She shakes her head before burrowing back in my chest.
“What happened, Cara?”Dane demands again.
I turn to him with a stone face. “Leave her alone right now, Dane,” I command, leaving no room for argument.
Maddox says something I don’t catch because the roaring of rage and fury is too loud in my ears.A few seconds later, it’s just Cara and me.
I rise to my feet, bringing her with me. I place her in the center of the bedthen climb in behind her. She’s still crying,but they’re more soft whimpers than uncontrollable sobs.
“What happened, Cara?” I ask her softlyas I stroke her arm gently.
She shakes her head. She starts to move away. My arms reflexively tighten, not wanting her to go anywhere.
“Let me hold you, Cara, please,” my voice breaks.
She nods and relaxes in my hold.After a few minutes, herbreathing slows. Her heart isno longer pounding.
And I just hold her. I won’t be sleepingany time soon. But I’d rather enjoy the feel of her in my arms than lose this moment to sleep.
Cara
An arm like steel holds mine firmly to my sides. He has one of his long legs wrapped around me,so I can’t fight against him no matter how hard I try.His hand grips my face, forcing me to watch the brutality in front of me.
“Watch,” he demands, his hot breath in my ear sendschills down my spine. “See what happens when you don’tcooperate.”
A whimper escapes my throat. I want to scream,but his tightly clasped hand prevents much more than muffled sound to escape.I close my eyesagainst the gruesome sight before me. A sight that is my fault.
His grip becomes unbearably tighteras his fingers dig into my jaw. “I said watch,” his deep voice rumbles.
Tears pools in my eyes and stream down my face as I watch Jasmine being brutally violated by the other man. She wouldn’t even be here if not for me. She doesn’t even struggle anymore. Her eyes are completely blank,and her tears have dried. She has completely shut down.
I want to shut down. I am trying to shut down. To block outeverything I’ve seen,but my mind won’t allow it.
Lightning flashes outside,and thunder roars loudly as the other man pushes off my best friend with a grunt. At least, he’s finally stopped.
He drops the knife he used to carve into Jasmine’s flesh on the bed as he pulls his pants up.I see her eyes dart to it
That’s it, Jas.Stab him in his black heart.
She grabs theknife, but she doesn’t stab him. Muffled screams followed by uncontrollable sobs wrack my bodyas I watch the life disappear from my friend's eyes.
“Cazzo,” the man growls. “We paid good money for her.”
“You’re the one who dropped the knife on the bed.Zasraný debil.”
My entire body shakes violentlyas I’m thrown to the ground.“Time for your audition, malá kurva.”
One man grips my hair,forcing me to look up. I close my eyes, not wanting to see the face of the man about tohurt me. I hear the sound of a zipper being lowered as a hand grips my face again. “Open up, little bitch,” the man demands of me.
I shake my head. I’m not going to just do what he says even if he kills me. I’d rather die.
A sharp, biting blow lands across my cheek with a string of curses.I suck in a breath as pain shoots through my face. I hear more thunder in the background. It grows louder with each blast, almost sounding like it’s right outside.
“You hear that?” one of the men asks.
“Ignore it,” the other demands. “DeLuca is probably dealing with another problem.Hold her still so I can put my cock down herthroat.”
The hands gripping my hair and face pull me until I’m pressed against theowner. He releases my jawbut then grips my throat until I am forced to open my mouth.
