Table of Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Epilogue
Acknowledgments
Playlist
Also by Rachael Tonks
The scars of us
Book two of the scars series
Rachael Tonks
Copyright
Copyright © 2017 Rachael Tonks
Published: Rachael Tonks, November 2017
Cover Design: Dark water designs
Editing: Andie M. Long
Proofread by Judy Zweifel
No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form, including electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
This book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This book may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. If you are reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should return it to the seller and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the author’s work.
All rights reserved.
Contents
1. Chapter 1
2. Chapter 2
3. Chapter 3
4. Chapter 4
5. Chapter 5
6. Chapter 6
7. Chapter 7
8. Chapter 8
9. Chapter 9
10. Chapter 10
11. Chapter 11
12. Chapter 12
13. Chapter 13
14. Chapter 14
15. Chapter 15
16. Chapter 16
17. Chapter 17
18. Epilogue
Acknowledgments
Playlist
Also by Rachael Tonks
His raspy, ragged voice wakes me. “Carter.” I attempt to speak, but my words come out as a squeak. My sore eyes dart from one corner of the room to the other as I struggle to work out where I am. Summoning all the strength I can find, I press my hands against the bed beneath me, trying to push myself up.
“Argghhh.” I let out a growl as the pain sears through my abdomen.
“Don’t.” Carter steps up from the seat beside me, resting his hand against my shoulder. “You were hurt badly. You’ve been lucky, Brax, but you need to recover.”
“I don’t have time,” I croak, “I need to find her. I need to kill that bastard, Alvrez!” I try to sit up again, but the dizziness is too much. I rest my clenched fist against my head in a pathetic attempt to stop it spinning.
“You are no good to anyone like this, Brax.”
“They have her, Carter. We need to fucking do something and fast.” My chest heaves as my heart pounds and I gasp for air.
“Fuck,” Carter says, looking behind himself and over to the door. “Breathe goddammit!”
I nod, taking short shallow breaths.
“You’re lucky I got to you in time. The internal bleeding was bad, man. I’m just glad they managed to fix you.”
“Without her, I might as well be dead,” I whisper, my arm resting across my abdomen as I attempt to control the pain. I’m not sure if it’s the injury or the hurt I feel for losing her that is the worst. But together, it’s unbearable.
“You have my word that we will do whatever is necessary to get her back. But I need manpower. I need guys willing to risk their lives. I need the Savages on board.” He sighs, his shoulders slumping. “Only, they are fucking pissed right now. We didn’t deliver on our part of the deal. I’ve told them it was Alvrez that ruined the deal, even though that’s not exactly the truth. I just need longer, Brax. I need them on our side.”
“Fuck the Savages. Just you and me. We can do this together. You’re Carter fucking Mellano!”
“No,” he says adamantly with a shake of his head. “It’s too much of a risk.”
“We don’t fucking need them…”
He cuts in, raising his voice, “We need them, Brax. We can’t win a war with this psycho alone.”
“So we do what?” I stop for a second dragging in a ragged breath. “Do we give him time to torture her more, or kill her? God knows what that sick motherfucker plans to do.”
Carter looks at me, his face contorted with anger. He rubs his hand across his creased forehead. Looking up, his eyes are pinned on me. “Look, I know how fucking hard this is for you, but you have to listen, Brax. For as much as I want this for you, and you know I have your back, you need to listen to me. You acted on impulse last time. You thought with your heart and it screwed everything up. Let’s attack this with precision. Make sure nothing can go wrong this time. And most of all, we make sure we take down that cocksucker Alvrez.”
I look at him with heavy eyes. My body is weak and fuck knows how long it will take to completely heal. I grit my teeth, glaring at Carter. “I don’t care what happens; I just have to get her back.”
I jolt awake. My eyes sting and my head pounds. I reach up with an unsteady hand, covering the side of my head where I’ve been hit. Trying to focus, I look at the tip of my fingers. There’s blood. Not much, but still, my head must be cut.
I pull in a sharp breath, my eyes scanning the area that surrounds me.
“Glad you could join us.” The snarling voice catches my attention.
“Fuck you, Jessica,” I snap, sitting up and resting my back against the window of the truck that rocks from side to side. I can’t have lost consciousness for long because we’re still in the back of the truck. I breathe unsteadily, my body shaking with pure anger. It sits deep inside, a feeling completely alien to me.
“How could you do that?” I snarl, my eyes burning into the bitch that not only betrayed me but got the man I love shot.
“You have to forget emotion, Isabelle. This is what I’m being paid to do. That’s all,” she replies casually, her shoulders rising and falling like it’s nothing.
“Don’t you dare,” I roar, my stomach contracting as I let out the anger with every word that falls from my mouth. “You could’ve killed him,” I choke out. “You shot Brax.”
