“No one’s going to fucking help you,” he growled as he struggled to pin my arms with one hand. “No one cares about poor Charlotte. Mommy doesn’t love you. Mommy sees you as nothing more than property to be sold to the highest bidder.”
“Stop it!” I yelled as tears filled my eyes.
He laughed as he finally managed to capture my wrists together above my head. “Don’t act like you didn’t know. The Carmichaels want to buy you, and before their brat bends you over, I’m going to get a taste.” With his free hand, he reached between us and shoved my pants down on one side. Then reached to the other side.
I screamed and screamed and screamed. I sounded like a wounded, desperate animal as I wiggled and bucked beneath him.
He stopped trying to pull down my pants to cover my mouth, muffling my screams.
A shadow loomed over us before Clay was ripped off me and tossed across the room. Bram stared down at me, eyes wide. He took me in as I tried to cover myself. His face shifted from shock to murderous rage as he looked toward Clay, who was getting up.
Bram stormed over to him and kicked him in the back before he could get on his feet fully. Clay crumpled back to the floor. Bram grabbed him by the shoulder, rolling him over, and punched him in the face. Pathetically, Clay went flat on the floor. Bram put a knee on Clay’s chest and just started punching him over and over again. I lay there curled up as I watched Clay’s face become bloodier and more swollen with each hit.
He must have passed out at some point, because when Bram got off him, Clay lay there unmoving.
Bram was breathing hard as he just stared down at Clay. The hand he’d used to punch dangled at his side, blood dripping from it. “This is the alarm salesman.”
“That’s my mother’s boyfriend,” I said hoarsely.
Bram’s nose flared as he inhaled deeply. With his clean hand, he reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone. He didn’t stop glaring at Clay as he brought the phone to his ear. After a brief moment, he started speaking. “I need you to come to my house. Bring Ty, Bobby, and Reid with you.” Bram paused tolisten to whoever was on the other end. “Unless you want me to call your boy, let Reid off work early. My daughter is going to need someone, and you know I can’t call Viv. She can’t handle what I’m about to fucking do.” Bram hung up before waiting for a response.
Bram walked over to me as he stuffed his phone back into his pocket. “Okay. Come here,” he said as he scooped me up. The way everything about him shifted to gentleness made me sob.
Crying without holding back, I clung to his shirt as he carried me out of the living room.
“I’m sorry,” I cried.
He frowned. “You don’t have?—”
“I’m sorry.”
“Charlotte, you?—”
“I’m sorry, Bram.”
Understanding seemed to hit him then and his frown disappeared.
“I’m sorry,” I said one more time between hiccuping sobs.
“Okay, kid,” he said with a quiet voice, and he laid me on the bed in the guest room. “I understand what you’re saying.” His hand went to the top of my head. “You won’t have to worry about the piece of shit after today. Do you understand what I’m saying?”
Sniffling, I nodded.
“I don’t want to leave you, but I need to make sure he doesn’t go anywhere. Will you be okay until Reid and Bobby get here?” he asked.
I nodded again.
“All right.” He placed a kiss on the top of my head and left after closing the door behind him.
Ignoring the pain, I curled up on my side in the center of the bed and continued to let tears leak from my eyes. Everythingthat had just happened replayed over and over again in my head and I did my best to battle and process.
I didn’t know how much time passed until I heard the door open. Whoever came in didn’t announce themself and didn’t say anything for a long minute. It had to be Reid.
Finally, he spoke. “What can I do?”
“Nothing you don’t want to,” I said numbly.
I heard rustling before the bed dipped behind me. “Roll onto your back. You must be in pain on your side.”
