Page 16 of Beautiful Scars: Unshakeable

"Open your eyes, Angel." Garrett's voice is syrupy sweet as he whispers in my ear. "I brought something for you."

I force my eyes open, still feeling sick. He's sitting on the edge of the bed, fully dressed now, watching me with that possessive gleam. I don't know how he got there so fast. How long was I out?

"Please..." The word scratches my raw throat. "I need..."

"What do you need, sweetheart?" His fingers trace my collarbone. "Ask nicely."

"Water."

He clicks his tongue. "That's not how we ask, is it?"

My stomach churns. "Please, may I have some water... Sir?"

"Better." He reaches behind him. "But first, I have a present. You've been so good for me lately."

Something small and rectangular appears in his hands. Through swollen eyes, I make out the familiar worn edges of a book.

"Beg for it." His smile widens. "Show me how much you want it."

The words tumble out before I can stop them. "Please. Please can I have it? I'll be good. I promise I'll be so good for you."

He holds up the book and my eyes scan the title.The Secret Garden.My breath catches. My favorite book, filled with memories of safety and being tucked in and read to at night. The copy in Garrett's hands is weathered, well-loved. My heart sinks when I realize it's mine. It’s my copy.

"Please..." Tears slip down my cheeks. "I'll do anything. Whatever you want."

"I know you will." He runs his thumb along the spine of the book. "Which is exactly why I think you deserve nice things."

When he places the book in my trembling hands, genuine gratitude floods through me. "Oh, thank you! Thank you." My lips curve up into a wide smile, as I let out a giddy laugh.

I freeze, catching myself a second before I throw my arms around his neck in appreciation. Horror follows a half second after. What the fuck am I doing? He just—

And I'm smiling at him like he's my favorite person in the world for giving me a book he stole from out of my apartment?

But my fingers clutch the novel tighter. This small piece of before. Of safety. Of goodness.

"Such a pretty smile." Garrett strokes my cheek. "See what happens when you're good for me? When you accept what you are? Who you are?"

My mind fractures again. I know what he's doing—breaking me down piece by piece, replacing everything I am with what he wants me to be. Part of me is disgusted and wants to keep fighting. But, there’s another part of me, a tired, worn out part that wants to hold onto this book and let everything else go.

"Get yourself cleaned up, Sunny." He moves toward the door. "I'll send someone in to change the sheets. I'll be back later, and I want you ready to show me just how much you like your gift."

He pauses looking at me over his shoulder. "I told you that you might feel differently after a couple of weeks."

The door clicks shut. I wait until his footsteps fade before letting the tears fall.

I open the book with trembling fingers, seeking comfort in the familiar words. I find my own notes in the margins, written years ago. Each one is a knife to my heard. Some of my earliest happy memories have become weapons in his hands. Not even the words on these pages are safe for me anymore.

Nothing is.

Chapter Eight

Zane

Thecoffee'sgonecoldagain. I stare at the untouched mug, my third today, while surveillance feeds flicker across multiple screens. Same feeds, same locations, same nothing. A month of this and we're no closer to finding her.

Levi hunches over maps spread across the kitchen table, red circles and X's marking possible locations. His hands shake as he draws another line, connecting points we've already checked. The dark circles under his eyes match mine.

"There has to be something we missed." His voice cracks from exhaustion.

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