“Ah, but I will.” He nods toward the doorway. “She’s definitely not going to remember anything. One of the perks of her illness, right?” The question is rhetorical because he keeps talking. “And her precious son is probably dead by now so…” He shrugs, letting that tidbit hang between us.
“If you were only sent here to scare her, why would Ghost be dead?” I ask, refusing to believe that’s a possibility.
“Because Mr. Cruz doesn’t give a damn about Ghost or those other Soulless King fucks. He only wants to rule Marble Falls. A sick old lady isn’t going to hinder his ability to do that.” He closes the distance between himself and the bed. “But you are another matter. You’ll talk, I’m sure. But first, I’m going to have my fun.”
He grabs his gun and runs the barrel up the inside of my leg. Vomit creeps up the back of my throat, and despite my best effort, I can’t stop it from spewing from my mouth.
Jose glares at me. “Disgusting,” he snaps before he starts hitting me with the butt of the gun.
He strikes my face, my stomach, my legs, not missing an inch of my body. I’ll be one giant bruise for sure if he keeps it up.
“Get the fuck away from me!” I shout, hating the fear in my voice.
He lands one last blow to my torso before smirking. “No, I don’t think I will.” Jose strips out of his clothes, tossing them to the floor. “It’s a pity I had to take out that punk outside. It would’ve been nice to have him watch. I do like putting on a show.”
Ben! I totally forgot about him.
Ghost is going to be beyond pissed when he gets here. And he is going to get here. I have to believe that, or I’d give up.
Jose pulls a pocketknife from his discarded pants and slices the blade through my shirt, exposing my breasts.
“A bit small for my taste, but I’ll make do,” he taunts as he drags the blade across both nipples, drawing fresh blood to mingle with the damage he’s already caused.
Next, he cuts my sweats and panties away. Instinctively, I try to clench my thighs but can’t. Tears fill my eyes, and no amount of wishing them gone makes it happen, so I squeeze them shut and do my best to block out every ounce of pain and what’s about to happen.
Jose crawls on top of me, his nasty dick flopping against my stomach, and holds the knife to my throat. I force myself to think about Ghost and what our future would’ve been like. I imagine I’m on a porch swing with him, watching our kids run around the yard and catching lightning bugs in jars.
One second, my imagination is running wild, and the next, my eyes are flying open as Jose’s weight leaves my body.
“You motherfucker!”
Ghost?!
I’m crying in earnest now, a mix of fear and happiness warring in my mind. I knew he’d come for me. I’dhopedhe’d come.
Ghost and Jose roll around on the floor, each one trying to best the other. Weapons are scattered forcing them both to fight with their fists. I can barely see through my tears, but I canhear. Bone crunches, men grunt, and I swear I even hear blood splatter on the wall.
“I’ll kill you for daring to touch her,” Ghost growls when he gains the upper hand.
He pummels Jose’s face, one blow after another, but Jose manages to roll out from under him and flip them so he’s on top. Now it’s Ghost’s face that’s getting hammered.
“Leave him alone!” I scream, yanking against the chains and ignoring the way they cut into my limbs.
What’s a little more damage in the grand scheme of things?
Movement at the doorway pulls my attention away from the fight, and my eyes widen when I see Mrs. West raise a shotgun, aim it at Jose, and pull the trigger.
He collapses on top of Ghost, his head blown apart by the blast. Ghost shoves him away and scrambles to his feet, staring at his mom incredulously. He cautiously walks toward her, his hand outstretched for the gun.
“Mom, why don’t you give me that, hm?” he says quietly.
She does as he asks. “He was going to kill you,” she says.
“I know. You saved me.”
Mrs. West’s eyes find me, and her shoulders deflate. “Oh, Ember, honey.” She closes the distance between us. “I’m so sorry I couldn’t help you sooner.”
I shake my head. “It’s okay. I’m okay.”
