The bastard has the volume turned up loud, and our collective moans ring out around the room. My cheeks inflame, but it’s not from embarrassment although I’m completely humiliated watching the replay of the other night in Kai’s bedroom on a screen large enough to show every thrust and every touch in detail. No, I’m consumed with murderous rage as I watch the man who fathered me attempt to break me again.
The recording starts at the part where Jackson is jerking off, just before he leaves.
“Turn it off!” Drew shouts.
“We’re just getting to the best part,” the bastard says. The video fasts forward, and I cringe as I watch Kai maneuvering into my ass.
Christian’s loud laughter rings out around the room, and I’m sickened at the sight of the telltale bulge in his pants. Sylvia’s glazed eyes peer at me, with a hint of sadness, and her “get numb” strategy is looking more and more appealing. Trent looks ready to fly across the room and murder me.
“You did this,” I hiss under my breath, glaring at Charlie.
“No,” he grits out, averting his eyes as Drew races toward the projector. “You did this to yourself.”
“How did you get that footage?”
“I planted a camera in your purse.”
“You unimaginable bastard.”
“All you had to do was stay away from him.” He stares at me, his nostrils flaring, knuckles clenching, muscles bulging. “How could you lower yourself to do that with Lauder watching? I thought you had more class, but perhaps Trent is right, and you’re nothing but a whore.”
I slap him across the face, uncaring if I’ve sealed my death warrant. “I would rather be Kai’s whore than your wife.” I yank my ring off my finger, throwing it across the room as Drew shuts down the video.
“You really shouldn’t have done that,” Father says, glaring at Drew. His gaze jumps to me. “Retrieve your ring, and put it back on your finger. Now.”
“Fuck. You.” I flip him the bird, jutting my chin up defiantly. “You will have to fucking kill me before I’ll marry him.”
He stalks toward the projector, shoving Drew out of the way, pinning him with a look loaded with the promise of retribution. “Oh, there’ll be killing all right if this wedding doesn’t go ahead,” he says, pushing a button on the machine. “But it won’t be your life I’ll take.”
A new image appears on the screen, and my dinner threatens to reappear.
“No!” I scream, staring in horror at Kai. He’s stripped to his boxers while strapped to a chair with his head lolling from side to side, and every inch of his body is bloodied and bruised.
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
Someone yanks Kai’s head up, and a sob rips from my throat at the sight of his bloody face. His left eye is completely shut, the skin on his lid swollen and multicolored.
“I fucking hate you!” I rush toward my father, but Drew intervenes, jumping in front of me and pulling me back. I thrash about in his arms, legs and arms flailing as my tortured cries ring out around the room. “I will fucking kill you, you bastard! You leave him alone!!” Angry tears stream down my face, and I’m pumped full of adrenaline and rage. I’m primed to explode, and I want to unleash my anger on my father.
“Control her!” Father snaps at Charlie.
“Give her to me,” Charlie demands of Drew.
“Fuck off.” Drew steps back, keeping a firm hold of me. “Calm down, A,” he whispers in my ear. “You’re no use to Kai like this.”
His words sober me up, and I rein my anger in.
“Patrice, darling.” Father turns to his fiancée with a fake adoring look on his face. “Would you retrieve that ungrateful bitch’s ring?”
“Of course, sweetheart.” She looks unruffled as she walks to the corner of the room where I flung the ring and picks it up.
“I’ll take it.” Charlie steps forward, taking it from her.
He reaches for me, and I cringe away from him. Drew tightens his arms around me. “Back off, man.”
“Can’t do that, I’m afraid,” he says as there’s a knock on the door.
“Perfect timing,” Father says. He levels a stern look at Charlie. “Hit her if you have to, but keep her restrained.”