“Like I said, just part of the job.” A smile widens on her face and I can tell she’s getting some sick sort of kick out of this.
“I swear to God if he doesn’t make it… I’ll… I’ll…”
“You’ll what?” she bellows, before lowering her voice and leaning over the back of the seat. “You’ll do nothing because you won’t be able to do anything. I’d be surprised if Alvrez doesn’t just take you to the torture room and finish you off. Pathetic little cunt.”
“Screw you, Jessica. They’ll find me. They know where Alvrez lives.” I rest my hand on my aching head, wishing I could gather more strength to do something. Anything.
“Correction,” she says, holding up her pointy index finger. “Brax knows where Alvrez lives, and since he’s dead now, no one will come looking for you. Quite tragic really.”
I drop my hand from my head to my chest, hoping to stop the crushing feeling deep inside. I’m consumed and ove
rcome with despair. The tears roll down my cheeks without a sound leaving my mouth. I can’t control them. It’s like they are a representation of the heart-crushing pain I feel within.
The truck sways me from side to side. I drop my head down resting my forehead against my knees as I try to think, try to work out how I’m going to get out of this. I need to turn around, I need to know whether Brax made it or not. God, please let him live. I can’t believe he’s dead. I will fight with everything I have to make sure I get out of this alive.
Suddenly the truck stops and I lift my head looking out of the window. Nausea overwhelms me as I take in where we are. We’re back at the mansion.
“Home sweet home,” Jessica sings, reaching over for the door. I shuffle to the end of my seat as I watch her bend down reaching for the handle. The minute the door is open, I lift my knees to my chin and kick my legs out at full force. My heart pounds like crazy as I watch my feet make contact with Jessica’s back, and she tumbles from the open door, dropping to the ground with a thud. She lets out a cry and I jump to my feet, knowing this could be my only chance. I have to run; I have to somehow get away. I run as fast as my stiff legs allow, the searing pain in my head increasing with every step I take. My feet thud against the gravel on the driveway and I swipe my head trying to work out which way to go. Racing through the huge gates that remain open, I steam down the road as fast as I can. I want to look back, I want to see if I really did this, if I really managed to get away that easily. But I don’t. I keep putting one foot in front of the other as I make my way onto the road.
“Stop.” His voice pierces the air, causing me to shudder. I don’t stop. I keep going but risk a look over my shoulder. Harlan stands with his gun clasped in his hand, pointing directly at me. Surely he won’t shoot me?
“Please don’t make me do this, Isabelle.”
I slow my steps, my chest heaving as my throat tightens. God, I’m seriously out of shape. “I’m not going back there,” I call over to him. “I don’t belong there. Why are you doing this?”
“It’s you or me. And I choose you,” he shouts back.
“What are you talking about?” I narrow my eyes on him, catching my breath, ready to turn and run again. Only I’m torn. What if he does shoot me?
“I have to do this. I don’t have any choice.”
“We all have a choice,” I roar at him, my whole body shaking with anger as he tries to justify what he’s done. “You’re just as bad as him.”
“I’m not, Isabelle. You have to believe me.”
“Screw you, Harlan. You shot Brax. You took away the only person I had left in my life. So help me God, I will not rest until you are six-feet under!”
I jerk at the feeling of hands on me. I snap my head, looking at the two men standing behind me, their fingers digging into my upper arm. I thrash desperately trying to get out of their hold.
“Get off me.” I fight with all my might to try to free myself.
Harlan laughs a deep-throated evil laugh. His head is down, but his eyes narrow on me. I try to swallow, try to speak, but the tightening in my throat won’t allow it. I breathe fast, shallow breaths, and in this moment, as I look at the man in front of me, I realize what an idiot I’ve been. How did I ever think I could trust him? I was vulnerable, and he wormed his way into my mind, making me believe he was a friend. But he’s anything but. He’s every bit the enemy that Alvrez is. He may not have hurt me in the same way, but he’s just as dangerous.
“Did you think you’d get away?” He continues to laugh, his hand fidgeting with the gun in his hand.
“Why, Harlan? Why?” I scream at him, still struggling against the hold of the two men I’ve never seen before. “You said you were my friend. You made me believe you cared when all along you were just screwing with me. With my life!”
“You were a nice little plaything. I wanted a taste.” He smirks, taking slow steps toward me. “You were so damn gullible. You actually thought I was your friend!” He reaches up, rubbing his knuckles against his eye as he mocks me.
“They’ll find you,” I shout at him as he stops just in front of me. He slowly tilts his head to the side. His tongue darts out as he licks his lips.
“Your friends are no match for me,” he snarls; his lip curls and his nostrils flare.
