s trying to find a flaw with. All the tattoos covering his skin seem to morph into one, as if they’ve come to life.

“…and her back?” He asks.

“The wounds are healing well.” The doctor replies. “And though there will be scarring, it is only her back…”

He drops his gaze, blatantly staring at my breasts. “I’m sure she’ll make it up in other ways.” He murmurs. “Besides, the diamonds will help.”

I grit my teeth, pulling back from his grasp, unable to hide the snarl and his eyebrows raise.

“Ruby.” My mother says in warning.

“No,” The man smirks. “It’s okay, I like them high spirited. It makes them more fun when you break them.” He says, grabbing hold of me again, pushing his body into mine. “You’re like a pure bred horse. Flighty, spoilt. I’ll beat that out of you if I have to.”

And then it hits me who he is.

Why he’s so familiar.

“Jace?” I don’t know how I know his name, maybe some subconscious part of me remembers my husband calling him. Because that’s where I know him from. Preston. He works for Preston.

Maybe this is some trick, he’s playing my mother, pretending to be on their side and soon, he’ll sneak me out and rescue me?

He doesn’t react. Doesn’t show any hint that he even heard me.

“Phone.” He says holding his hand out.

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