Page 64 of Shattered Dreams

Jerricka even ruined memories of our lovemaking, turning what we’ve been doing into something nasty and lewd. Gage never had sex with me to use me or hurt me. All he ever did was show me how much he loved me, and I let Jerricka’s evil tarnish what we had. I’m ashamed I believed every word she said while we were sitting in the plane. She broke my fragile self-esteem, when, had I been stronger, had I had more faith in Gage, she never would have gotten to me.

It’s my fault I’m here, and now I have to pay for my weakness.

Shattered, I curl into a fetal position and blank out my reality.

Jerricka stands over me. “You’re not a prisoner. Find something to eat in the kitchen, or go up to your room and take a bath and get a good night’s rest. We need you to keep your strength up. There will be a lot of testing in the next few days. I’m having guests tomorrow, two gentlemen who are very eager to put their hands on you.” She nudges me, her toe digging into my ribs. “Are you listening to me?”

I roll to my other side, not caring if this will earn a punishment. There’s nothing she can do that will hurt me any more than she already has.

She’s taken away my family, the people I love, and with them, my will to live.

The steps creak as she walks up the stairs, and she turns out the light, leaving me lying alone in the dark.

CHAPTER TWELVE

Gage

Zane doesn’t look good as we climb into the truck, and I’m glad we’re riding in his and not mine. His face is white, and sweat beads along his forehead despite the subzero temperatures.

“I can go alone,” I say, knowing he’ll turn me down. This is his shot at redemption, of making things right. He’d never leave that in my hands, turn his back on the chance to strike out the past.

“No. This is my mess.” He starts the engine and punches at the menu on the dash’s touchscreen to summon the voice command. “Call the King’s Crossing airport,” he orders, and the Bluetooth line starts ringing. He tells a bored-sounding woman he’d like speak to the night manager and we wait through a transfer and holding music. A man answers, his voice a little crisper, and Zane impatiently requests that someone ready his jet for three passengers to Bellwood, Minnesota, where the state correctional facility is located. “Please arrange to have a carready upon our arrival. We’ll be in a hurry.” He disconnects and sighs.

“Don’t you have people who do that?”

“Peggy, mostly, but I try not to bother my employees after hours.”

Stopped at a red light, he jabs at his contact list and chooses Stella’s name.

“Stella.”

His voice sounds like twisted metal, and I need all my willpower not to flinch.

Baby whines.

“Zane. You’re not okay. What’s going on?”

“Did you find where Jerricka’s lake house is?” he asks instead.

“No. There’s no record anywhere online she owns property like that. Where are you?”

“We’re on our way to the airport. We talked to Stephen Mallory, a doctor who treated patients at Quiet Meadows. He was engaged to Jerricka, but he couldn’t tell us much.”

“I asked Willow if she knew anything. She said she went to a party there a couple of years ago, but they rode in a limo. Besides thinking it’s a few hours north of us, she didn’t know.”

“Willow?”

“She’s here. I ran out of options and didn’t have a choice. I called Banks too. I told him Zarah’s in trouble, and he said he’d be on the next flight to King’s Crossing. He’s going to try to find out where Jerricka’s lake house is located, and he’ll get back to us as soon as he can.”

“Okay. Thank you. Stella—”

“You’re going to the airport. You’re going to talk to Ash.”

“Yeah. Mallory said he’s behind this whole goddamned thing.”

“Will he talk to you?”

“I don’t know. I’m not on his visitors’ list. They may not let me in.”

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