Page 21 of Retribution
“Did you not see this when I was naked and chained?”
Knox drags a hand down his face, probably thinking the same thing I am. I wish there was a way to scrub that fucking visual from my mind.
“No. Out of respect for you, we kept our eyes on your face. It hardly seemed like the time to ogle you.”
Heather takes a deep breath and exhales slowly as Kill comes in with water and the medication. She takes it and hands him back the glass.
“If you want to see it, that’s fine. This is the moment where everything changes between us.”
She lifts her shirt and I know I’m not alone in my struggle to hold back a reaction. Our poor girl went through hell with that fucker.
Knox balls his hand into a fist as he stares at the cross on her abdomen with the word ungodly written across the middle.
“Tesoro. This looks infected. I’m so fucking sorry he did this to you.”
She pulls her shirt down, covering it and turns away from us.
“I’d like to be alone now. Can I be alone?”
We walk to the door honoring her wishes, but I stop before exiting.
“Little Heathen, what he did to you changes nothing between us. You’re still the most beautiful girl in the world, and once you’re healed, we can cover that up. It’s temporary.”
It feels like I’m leaving my heart in the bedroom. Walking away from her is unbearable, but I have no choice. The only thing that matters right now is what she needs.
Chapter Eleven
KILLIAN
We all grab our whiskey and sit on the couch. The three of us are quiet, lost in our thoughts. It’s hard seeing her like this. We all want to fix it, but we can’t.
“Jamaica.” Carter says, and we turn to him.
Knox sits leaning forward with his elbows on his knees, glass dangling from his fingertips.
“Arizona. It rains there but not often outside of monsoon season.”
It’s a shame she didn’t get to see much of it. I think she’d like it.
“We should take her there first but I think she’d like it. Still, I want her to choose.”
My brothers nod in agreement. Like that, it’s decided. We will take her to different places, but ultimately, it’ll be her decision.
Three hours later there’s a light tap at the door and Knox goes to answer it.
Carter drags his hand down his face, probably still thinking about our earlier discussion. He has been researching places for hours.
“There’s no ocean in Arizona.”
I can’t help but laugh even though he’s right.
“You’re right. I guess we will see how set she is on the water.”
It’s a short flight either way.
We both rise to our feet as Knox brings the doctor in. There are two women, but I’m not sure which is the doctor.
The first woman is a tall brunette with classic features. Stretching her hand out, she smiles softly as I shake her hand.
