Page 86 of Beautiful Scars: Unshakeable

"That's our girl." His voice is rough with emotion.

I watch the little blip on my screen, silently thanking whatever instinct made us plant that tracker. Hold on, Sunny. We're coming.

The security feed shows Colt carrying Jade inside, her face buried in his neck. She's alive. She's here. Which means Garrett kept his word about the trade.

My stomach turns. Because if he kept his word about that, it means he has exactly what he wanted all along.

He has our Sunny. And he wanted her even more badly than any of us could've imagined.

But this time, she's given us a way to find her.

I meet Levi's eyes, see the same determination reflected there. Time to get our girl back.

Chapter Thirty-Eight

Sunny

I'mjoltedagainstthecold metal underneath me as the truck hits another bump. My teeth chatter—from cold or fear, I'm not sure anymore. The chains binding my wrists and ankles clink together with each movement, a harsh reminder of my current reality.

Garrett's "inspection" had been thorough. Every piece of clothing torn away, every inch of skin checked for wires or trackers. His fists left fresh bruises blooming across my skin when he found nothing—his way of punishing me for making him work so hard to get me back.

A bitter laugh escapes my cracked lips. For all his meticulous searching, his one weakness had saved me. The moment I'd mentioned my period, he'd recoiled like I'd slapped him.

You're disgusting. No better than a fucking animal.

Even now, curled naked in the back of his truck, I can't help but find the dark humor in it. The man who'd tortured and terrorized me for years, who left me to die after carving meopen, who'd killed without remorse—gets squeamish at the mere mention of period blood.

So squeamish he couldn't even check to see if I was lying because the thought made him gag.

It's always been his thing. Those sacred four or five days each month that made me untouchable—given me my only guaranteed reprieve.

The tracker sits safely inside me, undetected. As long as its battery holds out, there's hope. Levi and Zane will come. The thought of them sends an ache through my chest. The letter I left...

Another bump sends me sliding across the truck bed. I wrap my arms around myself tighter, trying to preserve what little warmth remains. My mind drifts to Jade, hoping she made it back safely. That's what matters. That's why this was worth it. I may never know for sure, but I want to believe she did. I have to believe that.

"Almost there, Angel." Garrett's voice drifts back from the cab, making my skin crawl. He's been talking since we left—a constant stream of possessive rambles. How he loves me. How this time he'll never, ever let me go. I don't doubt any of his words.

I press my forehead against the cold metal floor, focusing on the engine's vibrations instead of his voice. Each mile brings me closer to the end I've chosen for myself.

I hope they find me—I really do—and I'll keep fighting as long as I can. But I also need to prepare myself for this being it. For this being all there is left for me.

The truck takes a sharp turn, throwing me against the side wall. Fresh pain explodes across my already bruised body. I bite back a cry, refusing to give him the satisfaction. Through the small back window, I catch glimpses of trees against a pre-dawn sky. We've been driving for hours.

"You know why I had to punish you earlier, don't you?" His tone carries that familiar false concern. "If you'd just stayed with me from the start, I wouldn't have had to hurt you. Everything I do is to protect you."

I stay silent. He's not expecting an answer. This monologue is for his benefit, not mine. Each word reveals more of his fractured reality—a world where obsession equals love, where possession means protection.

The truck begins to slow. Gravel crunches under the tires. My heart rate spikes, but I force my breathing to remain steady. Whatever comes next, I have to stay focused. The tracker is my lifeline. As long as it remains undetected, there's hope. I have at least four days before the battery and signal die, if what Z told me was accurate.

I think of Zane's quiet strength, of Levi's fierce protection. Of Chase teaching me to break holds and use weapons, of Jade's unwavering friendship. Of the family I found. The love I never thought I'd have again after Dad died.

The engine cuts off. The driver's door opens, then closes. Footsteps approach the back of the truck.

I close my eyes and steady myself, trying to prepare for what comes next.

MyheadspinsasGarrett hauls me from the truck bed, his grip bruising against my bare skin. The world tilts as he throws me over his shoulder like a sack of flour. Each step jostles my tired, aching body, but I clench my jaw against the pain.

The night air bites at my exposed skin. Through my tangled hair, I catch glimpses of a house looming ahead—not the industrial buildings or warehouses I'd been expecting. This is a real house, with landscaping and a forest of trees surrounding it. My stomach drops as understanding hits. This isn't a temporary holding place.

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