Page 11 of The Forever One

Elizabeth squeezes my leg to get my attention before her door is opened and her eyes are wide, like she has something to tell me, but can’t say the words out loud. She’s looking from me to the house, and shaking her head in disbelief. A sense of dread fills me. If I’m reading her correctly, this isn’t the original destination. Which means ourfail-safeplan has failed—which is fucking ironic—and the army of people coming to be our backup and basically get us all out of here alive… won’t be able to find us.

The lead in my stomach is heavy as I exit the car and I want so badly to tell Lina to stay. Don’t get out. I’ve got us into some shit and I’m not sure how to get us out of it. I thought I could be some big bad mafia queen, but I’ve fucked it all up at the first hurdle.

As Lina steps out of the car, I grab her hand and pull her close to me, whispering, “Never forget, I’ve always got you. Whatever happens.”

She nods. “Same, girl.”

“Come on, what is this? Get them inside, Aldo.” An overweight goon from the car behind us saunters past, a cigarette hanging from between his lips.

“Where’s Tyler?” I’m asking no one in particular, but I know Aldo heard me when he begins snickering like the Beavis he is.

Before he answers, Lina gasps from beside me, drawing my attention to a lump on the ground beside the other car. It’s a Tyler-shaped lump. He’s close enough for me to see that he’s breathing, which is the first thing I look for before allowing panic to set in.

“What the fuck have you done to him?” Lina’s voice is full of anger and she squares up to the giant cunt that is Aldo. He’s got at least three feet on her, but that doesn’t stop her.

“Oh fuck off.” Aldo hits her across the head with the butt of his gun, knocking her out cold.

I just about manage to catch her before she hits the concrete and I glare at the motherfucker.

“Aldo! What the Hell was that?” Elizabeth’s usually calm tone is high-pitched, almost on the brink of losing it.

“Boss didn’t say anything about harming this one.” He chuckles, hooking his arm through Elizabeth’s and turning to walk inside the weird barn-thing at the side of the house as I gently lie Lina down. She’s coming to already, thank the gods.

No, I’m not having that.

I move to get up, but I don’t get very far before my arms are grabbed from behind.

“Get your fuc—” I’m cut off mid-yell with some disgusting material forced between my lips. It’s pulled so tightly, it’s uncomfortable and a little painful to move my mouth to form words. Inside, I’m yelling all the curse words ever invented, while outside it sounds like a lot of muffled screeches as I’m dragged along into the barn where Aldo went.

I can see another couple of goons dragging Lina along behind me. She’s struggling against them as much as I am, but it’s no use. They now have us gagged and bound by the hands. I try kicking the thugs holding me, but they each manage to avoid it by dropping me on the spot before picking me up again to continue.

Once inside the building, I stop struggling, because my attention and focus is on one thing only: Marco.

He’s here. And he looks like utter shit. There’s blood all over his shoulder, his face, he’s bound and gagged, and his eyes… I’ve never seen such a look of horror as he watches the goons throw me to the floor next to Lina. He and Enzo are on their knees, tied to a stable door at one end of the barn, hay and animal shit all over the ground.

“Well well well, finally, she has arrived. I told you to come alone, did I not, little whore?”

My muffled response just makes him laugh.

“Oh, but you did bring a treat. Hello, Lina.” He moves to Lina beside me, putting his face into her neck and taking a deep breath. She flinches away from his touch and I don’t blame her.

“Tie her over there. We’ll hand her over to her new owner tomorrow.” His attention moves from Aldo back to Lina. “Daddy’s got himself a little fun to have first.”

I watch Lina’s eyes widen as she tries to move backward, away from the monster who has just gripped her throat. The once silent room is now full of muffled shouts and screams, from Marco, Enzo, me, and worst of all, Lina.

“Hold her legs down.” Two more goons appear, each holding one of Lina’s legs down, leaving room for Ugo to get on his knees in between them as he undoes his zipper. She’s on her front, and I stop watching what Ugo’s doing from where I’ve been tied, pulling at my restraints to get to Lina and finding it impossible. The ropes are burning my wrists, but I won’t stop trying. I focus my eyes on Lina, because right now, she’s facing me, the guys are just behind her, watching from a different angle.

I see the moment Ugo does the unthinkable, and even gagged, the scream that comes from Lina is one I’ll never forget. Tears fill her eyes with every movement, and they fill mine too. The hurt and pain she’s going through is incomprehensible.

It goes on for far too long and I’ve managed to block out the sounds of the room, focusing on Lina, sending every loving piece of energy I have her way. We will get vengeance for this. We have to.

Her eyes are torn away from mine and Ugo has her by the hair, dragging her over to Enzo. The sick fuck.

I can’t see Marco in this position, but I can hear his growls promising death. Lina’s eyes are now on Enzo’s, her face close to his, and he’s struggling with all his power to get free. Blood is beginning to pour from his wrists, but he just can’t get close enough. His eyes are on Lina, unmoving, and it’s obvious he’s ready to die to make sure Lina survives this.

“She was supposed to be mine, did you know that?” Ugo’s voice grates on my every nerve as he pants with every breath, watching and loving Enzo’s reaction to what he’s doing to Lina. “But I never got the chance to taste her. I guess it’s never too late, is it?”

Lina’s scream pierces through the air and Enzo’s eyes widen, expressing every ounce of his agony. He’s helpless, but he continues to growl and grunt and make himself bleed as he tries to escape the ropes holding him down. The barn door he’s tied to shifts a little, but not enough as Ugo’s frightening grunt of pleasure echoes around the room before he stands, zipping himself up.

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