Page 54 of Saving You Losing Me

Two years later, Maria followed. The constant abuse he inflicted on my body meant I didn’t fall pregnant easily. Once again, I could do no wrong. We were having a baby. It was sure to be a boy this time, and I had nine months reprieve from the sex and the beatings. Instead, I was wrapped in love and affection.

Then Maria was born, and it happened again. It appeared the only time I was safe from him was when I was pregnant.

To deny him a son meant the greatest sacrifice on my part because I was determined I would never bring another child into this tainted, depraved life. I couldn’t run the risk of bearing a male heir who would be groomed to be exactly the man his father wanted him to be. First Charles, then Michael and over my dead body any son of mine.

So, I saw the doctor and secured birth control. The night Michael found them, I thought would be my last. I was so badly beaten, I didn’t leave the house for weeks. When I could, I sawthe doctor and secured a stash of morning-after pills and hid them under the carpet in my closet. One taken for every time he raped me.

My body is fucked and so is my mind, so as he powers into me, I blank the trauma from my mind. He will soon leave me to clean up and keep his distance for weeks. It’s a familiar pattern that can’t go on much longer because I am hanging onto life by my determination to keep my daughters safe.

That is why I took a chance on the bodyguard and as Michael vents his frustration out on me, I hang onto the hope this will all change and we will be free.

As expected, Michael pulls out when he finishes with a disgusted snarl.

“Clean yourself up, you filthy whore. Women like you deserve to be fucked against the wall like a common slut.”

He grips my face hard and I blink against the tears it causes as he snarls, “It’s no wonder I fuck whores. They know how to please a man.”

He releases me and storms down the corridor and the last thing I hear him say is into his phone.

“I’m coming over. Make sure you’re naked.”

The door slams behind him and I gasp as the pain hits me from all angles, grateful that Michael has a mistress who lives in an apartment he set up for her. He spends most of his nights there, which suits me just fine.

Occasionally, he brings her home and insists on fucking her while I lie in the same bed. He is a cruel man who only falls further down the dark hole of insanity the longer time goes by.

I catch a sob as I make my way gingerly upstairs, intent on a deep bath to calm my wounds. The pills are beckoning me and not for the first time, I consider taking them all. My life is over, anyway. I’m a dead woman walking. I go through the motions and do what I can to make life magical for my girls, butinside I am longing for the past. What might have been and my only consolation is that Atom is alive and thriving and living his dream.

That is all I wanted. All I will ever want because I have never stopped loving him and I never will.

CHAPTER 30

ATOM

We head home and prepare for our visitor. I’m not stupid enough to deny the Reaper our assistance. If anything, it will work in our favor because if it is Michael he’s come for, everything will change.

The men are in high spirits despite what happened, and even Razor is calling it a badge of honor to have gone one round with an actual Twisted Reaper. Their fights usually end up differently and Razor can now live and tell the tale of when he went fist to fist with an assassin.

When they arrive, the loud jeers and sounds of arguing are the Reaper’s welcome as he heads inside holding Lucy’s hand.

She looks fucking terrified and I’m guessing this isn’t her usual environment and part of me pities her for that.

The Reaper says nothing. He moves through the crowd like he owns the place and cuts quite a figure in his battered leather jacket and torn jeans. His hair’s cut close and his eyes sweep the room, looking for trouble at every turn. His face is set in a mask of cool indifference, and his body language warns anyone to mess with him at their peril.

I watch their approach with interest. Razor stands beside me and my sister takes the other space. I’m guessing she iscurious and will waste no time spilling our secret to her new love interest. Dominic Riley.

The woman holding the Reaper’s hand is none other than his last mistress and I wonder if that’s why the Reaper came calling. Is Dominic Riley his man and if so, I wonder where that leaves Michael?

When they reach us, I smile and step forward, offering him my hand. “Welcome to the Darkside, Reaper.”

“Call me Jet and this is Lucy.”

I nod. “I’m Atom and you’ve met Razor.”

Razor grins. “No hard feelings, man. Welcome. How can we help?”

I drag in a deep breath, desperate to get Tanya as far away as possible from our conversation. “Tanya, look after Lucy. We have business to discuss.”

Lucy glances at Jet in alarm, who says softly, “You’ll be fine, Lucy. They know better than to harm you in any way.”

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