Page 125 of Rogue Villain

My feet cross the space quickly before my nerves can desert me, and I grab the edge of the blanket, pulling it back in a single fluid motion to find the wide eyes of my mother staring back at me.

“Mom!”

A sob chokes me as I take in her bound wrists and the gag around her face.

“Oh my God!”

I rip the gag from her mouth and move to untie her wrists, but she stiffens, her words chilling me to my marrow. “Run. Now! Get out of here, Wren.”

I shake my head vehemently. “No. I’m going nowhere without you, Mom.”

She sets her jaw as I quickly untie her. When she’s free, she whimpers in pain, and I gently massage her sore wrists until she gains some feeling back in the abused joints.

“Wren, you shouldn’t be here. Itoldyou to stay with Vaughn.”

Realization prickles my spine. “Wait, were youherethe whole time?”

She nods as a shiver envelops her body. “Yes. Elliott brought me here after…after…” She trails off, her eyelids fluttering closed as she recalls what happened the night I’d been attacked.

“After Marcus hit you over the head with a flashlight.”

My eyes bulge as her words unlock my missing memories, and the horror of that night unfolds before my eyes as though I’m living it for the first time.

* * *

My head is pounding as my eyes flicker open. I’m in the backseat of a familiar car, but when I try to lift my head, the world spins.

I lie back down quietly, listening to the two voices speaking in the front of the car.

“Why didn’t you tell me what he was planning, Marc? You can hardly think it’s a good idea tokidnaphis lover so she can’t leave him.”

I stiffen when I hear Matt’s beloved voice. Then Marcus answers with a snarl. “It’s a fucking amazing idea, Matty, and I only wish I’d thought of it before Dad got his claws into Sloane. Uncle EllownsSouth Brook. Sara Ricci is a fucking no one. Not a single person will question it if he tells them to look the other way.”

I can feel him glance into the back seat, and I force myself to remain deathly still. I must pass inspection, because he turns back to Matt with a smile in his voice. “You should keep her. I know you want her. I’ve seen your room.” He snorts a laugh. “You’ve got it even worse than me. You better hope no one else gets her while you’re playing the long game.”

“She needs to realize that we’re meant to be, Marc. I’m giving hertime.”

Marcus sighs. “You’re a more patient man than me. Or Uncle Ell. If I got within a hairsbreadth of Sloane, I’d be taking her for myself, too. You’ll soon realize I’m right. We’re Porters; we can do whatever we want. Embrace it, bro.”

The car stops, and Marcus gets out, opening the rear driver’s side door. I can feel the cool night breeze on my scalp.

“Why are we dropping her here, where Elliott works?”

“Because we can diddle the security footage. And anyway, the staff is in his back pocket.”

He moves to reach for me, stopping suddenly. “Oh, and remind me to change his schedule. He’s taking vacation leave to get Sara settled in.”

“And why—"

Marcus sighs heavily as he cuts his brother off. “God, Matty. Sometimes you’re the dumbest fuck—”

His attention is drawn to me, and I realize that, as I’ve been listening, I’ve opened my eyes, unknown to myself.

Bright blue eyes once again peer into mine. “I hope for your sake that you forget all about what you’ve just heard.”

Then the butt of a handgun comes down on my forehead with a crack.

* * *

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