Her back bumps the wall. “What are you doing?”
I’m close now, only a foot away, but I see her leg bending. She’s gonna try to knee me in the balls.
With one last step, I catch her knee and draw her close, lifting her up by her waist to throw her over my shoulder.
“What the hell are you doing?!” she growls. “Put me down!”
I carry her from the room, my grip on her thighs punishing, matching her bruise for bruise as she slams her fists on my back. She’s stronger than she looks.
“Help!” she screeches at no one. “Somebody please, help me!”
My shoe bumps the railing in the dark, but I make my way to the training room as quickly as I can while Luna fights. I can’t see shit, which means she can’t see shit either, so I still have the upper hand when I find the door to the room. I throw it open, turn sixty degrees and walk four steps to the bench.
I lower her to it face down and plant my palm between her shoulder blades while her legs and arms kick so ferociously, I know she’ll tire soon. My count starts… and makes it to sixty-four before the first sob swallows her anger whole.
“Sawyer,please. I’m sorry. Please, I’m so sorry.”
“Me too, beautiful.” I glide my palm over her back, easing the pressure little by little. She doesn’t try to break away.
“I can’t do this again,” she cries. “I really can’t do this again. Please. Please, let’s go back to your bedroom. I—I’ll be good.”
Bull-shit.
“Here’s the problem, baby.” I keep my voice soft as I caress her back. “At some point, someone who isn’t me is going to ask you to do something. If we don’t get your attitude in check, you’re going to forget your manners. Not everyone is as forgiving as I am.”
The cult wouldn’t hesitate to kill a disobedient whore.
Or …“seraph.”
After all, theyonly have room for those who bring value to the Shadow Sanctum.
“No, pl?—”
“This is for your own good… I promise.” I pat her back before reaching beneath the bench for the body straps. Luna cries as I pull the first one around her shoulders, securing her to the bench. The next pins the bottom tips of her shoulder blades. By the third strap, she’s shifting into hyperventilation.
“Just breathe, honey.” I lock the last strap into place. She doesn’t listen to me. Her breaths come so fast, I think she might pass out.
“I’ll be right back.”
“No, Sawyer, no,” she begs as I leave, the fear of loneliness in a cold, dark room even stronger than fear of pain. Pain she’ll gladly blame me for. Predictable but puzzling.
I count each step as I walk back to the bedroom, and this time, I don’t bump the rail. I don’t even slow down. It’s only been a day, but I could walk the entire house blindfolded.
As I step into the lit bedroom, the towel that was around Luna catches my eye. I rip off my own and pull on a pair of shorts along with a long-sleeve shirt. I’ve never been one for pants, but I’m regretting that with this goddamn lack of electricity.
I grab the lantern and make my way back to Luna, my mind beginning to ease. My head was spinning when I arrived back at the house. I couldn’t get the sound of the baby’s cries out of my head. Even when I watched a security guard at the nearest hospital scoop him into his arms, I had chills all over my body. I didn’t want to return. I wanted to get on a bus and get the fuck out of town.
But I can’t leave without the money. I’m ashamed I even considered it.
“Sawyer!” Luna screams as if I’ve traveled to space. “Sawyer!”
My name is halfway out of her mouth when I step into the room.
“I’m right here, beautiful.” I set the lantern down and turn on the camera before kneeling beside her. I push the hair from her face. She whimpers as she implores me, the pleas she no longer voices still soaked into her eyes. Her dry eyes.
My head tilts as I look for signs of tears … and find none. She looks scared, but not as undone as her voice wants me to believe.
Is she fuckingplayingme?
