Page 195 of Unmasked

Lawrence tore his eyes from the room full of guards that were crowding in.

“What?”

“Your wrists. You’re wincing every time you pull down your weight. Does it hurt?”

He didn’t answer immediately. He was shifting, trying to step back as the guards glared towards him.

“What the hell is happening? George, tell them to let me go.”

I walked over, grabbing the cane. As I lifted and took in the thin rod, Lawrence jerked hard against the cuffs. The action had him crying out and nearly collapsing. I walked over, handing my phone to Theodore.

“Record. There will be record of this night. Of what happened to the men who thought they could take Penelope away from me.”

I headed back for Lawrence.

“As if I would let that happen. As if I’d let anyone take my queen.” I reared back, sending the cane whistling through the air as I connected with the side of his ribs. Skin split, sending blood racing down his side.

Whack!

“Ahhhhh!”

Lawrence’s eyes were like saucers as he tried sucking in air.

“Take her? And let them live to tell about it?”

Whack!

“Never.”

Whack!

“She”

Whack!

“Is.”

Whack!

“Mine.”

Whack!

He was panicking through his pain, jerking and searching for oxygen, but it wouldn’t come. He pushed onto his toes and caught his breath just as I reared back again.

“Did you really think Penelope would love you? That I’d let her?”

Whack!

Whack!

“Ahhh!” Lawrence choked on his scream. “S-Stop it! Stop! Enough!”

Whack!

“It’ll never be enough.” I let out a deep sound. “You say you love her.” I pointed the cane in his face as Lawrence pulled back, trying to put distance between us. “Do you love her now?”

“N-No. No, please.” He gagged, and I lowered the tip of the cane, pushing it into the split skin between two of his ribs. Muscle popped and tore under my force, and the screams became earsplitting. “Please! P-Please!”