Page 82 of Colton
His free hand reaches out, gently tracing the bruise on my cheek, his touch featherlight. I flinch slightly, not from pain, but from the unexpected tenderness. His eyes soften for a moment, but the rage is still there, simmering just beneath the surface.
“What...what did they do to you?” he demands, his voice shaking with fury. “Tell me, Luella.”
I can see the storm raging in his eyes, the darkness swirling with the promise of violence. I know that if I give him names, he’ll hunt them down, make them pay for what they did to me. But I don’t need a knight on a white horse. I save myself, every fucking time.
“It doesn’t matter,” I respond, my voice steady despite the emotions churning inside me. “They’re dead. I took care of it.”
His eyes widen slightly, a flicker of surprise and something like pride flashing across his face. But the rage is still there, still burning.
“And him?” he asks, jerking his chin towards Xavier, who’s watching our exchange with wide, fearful eyes. “What about him?”
I turn back to Xavier, the gun still pointed at his forehead. “He deserves to suffer,” I answer, my voice cold. “He deserves to pay for what he did to me, to my family, to all those women.”
Colton nods, his expression darkening. “He does,” he agrees, his voice like ice. “And it has to be us who ends it.”
Chapter 37
Colton
Iwatch Luella, in fucking awe of the energy she radiates. Her gaze, fixed on the man chained to the wall, burns with a cold fire that both terrifies and excites me. I see the strength in her, the resilience that has kept her alive through unimaginable horrors. And I feel a surge of pride mingled with a protectiveness so fierce, it makes my chest ache.
Xavier whimpers, his eyes darting between us, pleading for mercy in a way that makes my stomach churn. He doesn’t deserve it. Not an ounce of compassion.
“You should have listened to me when I warned you,” I growl, moving closer. “I told you she was mine.”
“You make out that you’re a fucking saint, Colton,” Xavier rasps, his gaze fixed on Luella. “But you were here when her sister died. You did nothing to help her, did you?” The words are laced with venom, aimed at twisting the knife in my gut. He knows exactly where to strike to inflict the most pain, the fucking pathetic cunt.
Iwasthere the night she died. The memory of these animals touching her, hurting her… It makes me want to tear Xavier apart with my bare hands. I can feel his words slithering intomy mind, the shame clawing at me. I was there, a puppet in his sadistic theater, bound to him by blood and weakness. Part of me wonders if, deep down, I’m more like him than I want to believe. And if she knew, if Luella truly knew...would she still see me as someone she desires?
Luella stiffens beside me, her grip tightening on the gun she stole from the guard, before glancing at me, a question in her eyes. I can see the understanding dawning in them as she pieces together the fragmented memories Xavier is so cruelly dredging up.
“You were there?” she whispers, her voice barely audible.
I refuse to give him the reaction he so badly wants, but I won’t lie to her. Not about this.
“Yes. I didn’t have a choice.”
“Did you...” Luella pales and stares at me, her attention solely on me.
My heart twists as she scrambles for the words I don’t want to hear, but I know she has to ask. “Did you touch her?”
I scowl. “Did I—fuck, no! And if he says I did, I’ll kill him myself, and I’ll make it slow.” I shoot him a warning glare, but he stares back at me, dead behind the eyes.
Fucking soulless cunt. Why did I have to be burdened with him for a father?
He smirks, a cruel twist of his lips. “You didn’t have totouchher to enjoy it, boy? Watching was enough. Just like it was enough when your mother?—”
“Shut your fucking mouth!” I roar, lunging forward and slamming my fist into his jaw. He cries out, the sound muffled by the blood bubbling in his mouth.
Luella flinches but doesn’t move, her gaze still locked on mine.
The voices in my head scream, a chaotic chorus of rage and pain.
Kill him! End it now! He deserves to suffer!
I clench my jaw, fighting for control. I can’t let them win. Not now. I need to focus on Luella.
“Are you alright?” I ask her, my voice rough.
