Page 7 of Scars
I can’t hold back my incredulous laugh, getting her attention. “Oh, we don’t have a right? Afteryoutookourson? Tell me, what part of that makes you think you’re innocent, and can escape the consequences of your actions, hmm?”
“I did my job, that’s all.”
“Tell me.” I step closer. “Were you a traitor before you were hired, or did the Senator get to you after?”
She presses her lips together, and I hit her across the face with the blade of my knife, enjoying the way her skin opens and blood escapes the cut. At least, for a few seconds, before it becomes too much, and the sight of her sliced open cheek has my own scar aching as if it was fresh.
I still remember the scent of my blood as Cristian dug into my flesh deep enough to hit bone, the nails on chalkboard feeling of the knife scraping against my cheekbone, and the pull of the stitches every time I spoke or screamed.
I take a shaky step back, and Marcus there to steady me before he takes my place. “So…” he asks. “Which is it? Were you hired to take our son, or was it just an opportunity?”
“There’s nowhere for you to run now,” Keegan reminds her, moving to stand behind her. “Might as well give us what we want, and maybe we’ll go easy on you.”
“I was hired, not for your son, but to spy on whatever I could. When you started using maids like glorified babysitters…the plan fell into place. I became the perfect nanny for the brat, becoming what you wanted so I could gain access. I got closer to you, since I knew I could gather good intel that way.” She smiles. “I was right. You had a tendency to work out of your rooms. So paranoid that something would happen to your precious child,” she scoffs. “As if people like you deserve to have children… It’s a wonder this one is still alive.”
Keegan drags her head back, while Marcus pulls his own knife. I watch, barely present, as my love begins cutting her up.
I want to go to them, to offer Marcus the same comfort as he’s been offering me. I’m sure her backhanded comment about Amy is tearing him apart, but…I can’t.
Knowing that Cole was just a convenient scapegoat to her... Much the same way Roman was for Julian.My brother’s cruel taunts still ring in my ears as he informs Cristian that he has our son. Hearing Roman scream over the phone as Julian cut off his finger. And now knowing what happened after, how close he came to being raped… Me or Roman—the choice was easy for me. I would have done anything for him.
Roman and Cole? They’re the very life I live. I am nothing without my children. To havebothmy sons kidnapped in such a short period of time… It leaves me lightheaded thinking about all the scenarios of how it could have gone wrong. What if we didn’t get either of them back in time?
I take a shaky step backwards, aware that Keegan and Marcus have started their fun with the nanny, but I'm unable to participate. Not when everything is so fucked up in my head.
Everything spins, and the walls of the large torture room begin to close in on me.I can’t do this.
My chest rises and falls rapidly as it becomes hard to breathe, and my throat tightens with the impending failure.How can I prove I'm a good partner and father if I can’t even step up and do this?
Strong, warm hands cup my face, and I meet Keegan’s gaze. “Breathe, Love. You’re okay, I got you.”
I begin to shake. “I’m sorry… I…I know I’m fucking things up.”
“Hey, no. It’s okay. I’m sorry I didn’t see how difficult this was going to be for you.”
I shake my head. “I didn’t know…didn’t realize that what Cris did still affects me so much. This…this is the same room hetortured me in. I…fuck, I haven’t been in here for close to eight years now.”
Keegan swears to himself. “If you need to step out, Marcus and I won’t think any less of you.”
“But I will. I need to do this. Cole is my son too.”
“He is, but that doesn’t mean you have to tear yourself apart in order to prove that. He loves you just as you are. Roman, too.”
“I don’t want to disappoint you.”
Keegan tightens his grip on me a little. “You never could, Love. You’re perfect just as you are, scars and all.”
A lump forms in my throat. “I love you.”
He leans in to kiss me. “I love you too. So does Marcus.”
I look over at our love, who watches me with kind, warm eyes. Glancing behind him, I see one of them has knocked the bitch out, probably when I started freaking out, and guilt bubbles inside me, knowing I’m preventing them from getting their vengeance.
“I’m okay,” I reassure them both, glancing from one to the other. “You can continue.”
“It’s alright if you’re not,” Marcus assures me. He moves closer to wrap an arm around me. “We can wait, if you need time to process being here. Or we can move her somewhere else, if it’s too hard.”
I shake my head. “No. We have everything we need here. I don’t want to inconvenience anyone. You deserve to get this done now.”
