Autumn turned back to see Fox entranced by the bloody orb in his palm. He ignored the woman’s words.
“I’m sorry,” Autumn mumbled. How many did this make? She couldn’t remember.
“You’ll pay for this,” the woman spat. She glared at Autumn with her remaining eye. “Both of you.”
Autumn rubbed her temples as she came out of the memory. She touched the scar on the side of her nose that sliced toward the corner of her eye. One wrong move and the blade would have gone straight into her tear duct.
The blade descended to her face. She couldn’t move with her hands tied above her head. All she could do was move her head from side to side until Fox grabbed the long lengths of her hair to keep her still.
“Why are you doing this?” She still struggled to move her head as she felt the first cut into her skin.
“A lesson,” Fox spoke in a monotone voice. His face was blank, as if he was a different person. “I’ll make sure you never try to run away again.”
The blade descended again and slashed downwards. Autumn screamed as the metal seared through her skin. She’d never felt pain like this before. It went on forever. She must have passed out at some point, because when she awoke, Fox’s curious gaze was all she could see as he leaned over her with a pad of gauze against her face.
He smiled and stroked her hair behind her ear. “You’re still beautiful, my Autumn.” His finger traced down the side of her nose. His lips pursed as Autumn flinched. “If I can’t have you, no one can.”
Autumn blinked as a shudder stole through her body. She wiped at the tears that streamed down her cheeks. She wanted to scream. There was only one thing that would help her through this.
She picked up her phone and dialed Hererra.
“Hey—”
“I need you,” her lips trembled.
“Where?” His tone changed. It became hesitant as if he knew what and why she needed him.
“The usual place.” She cleared her throat and moved strands of hair from her face, “H-Half an hour?”
“I’ll be there. Text me when you’re close.”
“Okay.” She ended the call and walked to her bedroom to change her clothes.
She needed pain to dull the pain.
Braeden Walker sat at his dining room table. A lamp hung from the ceiling, one of those old-fashioned relics with stained glass. Several pictures littered the table.
A cool breeze blew through the open window, and he heard the waves lap at the dock next to the house.
It was peaceful here in Friday Harbor. He didn’t think he would ever leave Washington. It was home.
“Your frown lines are showing.”
Braeden glanced up to see the love of his life, his wife, walking towards him in one of her golden flowing sun dresses. Lilliana’s long, wavy red hair curled around her shoulders. Her bright blue eyes shined down at him. She still looked the same as when he met her over thirty years ago. It seemed like she never aged.
“Yeah, well, yours would too if you weren’t immortal.” He kissed her knuckles then let her hand go. Her lips curled in that seductive way of hers as she leaned over his shoulder.
He looked down at the pictures he’d stared at for more than an hour after talking to Autumn.
Their daughter at age five, twelve, and finally at eighteen.
He closed his eyes. He and Lilliana had so many regrets and so much pain. If only they were there for her when she needed them the most.
“She looked so lonely,” Lilli’s voice was low. He didn’t have to look to see her lower lip between her teeth.
“Living with that bastard?” He curled his lip, “Who would be happy.”
Lilliana sighed and rested her head on top of his, “You talked to her earlier?”
