Total pages in book: 36
Estimated words: 33170 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 166(@200wpm)___ 133(@250wpm)___ 111(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 33170 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 166(@200wpm)___ 133(@250wpm)___ 111(@300wpm)
“He meant well. They all did.”
“They hurt you, little warrior?” Brick cupped Serelda’s face and looked down at her, holding her gaze as he gently demanded his answer.
“Black Reign?” Serelda’s eyes got big, and she shook her head vehemently. “No! They saved us! They wrapped us up in a solid wall of protection.”
Brick held her gaze for long moments. Was he trying to read her? Judge whether or not she was telling the truth? Then he nodded. “All right. Fair enough.”
Roman urged me to my feet, taking my hand. “Come on, baby. Let’s go. We’ll come back later, and all of us’ll go to supper together.”
Serelda looked at me and nodded. Only then did I let Roman take me from the room. His quarters were down the hall. He unlocked his door and ushered me inside and to the couch.
“Here. Have a seat. You want something to drink? I got bottled water. Beer. Soda if you want it. Milk?”
“Water’s fine.” I sat on the edge of the sofa, twisting my hands together in nervousness.
He brought a bottle of water and handed it to me. I fumbled with the lid but gulped down a quarter of the bottle before setting it on the coffee table. Not only did I suddenly realize how thirsty I was, but I wanted to use anything I could to delay this conversation.
“Better?” He sat next to me and took my hand gently.
“Yeah.” I cleared her throat. “Do I have to do this?”
“Why don’t you want to tell me? Ain’t askin’ for a therapy session. This is part of you. I need to know this to be able to proceed with a relationship with you. The very last thing I want to do is frighten you or hurt you because I don’t know what you went through.”
I sighed. “Can I ask you a question first?”
“Anything, baby.”
“Why me? You could have any woman you wanted. That woman at the restaurant was sure interested.”
“Don’t want no one else. As to why? It’s hard to define. At first, I felt protective of you. I knew you’d been through something and had no idea what. But I saw how hard you were fighting to break free of… something. You fought for what you wanted. You fought to protect your sister even as you knew she was struggling with being here, away from everything familiar. You did it because you knew it was what she needed. Somewhere in there, I realized you were the perfect woman for me, because you’d protect your family no matter what. You’d see to their well-being, even if it meant pushing them outside their comfort zone.” Roman’s words were so emphatic and strong I knew he wasn’t lying. Everything he said was truly how he felt. How he saw me.
My lips parted on a gasp and my eyes got wide. “You really see me like that?”
“Absolutely, Winter. I told you before. You’re one of the bravest people I know. And considering I was a Marine, I don’t say that lightly. Now. You told me that your father was the one who gave you to the men who scarred you. You also said you killed him yourself. What about the men who did this? Did Black Reign take care of them too?” Now, Roman looked more like a killer. I knew he was the enforcer for Iron Tzars, but I hadn’t really seen it often. Now, the enforcer was front and center.
“No. Not that I know of. I don’t even have a clue who they were, and the only person who knew is dead. It was thirteen years ago. I’m not sure I could even remember what they looked like.” I turned away from him. “All I really remember is the pain.” I shook my head slightly before adding softly, “And the blood.”
“I take it they were sadists?”
I shrugged. “No clue. They just liked cutting us. I think they liked the blood for some reason.” I couldn’t help the shiver as I remembered the feel of the blood covering my body. Both mine and my sister’s. “There were two of them, but only one of them actually had sex with us. The other just… I don’t know.” My ears roared, and the room spun. I thought I whimpered but wasn’t sure.
His body sliding over mine. His arms wrapped around me as he moved against me…
“Fuck.” Roman lifted me in his arms and hurried across the room. The next thing I knew, I was in front of the toilet. Roman held my hair back while I retched over and over again, what little I’d managed to eat coming up in a violent rush.
A cool cloth wiped over my forehead, and Roman spoke to me in soft, soothing words. “I’ve got you, baby. No one will ever hurt you again. I swear it. Take a breath for me.”