Page 52 of Beautifully Forgiven

Just go, Savannah, you need to run.

Taking one last look into the room, Jacob is slumped down and passed out. Or maybe he’s already dead.

Right then my decision is made.

I run toward the bathroom trying to find a first aid kit but come up empty. I find a towel and snatch it up. It will come in handy. I keep searching, running into a room that I suspect is his, and after rummaging through everything finally I find one.

Jacob is still passed out by the time I re-enter the room. Feeling his pulse, it’s weak and his skin is clammy. I struggle to move him but manage to get him to lie on his back. Ripping open his shirt his wound begins oozing. Blood coats his skin and the bed under him. Grabbing the towel, I add pressure while trying to search the first aid kit with one hand.

Finding a needle and some thread, this will have to do.

As quickly as I can, I begin to sew Jacob's wound. It’s a struggle getting the needle through his skin at first, but once I realize he’s passed out and isn’t feeling a thing, I get through it much quicker.

I look down at my effort, at least the bleeding has stopped.

Clearing up the mess, I toss everything to the side, now I just have to wait.

With the door still wide open, it feels eerily quiet.

I sit and watch Jacob, too afraid to move. A part of me keeps screaming at me to run, get out of here, just leave him behind.

So why can't I move? I’m glued to this spot, watching him, waiting for him to open his eyes. I don’t even know if he’ll be okay.

* * *

A groan from beside me has me looking up, his eyes flutter open and Jacob groans again as his gaze collides with mine.

“Kitten?” his voice growls.

As if remembering what happened, he shoots up, running his fingers across his stomach.

Staring at me in disbelief, Jacob swallows then his gaze drops back to where his hand grazes the stitches.

“You fixed me?” Jacob murmurs.

“Yes.” I breathe. My voice catches as I speak.

“You should have escaped,” he says with anger in his tone.

Wait, he's upset that I saved him?

“You wanted me to let you die?” I snap.

“I’m not done, Savannah. I still want to hurt you.” He sneers. Running his fingers through his black hair, Jacob growls then limps from the room leaving me behind. The door slams behind him and for the first time since yesterday I regret not running when the locks click into place.

With a heavy sigh, I lift the sheet I found under the bed while he was passed out and begin changing it. It'll have to do, it’s not like I can scrub it clean or ask for a new mattress. I take my place on the bed, taking a deep inhale, I can smell him, Jacob.

The room reminds me that I’m once again alone and trapped with a man who isn’t done playing with me.

I’ll never forgive my father for what he did because if he hadn’t killed Jacob’s family, I wouldn’t be here right now, and I wouldn’t have made the mistake of saving my captor instead of leaving him to die covered in his own blood.

Once again, the doors click open, the sound ringing through my ears. Slowly lifting my head from the pillow, I watch as Jacob leans against the door folding his arms across his chest.

Tsking me he murmurs, “Defiant as ever I see, kitten.”

Entering the room, Jacob closes the door behind him and moves toward me. Grabbing his side, he hisses, his wound causing him discomfort. I almost want to laugh because after the lashings that's how I felt.

I scramble to get away from him, but he grabs me, forcing me to stare up at him as he uses his hand to move my neck as he wants it. Even weakened Jacob can still control me. Or is it that I just want him to take control?

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