“You fucking cunt,” he hisses, hand coming to wrap in my hair. He pulls it back, a small yelp of pain coming from my lips. It causes him to tighten his grip, and I’m pretty sure he managed to rip a few strands of my hair. “Do you have any fucking idea what you have done?!”
His screams reach my ears, but I can’t force words out of my mouth. All I can do is stare at him, wide-eyed, hoping he won’t repeat all the abuse he’s put me through. He used to be theroughest and most violent when he was angry, but I have never seen him as furious as now.
“What—’’
My words are croaked out, only barely, and even I’m not sure if he’s heard me. My hands are trembling by my side, and I can’t help but think how pathetic I look. I haven’t grown at all. I’m still the little girl he’s hurt, abused, and ruined. I’m still as scared as I used to be, and no amount of pretending can prove otherwise. This is my life — being pathetically terrified of my abuser.
“Arlo De Santis has burned half of New York down to the fucking ground for you,’’ he hisses in my ear, yanking on my hair harshly. “He fucking ruined everything — no, you ruined everything. I never should’ve sent you to prison. I should’ve sold you to someone who would’ve made sure your death was as pathetic as you.’’
My mind barely registers the second part of his rant, focusing on the first one.
Arlo burned down New York for me. He actually did something as dangerous and insane as that. Never in a million years would I have thought he’d go to such an extreme for me. It just goes to show that his obsession with me knows no bounds, and that thought comforts me.
It wraps around my heart like the softest blanket, and somehow, my body stops trembling. The fear’s there — it will forever lurk around, especially when it comes to Paul Simmons, but now I’m certain Arlo will come to get me.
“Now, I’ll have to do what I should’ve done a long time ago.” The thinly veiled threat doesn’t go unnoticed, and I don’t get the chance to at least try and ask him what he means.
Paul readjusts his hold on me and, in an instant, slams my head against the wall. A scream of pain bursts to the surface, the aching spreading all throughout my body. He does it again, until I feel blood dripping from the side of my head.
When I look up at him, all I can see is blazing anger. The same look he used to give me when he’d rip my clothes apart, force himself on me, time and time again. Not once did my tears stop him; in fact, they only made him ruin me more. He thrived on my pain, on the way he was ruining me mentally.
His hand connects to my cheek, the sound of it echoing in the room. My head turns to the side, the metallic taste falling onto my tongue. With a trembling hand, I touch my cheek, swallowing thickly. The strength he used to slap me guarantees a bruise will appear soon.
“Get to your fucking feet.’’
My body responds immediately, and I stand up, looking at him hesitantly. There’s a smirk on his lips, one that causes nausea to build inside me as he glances at my cheek, reveling in his little work of art.
“If I had the time, I’d remind you of our good old times, Blair.” His hand comes to stroke the cheek, and I flinch. His voice is softer now, but I know all too well just how fake it is and that the worst is yet to come. It’s happening, all over again, and I’m still as helpless, as useless as I was. “But right now, I need to get you out of this fucking place before Arlo finds it.”
Paul doesn’t wait for my response. Instead, he wraps his arm around my wrist and starts pulling me out of the room. His steps are quick, and only now do I see the tension in his shoulders. His body is rigid, and he’s under a lot of stress. That’s when it all clicks — the bastard is scared.
His hand is tightly wrapped around my wrist, and if he holds it any rougher, my bone will snap. He’s not being careful, either, and I have to try and force myself to keep up with his pace. I trip a few times, though it doesn’t deter him.
We reach the bottom floor, and that’s when I fucking remember the gun X gave me. There are too many of his men for me to use it safely, and instead, I keep the thought in the back ofmy head, ready to use it once we’re alone again.
The front door of the manor opens, and we step outside.
Snow covers the grass, the trees, and even the hoods of their cars. It’s falling relentlessly, promising a snowstorm. In any other situation, I might’ve thought this scene was beautiful, but he yanks me again, urging me toward one of his cars.
However, Paul freezes in his spot, and I collide with his back. The scent of his strong cologne hits my nose, and I gag before stepping back a little. He’s standing silently for what seems to be an eternity, and a frown tugs on my lips.
I peer over his shoulder, getting on my tiptoes to see what the fuck is happening, and what I see makes me falter.
THIRTEEN
Everything moves in slow motion, and it feels unreal.
Snow falls on my face, the chilly air blowing my hair back. Involuntarily, I step aside, watching it all happen. The beautiful forest covered in white slowly gets engulfed in flames. The fire is spreading rapidly, eating everything in its path.
Dark clouds of smoke fill the air, lifting up, and my eyes are glued to the sight. The warmth seeps through the thin clothes, and something about it warms the inside of my heart. The road out of the forest is filled with wild flames, and we’re trapped inside. Yet, I’m not scared.
If anything, I’m fascinated by the sight, the puremadness of this scene. Chaos surrounds me, men screaming, and Simmons giving them instructions. But my eyes remain on the blazing red, mixed with orange. It roars to life the more I stare at it, and I can’t help but take a small step forward.
It’s almost as if the fire has a soul. And currently, it’s screaming. The sound of what resembles agony reaches my ears, soothing me, protecting me from the inner turmoil. My heart skips a beat as I step forward again.
I come to a stop when I see a dark shadow emerging from the flames. My eyes narrow, and I squint them, trying to see who would be insane enough to walk through the untamable fire that’s surrounding the entire manor.
And I cannot even understand the happiness that swirls inside of me when I see the mop of white hair.
