Page 9 of Bound By Fate
It wasn’t why I’d risked everything to leave home and build a new life in hiding. Now, it all seemed worthless. Every struggle to get here didn’t matter because I ended up in the same cage I’d run away from.
Pulling myself together as much as I could, I used the facilities and tried to put some light in my eyes, by smiling several times. I’d heard somewhere it worked. For me it didn’t, but it would have to do.
Opening the door to the bathroom, Remy came running right to me. “We’re doin’ take!” she yelled, grabbed my hand, and pulled me into the opened area where her cake was set on the table.
Everyone was gathered around it, waiting for the guest of honor. Remy charged right through them, pulling me along. I tried pulling back so I could stand in the background, but Remy wasn’t having any of it. She was on a mission.
“Move peeze,” she said as we bumped through the mass of people, pushing them out of the way. They parted ways, allowing us to move through.
“Sorry,” I murmured as we made it to the table. Remy sat at the head of the table.
Remy said, “Here,” pointing next to her. It was a full out order, not a request. I loved that little girl. I never wanted her to lose that part of herself as she grew up. I wanted her to know what she wanted in life and to go for it. She deserved the world.
“You got it.”
Remy looked over to the end of the table and yelled, “Unkey WyWy!”
My stomach fell, knowing what was coming next.
“Come herez!” Remy pointed for him to stand right next to me.
Micah and Ensley stood on the other side, and Dryerson did not disappoint the little birthday girl, standing so close his heat was calling me.
Not having anything to do with my hands, I put them in the pockets of my shorts.
My entire left side tingled at his nearness. We hadn’t been this close since the day he’d come in and rescued me. My body came alive, and it was difficult to keep it in check. Sizzles tingled down my arm, reminding me of our time together.
How could one man affect me so much?
“Hey there, hot stuff,” Ax said, sidling up to my right. “You all healed up?” When was the last time I’d seen Ax? My mind raced at his question, not because it was rude, but that simple word took me right back.
All warmth or tingles evaporated into the air. Just like before, quicker than a snap, I was there in that hole.
Dirt. Mold. Blood. The smell was everywhere. Every place on my body hurt. There was not a hair on my head that felt any relief. Hours, maybe? Days? I had no idea the concept of time.
My arms and legs were tied, and I knew I had no clothes on because my bits were getting breezes they shouldn’t get.
Daniel ran the knife over my face, down my neck, in the middle of my breasts then to my stomach, where he began to cut. It was nothing like cutting your finger with a piece of paper. No, this was agonizing. And Daniel liked to go slow, drawing out each agonized scream.
My voice was so raw by then. Between my legs burned, and I could feel blood running down my legs.
I couldn’t move. I was stuck enduring this, but I made a mistake.
I called my sister, and she’d be here any moment.
Just then a deep slice went down my thigh, and I screamed out once again.
A solid presence came right behind me, and I breathed in hard as a hand came to rest on my neck right by my shoulder. This time I didn’t flinch or pull away. Instead, I closed my eyes as the hand started to squeeze at a soothing pace.
I sucked in his woodsy scent.
Dryerson. It was this special gesture reserved only for me. I’d missed it. Heck, I loved it. Just knowing this man had my back in this moment meant the world to me. Made me feel protected. Something I’d never had in my life. Just from one touch by him. That was all it took.
We stood there for moments that were probably only seconds but felt like an eternity.
“Hey, Katie,” Ax said in a soft voice, but I didn’t move or look at him, keeping my focus solely on Dryerson’s touch and allowing it to soothe the mess swirling around in my head.
A soft breath came to my ear and whispered, “Wild Kat, it’s okay. You’re safe.”
