Page 50 of Beyond Rosy Irish Twilight

I screamed as a man fell to his knees in front of me. The menace on his face quickly blanked as a bullet pierced his skull and blood spewed everywhere. My heart raced out of control as I ran for the building, hoping I could get there and find a place to hide. Glass shattered just as I pulled on the front door. I screamed and ran through, only to be grabbed from behind. I kicked back, trying to break his hold, but I was no match for whoever was holding me.

Rancid breath invaded my nostrils as he pressed his cheek to mine and laughed. “Thought you could get away. I’m not finished with you yet.”

I screamed as he pressed something to my side and electricity shot through me. I tried to stay conscious, but my body clenched up until I finally passed out from the pain shooting through me.

I woke to the darkness surrounding me. My whole body ached and moving seemed impossible at the moment. I tried to roll over, only to freeze when I realized my hands were pulled tight above my head.

“Oh God,” I whispered. I squeezed my eyes closed and tried to stop the memories from invading my mind. It was just like before. My wrists were cuffed above me and I was stretched out, unable to move. Except this time, I wasn’t in a cell. “This isn’t like before,” I whispered. “It’s not like before.”

I repeated that over and over again, doing my best not to panic. I had to figure a way out. Or simply how to survive until Asher came for me. And I knew he would. Nothing would stop him from finding me. He might not want me, but he swore he would never let anything happen to me. The only thing that would stop him was death.

I took several deep breaths and focused on what I knew. My hands were cuffed, but my feet were just tied. And my flip flops were missing. I started wiggling my feet, wincing as the ropes cut into my ankles. My left foot wasn’t tied quite as tight as the right, so I worked on that one, struggling not to make a sound as the ropes turned bloody as I twisted my foot left and right until I was finally able to get the rope over my heel. The blood actually helped slick the ropes for me.

And by getting my left foot out, the right easily slid free because of the way they tied me. I laid there for a moment, taking deep breaths as the cut around my foot burned. Tears filled my eyes, but I refused to cry. This wasn’t like last time. I wasn’t going to be stuck in here again. I would find a way out and everything would be fine.

Except, I had no way to get these cuffs off. I couldn’t sit around here and talk myself down. I had no idea how long until someone came back here. I didn’t know who they were or what they wanted, but they would eventually come. I needed to be prepared. I scooted up on my hip until I was sitting upright. I ignored the smear of blood on the ground from my ankle and studied the cuffs around my wrists. I knew absolutely nothing about picking locks, and even less about how to fashion something to use as a pick.

I searched the space around me for anything that could be used, but there was nothing there. I took a few deep breaths, forcing the memories down. I focused on my surroundings. Last time, I was in a dark cell. This time, I was in some kind of dingy motel room.

The heat of the whip against my skin burned and I struggled to stay awake. I’d lost count of how many times he’d hit me.

Focus! The ratty comforter, the dingy carpet, the broken glass of the mirror…

“How long do you think she’ll last?”

No! I wouldn’t go back there. But the smell of blood nearly had me vomiting as it forced my mind back to that day.

“I’m going to make you bleed for me,” his low voice whispered. He grabbed my naked ass and squeezed hard. Pain tore through my backside as he roughly handled me, maneuvering me the way he wanted me. I had no more fight left in me. I was in so much pain and on the verge of passing out. I wheezed through my dry throat, hoping it would be over soon. He smirked at me as he grabbed my hips.

“I’m really going to enjoy this.”

“Jade!”

I blinked slowly, my mind pulled out of the memories from someone calling my name. A face came into focus that I thought I’d seen before…maybe on the island. Was I dreaming?

“You’re okay. Do you hear me? You’re going to be okay.”

I didn’t say anything. I couldn’t. My mind was still back in that cell, still focused on staying alive. Gentle hands wrapped around my wrists and I started to struggle, fighting off the demons of my past.

“No!” I screamed. Tears and snot poured down my face as I cried out, kicking at anyone that came near me. I couldn’t go back there.

“Hold her down!”

“Stop! Please!”

But no matter how hard I struggled, the hands that grabbed at me were too strong. I cried until my throat was raw, and even then, the hoarse noise coming from me sounded desperate to break free.

“Knock her out.”

“Don’t,” I croaked, my voice weak and pathetic. “Please don’t,” I cried.

Something pricked my skin and the familiar face came into view again. He lifted me gently in his arms and stared into my eyes as he carried me from the room. “You’re going to be okay. I swear it.”

I stayed focused on those blue eyes through the sobs that slowly died in my chest as the drugs pulled me under. “Don’t,” I whispered.

“I’m not going to hurt you,” he promised.

But at this point, I didn’t care. I just wanted it all to end. No more pain or terrifying memories. I just wanted peace. My heavy eyes slipped closed as I was jostled slightly with every step. Then I was on something cool and everything faded to black. I hoped that I never woke up again, that this was the end.

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