Page 23 of Fighting for Lucy

All her life there had been people who had looked down on her because of her epilepsy. Maybe they wouldn’t outright say anything, but they would treat her like she was less than capable, like she needed someone to do simple things for her, like she was fragile.

That attitude always made her angry.

Most of the time she’d let it slide, just reiterate that there was nothing she couldn’t do if she put her mind to it, but right now, she let it fuel her rage.

“Since your friend told you about the drug, I'm sure you're anxious to try it out for yourself, see what all the hype was about. Ms. Madden was lucky, I only gave her one dose then left her alone to think about her choices. I wonder how it would go if I kept injecting you over and over again? How long would you last, Ms. Elrod, before you caved and told me what I want to know?”

Dread pooled in her stomach, but Lucy kept her features schooled.

You can do this.

If you give up on yourself then you’ve already lost.

“I had promised my men that they could have their fun with your friend while she begged and pleaded for their touch to bring her relief, they were disappointed that we were interrupted last time. Let’s see how long you last, shall we? My men aretaking bets, whoever wins gets first round with you.” Raul gave a soulless chuckle. “But don’t worry, Ms. Elrod, they’ll all get a turn.”

Keeping her mask of control as the needle pricked her skin was hard, and when a flush of raging heat flooded her system a few seconds later, Lucy prayed she hadn't underestimated her own strength.

January 23rd

2:18 P.M.

“We should just killhim and be done with it, he’s too heavy to carry back to the truck.”

Those were the words Zander regained consciousness to.

He had no idea how long he’d been out. The last thing he remembered was forcing his body to move even though he knew he was asking more from it than it was capable of giving. Remembered the blackness closing in on him. Then he remembered hazy recollections of panic about Lucy and dragging himself through the jungle, consumed with the need to get to her. Repeating that process over and over again throughout the hours between his fall over the cliff and his capture.

It was the feelings he remembered more than anything else.

Horrible, piercing sensations in his chest as he pictured all the things Raul could be doing to Lucy.

All because of him.

Because he’d failed her.

Failed his team.

Failed the woman who … made him think all things were possible.

Not something he was used to.

His childhood had taught him that life was already written before you took your first breath. That serving your country and not wasting time on frivolous things like love was all that mattered.

Scarlett had never been afraid to buck against the mold their family tried to stick them in, but he wasn’t as brave as his twin.

He’d followed the path set before him like a good little soldier. Thought that if he served, worked hard, and made it into the elite Delta unit he could somehow earn his parents’ love.

But he’d been wrong.

Their reactions in the wake of the ordeal that stole the lives of his teammates and broke something inside of him that could never be fixed, proved they were incapable of loving anything other than the military, and he’d given up trying.

Given up on everything.

If it wasn’t for Lucy and her needing him, he would be perfectly content to let Raul’s men do whatever they wanted to him.

But Lucy was depending on him, so he mustered some last reserves of strength he must have gathered during his last bout of unconsciousness.

In one swift move, he shoved his way out of the hold of the men carrying him and came up with one of their weapons in his hand.

---