Page 53 of Seduction

“Son of a bitch!” Creed curses, pocketing the picture before lifting me out of Luke’s lap, turning me so I wrap my legs around his waist and continue to sob.

“It’s all my f—fault,” I sob into his neck and his arms tighten around me.

“It’s not. This would have happened at any point, Doll. He knew he couldn’t get to you, so he went for Brent. It was a matter of time, baby.” He sits on the bench beside Lukas and eases me back to look at him. “We will get him back, Doll. Then we will get the revenge you both fucking deserve. That’s a promise,” he vows, and I nod as the tears lessen.

That’s when I remember we’re in the middle of the school grounds, but when I look around, I don’t see anyone watching us.

“Barren and Cord have kept everyone away, babe,” Lukas explains, and I let go of the breath I was holding.

Focusing back on the envelope, I pull out the smaller envelope that was placed inside, not quite ready to face that note just yet.

Opening up the envelope, I almost wish I hadn’t. This time, instead of one image, it’s three.

One is of the woman’s hands bound behind her back. Another is focused on the back of her head, and that lead weight in my stomach gets worse.

I don’t remember much about my slut of a mother, but I do remember the absolutely terrible blonde dye job she would get to cover up the brunette she was born with.

I don’t have to see the face to know that he’s taunting me with pictures of my mother, but why?

The third image is of her body face up in a deeply dug grave, her eyes open and wide with fear as she stares at whoever is holding the camera. I don’t have to ask if she’s still alive. She wouldn’t be laying in her own unmarked grave if she were.

I shove the pictures at Lukas, shaking as I close my eyes and try to fight the nausea that’s bubbling to the surface.

I’m not mad or even upset that she’s dead, but I’m not a cold and callous bitch like she was, so seeing that very real fear in her eyes in what was probably the last moment of her life? That’s rocking me to my core, and now I have to know why.

Why is he sending me these taunts about my mother? Why is he telling me she’s dead?

Did she gain even more debts with him after selling me?

I look up at them both as they watch me, waiting for my reaction but I shake my head. I can’t talk right now, so I grab the letter from the bubble envelope and unfold it. Inside is the same handwriting I’ve gotten used to seeing now.

Little Dove,

I’m not sure why you haven’t tried to reach out to me somehow, but if I didn’t know any better, I would say you were very unaffected by the pictures I’ve sent you. So, I decided to solve the puzzle for you.

Your mother was a mediocre whore who had no right to even breathe the same air as you, Dove. Yes, I took her barter to sell you, but I couldn’t allow her to live after that.

Knowing she so easily handed you over to the devil must be a hard pill to swallow, even after all this time.

At least you can find peace in knowing that she’s been dead almost as long as you’ve been on the run. I wanted to wait until she felt like she had some freedom before I tortured her for days, making her feel even an ounce of fear that my little Dove was feeling.

The second I saw a picture of you, I knew you would be mine, Dove. It’s time to come home where you belong so this game can end.

I’ve been patient with you and your father, giving you time to grow up, but I’m finished with the niceties.

The longer it takes you to accept that you are meant to be my wife and by my side, the worse it will be for your father.

Make the smart decision, Dove.

Choose wisely, or your father suffers.

Love

- D

PS: I bet your face is beautiful from the tears you’re no doubt crying for your father. I look forward to the day where I get all of your tears.

I’m watching, Dove.

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