“Funny,” I goad him, my head lifting as I look the monster deep in his eyes. “You looked pretty fucking useless when Helena plunged her knife over and over in Alvrez’s back.” I lift my brow, a small smirk playing on my lips. He lifts his hand, slapping his palm across my face. My head drops a little, but I’m quick to return it to its previous position.
“Take her inside,” he orders to the men holding me back. I glare at him with all my might. Gone are the days where I comply hoping I will live, because I have nothing left to live for. If Brax is dead, then I may as well be dead too. I feel hollow inside; a wave of sickness washes through me as I think about him. We were barely reunited before we were ripped apart again.
“Wait…” I shout, my eyes fixed on Harlan. “Is he dead?” I choke back the emotion that rises so uncontrollably.
“Sure,” he replies flippantly with a shrug of his shoulders. “Did you really think I would walk out of there if that waste of space, piece of shit, was still breathing? That motherfucker is dead and gone and you are back where you belong, Isabelle.”
I fight back the sob that rises. “This is not where I belong. What the hell is wrong with you?” I choke out, pressing my feet against the ground in an attempt to stop the two men dragging me back to that hell hole. But my attempts are useless. I can’t stop them.
I’m helpless.
Too weak and broken. Broken beyond repair. Part of my damaged soul wants to give in, but another part, the one that is connected to Brax, tells me to fight. Fight the bastards. Even if it costs me my life.
Harlan stands behind me, holding my hands bound behind my back. I slowly look up at the monster I thought I’d escaped. His face has paled, and he looks weak. A smile creeps onto my face as I look at him through my lashes.
“Not looking so good there, Alvrez,” I drawl, accentuating the name he refused to tell me. His bloodshot eyes burn into me. I break the connection, allowing my eyes to dart around the room. I don’t remember this one. It’s some sort of medical room. Alvrez is lying on the hospital style bed, connected to a drip.
“Don’t you dare.” He nods toward Harlan, and I’m suddenly tugged backward as he takes hold of my hair, pulling it painfully.
“Don’t dare what?” I shout back. “I’m not scared of you anymore. I’m not going to be part of your sick games. You want to kill me, go ahead.” I screech so desperately it stings my already sore throat.
“I see we have some work to do, Isabelle.” The look on his face never falters. He is calm, but the message in his gaze is anything but. It’s dark and represents every bit of evil that lives behind those eyes. Despite my attempts at being brave, at fighting this monster propped up in the bed in front of me, something lingers deep inside me. It’s the fear. Not of this man, but of losing the one thing I so desperately need. The ache in my chest lets me know that I’m incomplete. A broken half of a duo that can only exist when together.
I catch the sob rising in my throat.
“You have become untamed and disobedient. You remember what I said I would do to you if you didn’t comply?”
“I’m. Not. Scared. Of. You,” I retort with a monotone voice, my glare hard on him.
“Oh, I admire how strong you are being. But, just wait, Isabelle. Wait until you’re clawing on the door, trying to get out of what can only be described as hell.”
I turn my head at the sound of footsteps approaching. My eyes bug out when they land on Jessica sauntering in and over to Alvrez. She reaches out, grabbing a metal trolley, guiding it over to the side of the bed.
“Stay calm, my love,” she coos, pressing a damp cloth to his forehead before dipping her head and planting a soft kiss on his aged lips.
“I’m here for Alvrez, for as long as he needs me. Get used to it.” She smirks.
“Only he doesn’t want you, right? Or why else would he be kidnapping me and holding me against my will? I’m pretty sure Brax didn’t want you either. What does it feel like being the unwanted ho that can’t find a decent man?” I taunt, bracing myself for what I know is coming. She pulls back her hand, and I watch, as if in slow motion, as the back of her hand connects with my cheek.
“Jessica, NO!” Alvrez shouts over. His body vibrates as he coughs, an after effect of him shouting. “No one lays a finger on her without my say so,” he chokes out, continuing to cough and heave. She races back over to him, grabbing a glass of water from the side and offering it to him.
“I’m so sorry,” she says in a sickly sweet voice. “I didn’t mean to lose my temper.” She reaches around the back of him, rubbing gently in an attempt to help him.
“You crossed a line, Jessica,” he says with a lift of his brow. “Don’t let it happen again.”
“Of course not. I’m so sorry.” She flashes him a smile, and he returns it, giving her a little nod. “Take her away. I need my rest.” His arm flies out, his eyes meeting Harlan’s.
“The torture room, Sir?” Harlan asks, my heart's pace picking up speed as the words set in. It’s the unknown that frightens me. Not knowing what to expect.
“Not yet. There is much fun to be had with this one yet. Take her to her room.”
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