“For what?” Dom suddenly stands up, his chair knocking over as he leans his hands across the desk.
“Ownership.” I inhale sharply as Tey tightens his grip around my waist, almost to the point of pain and Dalton lets out an outraged shout.
I watch as he paces like a wild animal before punching the glass window. His knuckles split open and leave smears of blood behind on the glass.
“Let me up,” I choke out, tapping Tey’s forearm and slowly climbing to my feet as he reluctantly lets me go while I step around Logan as he stays kneeling in place without saying a word.
I walk over on quiet feet to Dalton and hesitantly place my hand on his back. His body shudders at my touch and he stops hitting the glass, dropping his head against the window with his shoulders hunched.
“I thought he was just trying to taunt me. Bound and gagged, feeling helpless. I’ll never forgive myself, Tillie, for not being able to do anything as Payne touched you,” Dalton whispers, almost like he’s confessing his sins to a priest.
“There isn’t anything to forgive. I lived through it and am still standing.” I’ve never spoken truer words, I’m a survivor.
“We need a name, baby girl.” Logan’s voice drifts over to me, so much anger in the quiet way he demands.
“It doesn’t matter anymore.” I shake my head and jump as I’m suddenly spun around by my arms, looking up at a very pissed off Logan.
I didn’t even hear him move.
“Doesn’t matter?” he questions, his eyes flickering back and forth between mine, as if he’s looking for something.
“I was raped, Logan. I’m already damaged. There’s nothing you can do about it.” I shrug under his tight hold and watch as he looks over his shoulder with a nod.
“On your knees.” Logan’s voice changes, going deeper with a sharp command.
“Wh–what?” I stutter, not knowing what game he is playing.
“You heard him.” Tey appears at his side, twirling his knife between his fingers.
I glance over my shoulder up at Dalton, expecting him to stick up for me but all I get is a blank expression in return.
“Don’t make him repeat himself, Tillie. You won’t like the outcome,” Nicky casually says, sliding into place by Logan’s other side.
The day in the garage comes back to me, it’s where I knew I’d never have the physical strength to fight them back. I still have my sanity and my own mind at least. I thought Dom would step in at some point to stop this but when I glance over at him he’s back in his chair and watching like a king on his throne.
Seeing every single one of them dead serious I slowly sink to my knees while glaring with my head tilted all the way back so I can see them as they circle around me like kings standing over their subjects.
Fingers glide along my nape before sinking into my hair and sliding up while pulling until my head is bent back.
“What do you feel at this very moment?" Nicky asks as he strokes a finger down my cheek, caressing my jaw until his thumb stops at the indent of the middle of my lips.
What do I feel right this second?
Anger.
Grief.
… Alive.
I don’t want to think of the past, living in it constantly, of what I had to go through to survive. I want this moment, right now, with desire coursing through me, making me feel light-headed and knowing only these five, cruel men can make my heart race at a wild speed that’s almost unhealthy.
"Everything," I reply back, feeling the plush carpet cushioning my knees and my chest expanding with each deep breath.
"Do you know what I see from this height?" Tey leans down, his hand snapping forward and closing around my throat with the right amount of pressure to make me feel like I'm floating but grounded at the same time.
"Power," Dalton answers for him, the hand in my hair pulling harder, making my eyes practically roll to the back of my head with intense pleasure.
"You see, Tillie, it's not those who force someone onto their knees with all the power. It's the person who kneels down, plots their deaths, and still rise to keep fighting. You have us wrapped around your fingers and don't even realize it." Logan's voice is soft yet deep, holding my attention so that every word out of his beautiful mouth holds my absolute attention.
