Page 45 of Wallflower

His energy gets closer, heat emitting enough that I regretfully move toward it. “I know you’re lying,” he whispers. “And you’ll hang here until you tell me the truth.”

“I didn’t expect to be going anywhere soon.” The snarky retort unleashes the hacking cough I was trying to ignore. Brad backs away, taking his warmth with him, while he waits patiently for me to catch my breath.

“If you weren’t so banged up, I’d fuck the truth out of you.”

Sicko.

I clear my throat. “Guess it’s a good thing Richmond was here first then.” I force a snicker, saturating my words in the last bit of venom I have left.

“Possibly,” he says, as his hands cup my cheeks. “I probably wouldn’t have left you in such a put together state.”

A chill sweeps through me. I jerk my face from his hold, opening my eyes to slits. “Are you here for a reason?” I rasp. My throat aches for water, but Brad’s hands are empty and he’s not worth my ever diminishing energy.

“I was. But it seems you’re unwilling to assist.” He turns away from me, freeing up my line of vision to view the mess I’ve become in the reflection before me.

My eyes slide shut once more, the sight disappearing for now.

The door hinges squeal as Brad pulls it open. “Guess I’ll have to go pay your gorgeous sister a visit then. Since you’re so unwilling.”

Before I even register his words, the door slams, lock firmly engaging. The metallic sound reverberates around me, mixing with my screams of objection.

That was harder than anticipated. I definitely didn’t expect her to try and bludgeon me with a lamp. At least I didn’t retaliate…too much. She’s still breathing. Though, when Cynthia wakes up, she’s sure to have a sore throat and a few bruises.

I didn’t mean to hurt her. It was like this curtain fell between my body and mind. I wasn’t in control. I saw what I was doing, and was helpless to stop it.

Also, she hit me first.

I shouldn’t be held responsible for what happens in self-defence.

All I wanted to do was be an honourable man and end things with her amicably. I can’t help it if my heart doesn’t beat forher anymore. Her once alluring accent now grates on my nerves, and her warm brown eyes remind me of a steaming pile of horse shit in the early morning chill. She’s really let herself go, despite the encouragement from Maximus. Cynthia’s dark curls have lost their silky softness, turning into a mass of knotted frizz. The months of blonde regrowth showing at the roots like a stripe down the back of a skunk.

Rose is the one, and I’m not going to waste my efforts on escape elsewhere. Sometimes promises have to be broken. Especially in the event of a time-crunch. I need to get Rose out immediately. Before whoever she’s set up with comes to collect her.

“Where are you off to in such a hurry?” Brad calls out from behind me, lightly jogging to catch up. “Or I guess the better question is…where have you been?” His eyes scan over my face. “Are you aware you’re bleeding?”

I wasn’t. My head throbs something awful from the lamp, but I didn’t think she broke skin.

Brad raises his hand to my face. It’s then I see that his own fingers are discoloured in dried blood.

“Who did you pay a visit to after our meeting with the boss?”

Brad smirks, not answering. “You should get some ice for that. You’ve got a hell of a goose egg forming.”

He could have gone for a quickie with any of the ones in the red wing. They prefer the more dark and dangerous kinks, and sometimes Brad just wants the release instead of expelling the energy terrorizing a woman.

Bleakcrest is a maze on a good day, on others…I swear the walls have moved on their own. A long hallway one day is a dead end the next. So there’s no real telling where Brad came from, or who he was with. However, it’s bothersome he won’t tell me.

Brad pats me on the shoulder. “Give Rose my best,” he says quietly before turning and heading toward the purple wing.

I try to move without raising suspicion. Every inch of this place is covered by cameras. The nervous twisting in my gut urges me to go faster. Something happened to Rose while we were apart, and now she needs to heal. Why couldn’t she follow instructions? I told her to behave and not do anything to get herself killed. Once she can take it, I’m going to punish that addictive spot between her legs until she’s pleading for forgiveness.

My feet move with a mind of their own, carrying me swiftly down to Richmond’s playground. Before my shoes even hit the bottom floor, I can hear my girl’s screams. My body wills me to move faster, but anything other than a stroll will set off a light in the security office. It’s a warning that there could be an escapee, and the earlier the notice, the easier it is to intercept.

The closer I get, the more clear her cries become. “Brad!” she screams, voice hoarse. “Get back here! I’m sorry!” She silences, muffled coughs making their way to me through the thick metal door.

So that’s why Brad wouldn’t tell me where he was. He knew I would have punched him in the teeth. “Leave my sister alone you sick motherfucker,” Rose rasps, energy depleting.

I keep walking, past her room to an area I know is stocked with things to entice starved victims. Rich is used to extort information from opposing gang members or turn resistant citizens. He’s so fucking convincing, over half the island works for Maximus now. But not one fucking soul will roll over on the leader of the drug ring. We don’t even know his real name. Rip, as he’s referred to on the street, has his pack so loyal, they gladly accept death instead of giving him up.