“Show me.”
He moved aside, allowing me full access to the screen. Every inch of me screamed in coarse agony as I watched the scene. The familiar pink ribbon on her wrist identified the girl, now safe in my home. Spread-eagled on her stomach, her face, cheek down on a pillow, and hidden behind the curtain of her hair, her hands and legs were cuffed to the four corners of the bed. Fire spread through my clenched fists, flexing my biceps as my gaze latched onto her thighs and arms, raw with bleeding wounds.
“What did he want, kitten?”asked a harsh voice behind the camera.
She shivered but said nothing.
“Speak,”he boomed before the crack of a whip sliced through the air, and the tip cut a new line across her lower back.
She flinched, her hands fisting, yet no sound engaged those pursed lips. How much pain had this girl endured for her frail body to show such resilience? Tremors vibrated through my body, increasing with each second I watched.
I felt for her. Felt every slice of those three consecutive lashes that followed, willing God to give me the strength to stay upright. To keep watching the sick pervert, hoping he’d reveal himself to me.
“I will stand here all night, kitten, and bleed you to death if I must,”the bastard barked.“That man wouldn’t just ask about you for nothing.”Another slash.“What did you give him?”Slash.“Did he touch my pussy?”Slash.“You fucking whore.”Slash.“I gave you a chance to see the outside, and this is how you repay me.”Slash.
Blood dripped down the sides of her body. Still, she remained silent, the quick rise and fall of her shoulders probably her way of biting down on the pain.
His words hit me, turning every inch of me to ice. “I did this to her.” I shook so hard I had to grasp the end of the bed to keep it together.
“Sir?”
Breathing erratically, I straightened. “Me going after Andrew,” I muttered, my eyes riveted on the girl. “He whipped her because I questioned Andrew.”
“You couldn’t have foreseen this, sir. You’re not to blame. Andrew is.”
I heard the tight comfort in his voice but didn’t look at him. Rage banged against my temples, my heart ready to jump out of my chest.
“Fuck,”the bastard cursed before his back came into view. I tensed, waiting for him to turn around. Instead, he moved onto the bed to kneel between her spread legs.“One day, I will make you cry for me, kitten. Just like the day you cried for your mama. You remember that day, pretty girl. You have to. It was the day you became a big girl...my big girl.”He dragged his hands up her legs, squeezing the flesh as he went.
I cringed to think what he was referring to. He was a huge man, and her tiny body wouldn’t survive him. I tensed, praying he didn’t take it any further.
“I’m going to ask you one more time, kitten. What did that man want with you?”he warned, his tone hard.
Silence.
“Answer him, love,” the words slipped out unconsciously. Forgetting it was a recording, I felt every wisp of pain she endured, begging her to answer so he would leave her alone.
He leaned over her, giving me only a view of his arse. My nails dug into my palms, I willed him to turn around.
“So pretty, kitten.”He rolled his palms over her back, spreading the blood, moaning like a goddamn heathen.“I can come just from smelling your pretty blood.”He snorted like a cocaine sniffer.“You’re mine,”he grunted, leaning forward.“Mine,”he repeated over and over.
I couldn’t see what he was doing because his body blocked the rest of her from sight apart from her legs. However, her taut calves, trembling legs, and extended toes digging into the mattress every few seconds spoke to her pain.
“There. All mine,”he finally muttered after what seemed like close to ten minutes, his tone filled with pride
My eyes riveted on the screen, I kept repeating, “what did you do, you sick bastard?” I couldn’t see anything except her shaking legs. My jaw hurt from clenching so hard, wishing I could’ve prevented this. Then he plastered her blood on his face, and I had to swallow hard to curb the vomit in my throat. Disgust swirled in my stomach, competing with that whirlpool of anger in my chest and the expanding need to kill him myself.
“Now I’m going to fuck this sweet arse that belongs to me, and you’re to take it like the perfect kitten you are.”His maniacal laugh filled the air.
I saw red. “God help me.” I gripped the camera, ready to hurl it across the room.
Wilkes stopped me with a hand on my arm. “It’s evidence, sir.”
My laugh was stoic. “Against a faceless man who doesn’t deserve prison?” I ground out through clenched teeth.
“For you, sir, not the law.” He raised a brow, his message loud and clear. “Fuel,” he added. “When we catch him.”
I knew what he was saying. This video would heighten my wrath if I saw it again. I didn’t need it because what I’d witnessed had already scarred my heart. No law would stop me from seeking revenge for that girl. If there were one time I needed to use my family name to get away with murder, that moment would be now.
