Nolan strides in our direction, gesturing with an impatient hand to the equipment. “Cross, I’m going to have you take a look at what her empty fucking womb looks like.” He throws a harsh glare in my direction. “Although it’s possible our efforts after the Hunting won’t have been in vain, even if we were successful, there won’t be much of anything to see this early.”
The sensation of falling into nothing hits me out of nowhere, and my brain scrambles to keep up as cold gel hits my stomach. Why didn’t it occur to me earlier that this might be about to happen? Panic shootsthrough me, and I stare at Cross, shaking my head fervently. “N-no.”Does he know?
“Oh for fuck’s sake, girl. It doesn’t hurt,” Nolan huffs.
I squeeze my eyes shut, willing myself to calm, but it does no good. My hands shake, and I stare woodenly at the screen as Cross brings the device to my flat abdomen.Fuck.I knock his hand away. A sob bubbles up within me, and I sit straight up. “No.”
Nolan grabs each of my arms and forces me back to the table, pinning me there. “Do it,” he grits out through clenched teeth.Fuck. Oh fuck.
Cross looks from me to his father, hesitating as his jaw grinds.
Does he know? Does he understand he’s on the verge of exposing my most anxiously guarded secret? Pressing his lips together, he holds the piece of equipment low on my stomach.
And there, plain as day on the screen… is my IUD.
Cross winces, eyes no longer on the screen, but on his father’s quickly reddening face.
“What the fuck is this?” He jerks back, staring at that fucking implanted birth control for the longest three seconds of my life before he lets go of my arms. His gaze swings to my face as his hand flies. The blow lands with a sharp crack, pain bursting along my cheekbone as my head snaps to the side.
No sooner has that happened than Nolan forcefully grabs my chin and wrenches my face to his, the grip harsh. Biting. His lips twist cruelly. “Bet youthought you were funny, putting this over on us.” His breath is hot as he spits those words at me, and I shrink back from him, even though inwardly all I want to do is fucking laugh in this asshole’s face. I’d do it, too, but then he’s shaking me, raging. “Stupid little cunt. Think you’re in charge, do you?” He tucks his head at the side of mine, whispering in my ear, “You’ve just made it so we’re gonna pump you so full of cum you’ll spend the next thirty years full of our children. It’s what I’m good at. There is no escape.” I squeeze my eyes shut against the onslaught, then as if I disgust him, he shoves me away, eyes swinging wildly to Cross.
His son’s face is pale, jaw rigid. “I’m sorry, father. I didn’t know.”
“F-father!” As I register footsteps hurrying into the room, my heart thuds painfully, but at the fear in the child’s voice, my eyes spring open.
“What is it, Leif?” Nolan barks, voice filled with annoyance.
“Father, you’ve gotta come!” He’s shaky and pale. “It’s Fenix. Something’s wrong. He threw up, then fell.” The child’s eyes are wide, horror-struck. “I think he’s dying,” he sobs.
“Take me to him, Leif.” Nolan spins on his heel and grabs a medical bag from the counter, barely stopping to meet Cross’s eyes as he ducks down to pull something from the cabinet. “I’ll be back,” he snaps. “Get it the fuck out of her. Now!”
Cross huffs out a quick breath, glancing at me. “Can I administerpain relief?”
“No! You’re to do nothing but make it fuckinghurt.”His bellow practically bounces off the high ceiling of the corridor as he races away with Leif.
Staring at Cross, my lip trembles. “What now?”
He puts a gentle hand on my knee, exhaling hard. As if it pains him to say it, his jaw clenches as he mutters, “I’m so sorry. I’ll try to do it quickly.” A second later, he pauses to cock an ear toward the door. Then suddenly, I understand what’s caught his attention. Soft footsteps come closer. It’s as if whoever it is doesn’t want us to know they’re approaching.
Our eyes connect as mine widen in fear. He grips my shoulders. We’re so close I’m able to see his pulse faintly throbbing at the side of his neck. “You’re gonna be okay. But I need you to do something.” My eyes dart to the doorway as the footsteps edge closer. He hooks his hand at the back of my neck, thumb grazing my jaw as he hurriedly whispers, “When I give you the signal, scream for me, Lilah. Pretend it hurts.” His eyes bore into mine. “Scream like I’m ripping you apart. Understand?”
I stare blankly at him for a split second, then nod, confusion fleeing as understanding mounts. I’ve got to play along. “Okay,” I whisper frantically as tears spring to my eyes.
He takes a couple breaths to steady himself. “If there was any way to not follow through with the removal, I would, but I’m gonna try not to make this any worse than it has to be. Do you trust me?” His voice is edged in panic.
“Cross?” As the familiar voice reaches us, I cringe. It’s his brother.Shit.No time to come up with any better plan.
“Yes,” I gasp.
All at once, Cross’s grip on me changes, any care he’d been showing me leaves swiftly. His hold becomes rougher. Angrier.Vicious.“Listen, bitch,” he snarls. “I’m gonna rip this thing outta you, then plant my seed in there to grow.”
“Shit, Cross. That’s brutal.” Dragan appears in the doorway, then throws his head back with laughter as his brother pushes me down, holding me by the throat as his fingers move between my legs.
Cross’s eyes are wild as he gets right in my face. “Ready?” he breathes out, speaking only loud enough for me to hear all while wearing a menacing expression for Dragan’s benefit. He’s terrifying, even if I know he’s faking it, and my limbs begin to shake involuntarily in response.
I let out a sob, my eyes flicking to his brother where he leans against the door frame, arms crossed over his chest like he’s watching his favorite sporting event. I let my face contort in agony as Cross pretends to hurt me.
The reality is that the fingers he’s slipped inside me are carefully probing. Gentle. He shoots me a sick, twisted smile as he gives a little nod.
