Page 64 of Sacrifice (Corrupt Empire 2)

I didn’t stop struggling. I wasn’t going to let him rape me. He wouldn’t have an easy target here. The last thing I wanted was his dick anywhere near me. The thought of it made me feel sick all over again.

“Christ, you really are a fucking little feisty cunt, aren’t you? I’m going to enjoy breaking you.”

I screamed against his hand. He could call me all the names under the sun. I didn’t give a fuck. All I wanted was to be away from him. I hated the feeling of his body pressed against mine. Hated everything about him. I was so focused on trying to get away from him, I barely heard the bathroom door open.

Tristan was ripped away from me and slammed up against the wall opposite the door. I gulped down oxygen into my lungs, feeling disorientated and confused. I gripped the counter, holding myself up.

When I looked over at the two men by the door, my heart did a backflip in my chest. I couldn’t believe my eyes.

Aiden.

He had Tristan by the throat, his fingers digging in.

“I don’t think Miss Daniels appreciates being manhandled, do you, Tristan?” Aiden said, his voice brimming with barely concealed rage.

Tristan glared at him.

“What the fuck are you doing here, Aiden?”

“Visiting our good friend, Chuck. Now, are you going to apologise to Miss Daniels for your behaviour?”

Tristan was silent for a moment before he nodded. Aiden let him go, taking a step back. He didn’t look at me. I didn’t know what the hell to make of what just happened. All I knew is I couldn’t let on that we knew each other.

Tristan straightened his suit, trying to maintain his composure. He looked between us.

“Do you know your saviour here?”

He pointed at Aiden. I shook my head. He stepped around Aiden and walked over to me.

“I’m sure he can make those introductions himself. My apologies, Avery. I’ll be on my way now.”

I didn’t say anything. The disdain dripping from his voice put this in the top ten least genuine apologies of all time. His eyes told me so. He hated me with every inch of his being. And if I was ever alone with him again, he’d punish me for this.

Aiden’s reaction to the whole thing confused me. He hadn’t ripped Tristan a new one nor had he even glanced at me. I couldn’t see his face and it really bothered me. I thought he’d be so pissed off, he wouldn’t be able to control his anger.

Tristan left the bathroom. I took a steadying breath. The tension in the air didn’t dissipate. If anything, it ramped up a notch. What could I say? I’d been stupid enough to think Tristan wouldn’t follow me into the bathroom. I blamed myself for this situation even though it wasn’t strictly my fault. I didn’t ask for it.

“Are you okay?” he asked finally.

“No.”

He didn’t turn around and I couldn’t move.

“I’m not okay at all.”

He paced over to the cubicles and opened one of the doors. He waited outside it with his hand on the door. I took a shaky step towards it and then another. I didn’t trust myself or my legs. My movements were jerky as I stepped through the doorway. He walked in behind me, shut the door and locked it.

I turned around and looked up at him in the confined space. Aiden’s grey eyes were dark with anger. And there was something else in his expression which chilled me to my very bones. Helplessness.

I let out a small sob before bundling myself up into his arms and crying into his chest. He rested his cheek against my hair, stroking my back.

“Shh, it’s okay. I’ve got you,” he whispered.

“How did you know?” I sobbed.

“I heard your scream when I was walking to Chuck’s office. I know that scream anywhere.”

I didn’t know whether to feel comforted by that fact or not.

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