Page 14 of His Paradise

“We can play the blame game or just admit David is fucked up and this is all his fault.” Alec shuts us down.

“Agreed, your pity party is just irritating.” Jared mutters, and I hold my middle finger above my seat. This was going to be the longest car ride of my damn life. The plane wouldn’t be much better.

Chapter eleven

Nina

Standing here, naked, as David sits in his chair beneath me was beyond humiliating. It burns me to the core, more than the bleeding cuts across my back. Olivia is still crying in the corner, with Percy doing his best to comfort her. She dropped David’s coffee, and he tried to grab her, but I slammed into him and knocked us to the ground. My punishment is to stand here while Grayson draws a blade across my back. I know he is being gentle, just pressing enough to draw blood and leave a stinging trail as I struggle to bite down the screams. It doesn’t stop me from imagining sticking that knife into his stomach.

“Enough.” David says, waving his hand as he prowls around me. He stands behind me, sighing as he shakes his head.

“Grayson, you did such a lovely job. These shouldn’t scar too much.” The sound of ice clinking in his glass next to my ear is the only warning I have before he pours his whiskey over my back. I scream, stumbling forward as the burning pain ripples over my fresh cuts.

“Put her outside, she has garden work to do. Don’t give either of them gloves.” David storms from the room. Olivia shoves past Percy, racing to catch me as I collapse to the floor. She rocks me as I cry in her lap, and Grayson wraps his jacket over my body before picking me up.

“Get off of her!” Olivia screams, her tiny hands slamming to his arms. Grayson lays me on the bed and blows out a breath as he turns to Percy.

“This has to stop, man.” Percy mutters.

“Are you stupid? This isn’t your business. The boss does what he feels is necessary.”

“It feels wrong, Gray.” Percy’s voice raises when the shower turns on.

“Your job isn’t to feel. It’s to follow orders and keep your head down.” Grayson snaps, storming from the room.

“Fuck,” Percy slams his hands to the dresser, and I watch him through puffy eyes until he looks at me.

“I’m so sorry.” He whispers, glancing back over his shoulder.

“Protect her. Get her out of here, Percy.” My voice is just above a whisper but I know he hears me.

“He’ll let her go soon,” I know that he doesn’t believe the words as they leave his mouth.

“Okay, the tub is ready. Let’s get you washed up so we can bandage you.” Olivia is trying to sound positive but I can hear the way her voice wavers. I grab Percy by his sleeve as he turns to leave and he stares down at my hand before pulling away to stand with his back to me. Olivia helps me stand, letting me lean on her as we stagger into the bathroom.

My hands are sore, but the clouds were giving us some relief as we worked to plant the dozens of Crown of Thorns and rose bushes David had bought. Percy drops a couple bottles of water between us, and we don’t waste any time gulping them down while he stands over us. I notice that he does his best to block the sun from Olivia when it peeks from between clouds while we work. Grayson joins us when we finish digging a hole for a particularly massive Crown of Thorns.

He leans down and plucks the plant up to drop it in the hole, waving Percy off.

“Boss has some paperwork he needs you to take care of.” They share a knowing look as Percy sighs, rolling up the sleeves of his shirt as he walks away.

“You could just say he needs to interrogate somebody. Code words aren’t necessary for us.” I say, as we pack the dirt around the plant. Grayson crosses his arms while watching us but doesn’t say a word or offer help as we finish the last row just as the sun begins to drop and our stomachs are rumbling. Percy returns as we are cleaning up with a basket in his hand. He looks overall disheveled but has a smile on his face.

“David is in a meeting, and he instructed me to bring you dinner.” Percy sits the basket on the grass, pulling out a blanket to smooth it on the ground. Olivia brushes her hands off, excitedly sitting on the blanket as she smiles brightly at Percy.

“Thank you for thinking of us,” she says. Percy clears his throat, trying to avoid Grayson’s death stare.

“He’ll skin you for this.” He warns the blue haired man. Percy shakes his head, giving me a sideways look.

“A man should take care of the woman he fancies.” Percy winks at Olivia, and my heart soars when I catch his meaning. He is going to get my sister out of here. Olivia and I sit together, eating in silence as we enjoy the late evening breeze. My mind is racing through the plan I had been working out. Percy will take Olivia, and as soon as she is safe, I’ll kill David. I’ve never taken a life, but I couldn’t leave here without doing it.

David won’t stop, and my son’s life will be in constant danger. I wasn’t naive enough to think I can make it out of this alive, but at least I can do this for my family. For Aden, when he saved me all those years ago. It’s my turn to save him.

“You’re plotting something,” Olivia is smiling, pointing up at the clouds.

“What?”

“Don’t look alarmed. Keep smiling and act like we are just watching the clouds. You have a plan, what is it?” She giggles, and the sound is so fake that it makes me laugh. Percy and Grayson frown in our direction but they go back to talking with their heads leaned together.

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