Page 65 of Torment

Brent inhaled deeply, closing his eyes like he was trying to calm himself. “Okay.” He turned to Colton. “You stay here and do not take your eyes off her.”

“I’d much prefer to go with you.”

“This isn’t a discussion, Mr. Riggs. Do not let her out of your sight.”

Colton glanced at Scarlet. “Fine.”

“Good.” Brent turned and faced her. “I’ll be back soon, then we can continue this.”

Scarlet glared at him, wishing she could pop his eyeballs from his skull.

“Let me go see what this fucker wants,” Brent mumbled as he walked out of the barn.

The second he was out of sight, it felt like Scarlet could breathe freely for the first time since she woke up. She sagged down, her tied wrists now supporting all her weight. Exhaustion suddenly took over and she didn’t care that her arms were hurting like hell.

“Scarlet.” Colton rushed over to her and took her face in his hands, forcing her to open her eyes and look at him. “I’m going to cover you up, okay?”

She just nodded. She was too exhausted to speak.

Colton carefully pulled her bra back, covering her breasts, before trying to cover her up as much as he could with the torn fabric of her shirt. She couldn’t care less that he was touching her, even though she now hated him almost as much as she hated Brent.

He had betrayed her in the worst possible way, but there was a part of her that felt relief when she saw him standing in the barn. Why, she didn’t know.

Colton buttoned up her pants before grabbing a can and filling it with water from the outside tap.

“Open,” he ordered, holding the tin close to her mouth.

Scarlet didn’t know how thirsty she was until she felt the first drop on her lips. Then it felt like she couldn’t swallow the water fast enough. Water spilled from her mouth, down her chin and throat. But it felt cool on her skin that seemed to be burning—burning from the inside.

“Do you want more?”

She shook her head, and kept her eyes fixed on his.

“Why?” she whispered.

Colton tossed the can to the side. “Right now, I’m sure you have a lot of questions that start with why. So you need to be more specific.”

“I already know why you did it. I want to know why you’re helping me now.”

He glanced around the barn and walked toward a small round table at the far end. Scarlet watched as he picked it up and placed it next to her. When Colton reached for her waist, she jerked to the side, the chains complaining above her head.

“I won’t hurt you, Scarlet.”

She kept her eyes on him the entire time as she let him wrap his arms around her waist and position the table beneath her, allowing her to sit and take some strain off her wrists.

The relief was indescribable.

Colton stepped back. “You know why I did it?”

“Your sister.” Her strength was waning and her voice was soft—too soft.

“I’m sorry.” Colton didn’t look at her.

She snorted. “I get it. It’s a fuck or get fucked world out there. I’m just kinda tired of the one always getting fucked.”

“If there was any other way, I never would have done this. But I’m running out of time, and I have no choice.”

“Stop. Stop justifying your actions. It won’t change anything. You betrayed me to find your sister. I get that. Blood is thicker than water, right? Besides, I’m tired. I’m done running. This is my fate and it’s time I accepted it.”

---