There’s smoke coming off the metal brand in the man’s hand. The letter P, followed by some numbers. It must be the auction date. It’s bright fucking red and ready.
“I told you. We don’t misbehave,” he says to no one in particular as he reaches for the metal brand. Once it’s in his hand, he mumbles something to the man before nodding, and the man steps back, grabbing handcuffs. His eyes meet mine, and a slow smirk curves his lips as he steps around me.
I fight off the guards holding me, but it does nothing. Three men hold me still as a guard snaps handcuffs around my wrists behind my back.
I yell, twisting against their grip, and then I see Jasper running back into the room, terror plastered on his face as he holds the blonde back, who looks like she’s ready to fight Peter herself.
When he steps forward to intervene, I send him a look, silently begging him to stop. Jasper doesn’t need this. The girl he was with is standing behind him, her eyes trained on Brielle as they fill with tears, but he keeps her held back.
Peter steps up to Brielle, who’s a tad more self-aware but still not fully there. She looks up at Peter with fear in her eyes as he examines the brand.
“This is going to look perfect on you,” he says, brushing a strand of hair out of her face.
Brielle manages to fight against Troy’s hold, but he digs the knife against her throat until it cuts into her skin. A single drop of blood runs down her neck, and I can’t look away.
He made her bleed.
“Please don’t,” she begs, but Peter doesn’t listen.
“STOP!” I yell, doing everything I can to get his attention on me instead of her.
“Don’t! Don’t do it. Brand me! Not her.” I can’t help but beg. “Please!” I add in hopes Peter will feel his already insane ego grow as I beg him to stop.
“You had your chance, Emris. She had hers as well. You both ruined that.” He turns back to Brielle, but I keep fighting, never once stopping, not even when the guards hit me.
Peter presses the hot brand to Brielle’s side, just under her breast, a mark that will forever be on her body, reminding her of this shit.
“No!” Brielle screams, and my heart breaks wide open as I yell her name when she sobs against Troy’s body. The pain in her voice makes my own tears fall from my eyes.
I couldn’t save her.
The amount of pain she’s endured... It's all because of me.
I roar, my voice louder than anything else, but it’s not enough to feed the monster inside of me begging to kill everyone here.
“Emris,” she cries, slumping as if the pain is too much.
“Baby. I’m here.” The guards drop me, and I fall to my knees before managing to get up. My hands might be tied behind me, but I don’t care. I need her to see me, to know I’m here.
But when I get closer, Troy pulls her back.
“She’ll be fine, son,” Peter says as his hand goes to my shoulder. I shake him off, and he laughs.
“It’s almost time for the auction. Be sure to get ready soon.” And with that, he whistles as he strides out of the room at the same time Susie comes in and gathers the women and ushers them out, only to return and grab Brielle.
Brielle doesn’t put up a fight—she’s barely able to stand. A guard helps get her out of here, and I stay there, trying to think of what the hell to do, but for once in my damn life, I have no idea.
I don’t know what to do.
How to save us.
51
BRIELLE
I’m exhausted,but when Susie drags me out, every instinct screams to fight.
I heard him. My vision blurred, but I swear I heard him. He’s not dead.
