“God, eight years with him. I can’t even imagine what life must’ve been like for you. A few weeks, and I’m ready to die than have him lay another finger on me.” Leila shuddered. She rubbed her injured arm. “Who helped you escape?” She leaned forward and inspected Aria’s body. “You don’t have any scars.”
“Long story. I have scars, though.” Aria turned, raised her shirt, and showed the other woman her back. Leila gasped her horror. “I’ve learned to live with it.” Aria faced Leila. “He taunted me for years about how no man would want me once he saw these scars. I honestly believed every word and lived with the impact. Shielding my horrible past, I’d spend the rest of my life alone until recently. I met a beautiful man, Reece, who loves me just the way I am.”
Leila’s tears fell quickly. She covered her face with her hand. “You’re lucky,” she mumbled beneath her fingers. “My face...”
“Hey.” Aria slid closer and slipped an arm around Leila. She gently pulled Leila’s fingers from her face. “I know what you’re going through right now, but remember, none of this is your fault.”
“But I was such an idiot.”
“No, you don’t deserve this.” She slid a strand of hair off Leila’s face and tucked it behind her ear. “You’ve got two choices, sweetheart. Either you let this hold you back, and the bastard wins. Or you come back stronger, move on with your life, and win. If you succumb to fear and depression, Jay triumphs. And something tells me you don’t want that?” At her raised brow, the other woman shook her head. “I promise you. We’re getting out of here. I don’t know how yet, but we will. I’ll also do everything in power to help you heal. As long as you don’t lose sight of who you are, you will heal. Okay?”
Leila nodded and wiped at her tears. “I can’t stomach another minute with him.”
“If we stick together, you don’t have to.” Even as the words left her mouth, Aria glanced around the room for their escape.
The single door had no handle, just a keyhole. It looked like one of those thick solid doors you unlocked with a huge key and pulled or pressed. The noise of a key turning in the lock caught her ear. Aria patted Leila’s shoulder, motioned for her to remain seated, and stood. The door swung open with a loud squeak. Jay stepped inside. His large frame shielded the view behind him and prevented Aria from discerning their whereabouts.
“About fucking time you woke,” he said when his gaze met Aria’s frigid stare. “I didn’t expect the injection to knock you out for two days,” he explained as though she cared.
The mention of two days, however, pricked her senses.God, Prisha.Reece would be going out of his mind with worry.
“Good thing I knocked you out. That fucking storm almost ripped the plane to pieces. Your kidnapping would’ve been a clear waste of my time.”
“Well, it should’ve. Rather the cold water than spend another minute with you,” she threw back vehemently.
“Unfortunately for you, someone up there likes me.” He glanced heavenward with a smug smile. “They saved us, so I’d have you all to myself again.”
Aria cringed. The urge to rip his arrogance to shreds grew steadily. She forced rigidity into her stance.
“You’re awake now. It’s time to party.” Jay took a step toward her, and she stepped back.
“You’re not touching either of us,” Aria warned, her tone icy.
“Aww. How sweet, my two favorite women getting cozy. Miss me, Lula.” He cocked his head and looked behind Aria. Leila tensed.
“Leave her alone.” Aria’s nails pierced her palms in anger.
Jay eyed her for a silent moment. “I’ll get rid of her, say the word. She’s useless to me now that you’re back.”
Aria gasped her shock. “Don’t you dare. She’s suffered enough already.”
“You were my first, sweetheart. My virgin queen. There were others during our marriage. None came close to you, though. Mere replacements I disfigured as I pleased while I kept you on a pedestal.”
Suddenly, she understood why he hadn’t touched her face. God, those poor women, he ruined their lives. “You’re one sick bastard.”
“I know, right.” His cheeriness annoyed her. Every muscle in her body ticked with rage. “Enough with the melodrama, I’m here to claim what’s rightfully mine. You.” He pointed at Aria and took a step forward.
“You’re not touching me.”
“Oh, yes, I am,” he kept his voice low, but the solid backhand to her cheek resounded across the room.
Stars exploded behind her closed lids. Her ears rang. Another fist to her jaw sent her stumbling backward into the wall. Aria tasted blood on her split lip. Jay lunged forward. His fingers closed around her throat.
“As the man you wed, I’ll have my way with you.” He increased the pressure. Aria clawed at his wrists and struggled for air. “You’re mine, bitch...all mine. Beg for your life, sweetheart.” He squeezed harder.
Blackness invaded the light as Aria tore at his wrists. A futile effort. The compression tightened, and her legs weakened. Another minute and she’d pass out.
“Leave her alone.” The force of Leila’s thrust shoved Jay away and released his grip on Aria.
