Page 77 of Freeing Souls

“That didn’t fix me,” Nerds mutters as he leaves the shed, Colton following after him.

“And what about that fucker?” Noah asks, pointing to Tank, who is now awake in his cell but gagged with a–

“What is that?” I ask, pointing to the thing in his mouth.

Noah grins. “A ball gag.”

My eyes widen as Ryker snickers behind me.

“Can we have the room for him?” I ask, changing the subject.

They all nod. “Of course. Prospects, push Killer to the side. When you all are done, you guys will get to do your first burn session,” Axe tells them.

“Can you tell Grayson to come back?” I ask Noah as they all walk out.

“Oh, I’ve been waiting for this,” Ryker says, stretching his arms out.

When Grayson comes back in, Ryker and Cayden move Killer before pulling a fighting Tank out and strapping him down to the chair.

“Did you have fun watching Killer’s party?” Ryker asks him, pulling the ball gag out of his mouth.

“You won’t get away with this,” Tank shouts.

Grayson tilts his head, a gleam I have never seen before in his eyes. “Isn’t that like a classic movie line right before the person dies? Either way, we have already gotten away with it.”

“Anything you want from him, little flame?” Ryker asks me, standing behind Tank.

My heart races as I glance around the room, taking in my three guys, who are all here, angry, just for me. They would do anything for me.

“He may not have been the one who tookthataway from me, but he ruined me in other ways, and I—” I bite the corner of my lip as I look at Tank and remember the nightly trips to the room. For a month. He stole my power, he stole what I thought Ihealed. He left me in the hands of someone who took something that was only ever meant for my three guys. Maybe I’m not ready to admit it all and deal with it, but there's something I do want now.

“I want my power back.”

Chapter Twenty-Three

Ryker

After the words come out of her mouth, she seems to shut down, trying to hide the part of her that wants something that may not beokay.Shoving the ball gag back in Tank’s mouth, I focus fully on my girl even as he tries to yell through the gag.

“I just want–”

I cut her off. “Don’t lie now, little flame. Tell us what depraved things are going through your head.”

She glances at me. “I want him to sit there and watch you–all three of you–have what he couldn’t have. What he will never have. I want to feel powerful and beautiful again.”

“Harley, beautiful, you don’t even want to talk—”

“I know, Grayson!” She takes a breath, forcing herself to relax before she keeps speaking. “I know. I don’t want to talkabout it all. I just want my fucking power back. I want to know I can let myself feel everything fully and not fall apart completely, because he–theydidn’t ruin me.” Her eyes turn glossy with unshed tears, but she blinks them back, trying to seem determined, even through her fears.

Approaching her from behind, I say, “I may not get possessive when Grayson or Cayden see you, but you are asking for this man, this scum of a man, to see what’s mine,” I hiss, not meaning to come off so abrasive but realizing he would have to see her.

She spins around in my arms, her pupils dilated. “Afterwards, you’ll get to do whatever you want to him, and he will never get to remember what happened.” She breathes deeply, anchoring herself in my eyes. “He used to taunt me about the day he would be able to get his hands on me again and how he would use me. He wanted me, Ryker. Show him I’m not his, and I never will be.” She cups my cheeks as stray tears fall down her cheek. “Please.”

“Are you absolutely sure, baby girl?” Cayden asks as he comes up behind her, his gaze heated.

“Yes,” she says, looking back at him before glancing over at Grayson, who looks a little hesitant. Based on the tent in his jeans, though, he likes the idea. “Gray?” she asks.

His mouth pops open, but no words come out. “Come on, Gray baby. I’ll lead you,” I tell him with a wink, and his cheeks turn pink as he walks over to join the three of us.

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