Page 66 of Love Triggered

I know he’s not going to stop, so I shut my mouth, just taking the pain.

Cut after cut.

The sting of another slash brings me out of my memories. Blood pours down my chest, soaking into the bottom of my shirt.

“If you don’t stay away from Lainey, you’ll regret it,” Rian tells me. Zep is now standing beside him; he must have moved when I was lost in my head.

No matter the consequences, the words regret and Lainey will never be in the same sentence for me. I’d go through this a million times just to get her back.

Zep holds his hand out to Rian. “Give me the knife.” Rian does as he’s told, but clearly stays close enough to stop him from doing anything too crazy.

“Do your worst. Nothing you do will make me stay away from her.”

Zep lunges forward, barring his forearm across my throat and throwing my head back into something hard behind me. He presses the metal of the knife into the pulse point on my neck, and snarls. “I. Will. Kill. You.” The look in his eyes tells me that he’s being serious—he really will kill me.

Now that I’m thinking about it, I’ve never seen Zep like this either. They must be on fucking edge today or something.

“That would keep you away permanently, asshole,” he seethes.

“Zep!” A third voice shouts from the doorway. There’s no doubt that it’s the third Stooge.

Zep’s head snaps in his direction. “What?” he barks back.

“We’ve gotta go. Wrap this up,” Thiago calls, like they're running late for a brunch date, rather than beating the shit out of a man.

Zep’s blade falls from my throat, but his eyes stare deep into mine. “Just remember, you won’t ever see Lainey again. It can be your choice, or I’ll make the decision for you, but with a little more blood.”

He throws the knife back to Rian and walks somewhere behind me. Rian doesn’t take his eyes off of me for a second, and I stare back at him to show him I’m not afraid.

When Zep returns, he shoves a nasty piece of cloth in my mouth and duct tapes over it again. The cloth tastes like he’s cleaned his bike or his guns with it, from the grimy, metallic taste.

Motherfucker.

All three leave, shutting the door behind them.

Now that they’re gone, I need to find a way out of here. I know my legs and arms are tied, but if I could just tip this wooden chair over like I did last time, I might be able to get out.Rookies, they should know not to use wooden chairs.

I tilt my head to see what’s behind me. The metal pole that I felt earlier is the only thing I see. This should be easy. Just tip the chair over.

I start rocking side to side to get the chair going, but it doesn’t move.What the hell?I use my hands to feel around a little more, stopping when I feel more rope, but that rope isn’t attached to me.

Of course they tied the chair to the pole, Greyson. You idiot.I can touch the rope, so if I can find the ends to untie it, then I can get out of here. Searching around aimlessly for what feels like forever, I still can’t find any kind of loose end so I just start grabbing and yanking at it.

Nothing.

Damn it.

The realization hits me—I’m not getting out of here on my own. Someone is going to have to let me out, and the chances of that are slim to none.

I could play along with their little demands just so they let me out. If I don’t agree, they’ll probably kill me to keep me away from Lainey anyway. If I do agree, there’s a chance they’ll still kill me just because they can, but it’s the option with better odds.

I don’t want to play along with them, but I will if I have to. I’ll do anything for Lainey. Even give up my pride.

Anguish. Torment. Misery. That’s the cycle of emotions I’ve been feeling. It’s been four days since Lya abruptly forced me out of the library, leaving Greyson behind with nothing more than my promise that I’d figure this out for us. I told him to trust me and all I’ve done is fail him.

The first night, I tried going out my window. I slid down the drain like I usually do, but the moment my feet hit the ground, Rian was there waiting in the shadows. He scared the shit out of me and then promptly forced me back inside, making sure to wake everyone else up. I know Lya loves him so much and I do genuinely like the guy, but damn, he fucking sucks. A little snitch for my sister.

The next night I waited until it was three in the morning. I figured they’d all be passed out from the inevitable sexcapade they all partook in. This time instead of going out my window, I decided to try the front door. Clearly it was the riskiest move, but maybe they wouldn’t think I was that ballsy.

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