Page 172 of Savage Hearts

“Sebastian Cline,” the man groaned. I was still too shocked at the torture to really react to the fact that my uncle was still alive and was sending men to get me.

I shook my head.

“What does he want with the girl?” Silas asked, and I couldn’t be sure, but there was a dark note in his voice that I couldn’t decipher.

“I don’t know,” the man cried. “I really don’t. He just said she was worth more than anything. He said he would pay three million for any man who could bring her to him. That’s all I know. Please, please. Just kill me.”

Just kill him. Just end the torture.

“Kill you?” Silas asked. “You think I’m going to let you die so easily after you trespassed on my place and tried to take what’s mine?”

Silas dropped the whip and pulled out a small knife. The silver gleamed in the light and caught my eyes. He came toward the man, and my brain finally caught up.

Without thinking, I opened my mouth and screamed.

All three brothers turned to me, surprise in their eyes, but it was Silas I was focused on. He dropped the knife on the floor.

I turned and ran out of there before he could react, ignoring the thundering footsteps roaring behind me.

I didn’t look back.

I kept going until I got to my room, my limbs feeling like they were about to give out any‌ moment.

I turned and slammed my door shut on Silas’ tortured face and locked it, knowing it wouldn’t be enough to keep him out, but hoping he would show me this mercy and leave me alone.

Just take pity on me and leave me alone.

Knocks rained down on the door, and I leaned against it, my knees finally buckling.

I fell to the floor, tears streaming down my face, unable to close my eyes.

The man kept popping up in my mind, and I thought I might be sick if I dwelled too much on it.

The whip marks.

The brothers were no different from my father. For one stupid, blissful moment, I almost convinced myself they might be.

But no.

Monsters.

They were monsters.

Fuck.

I dropped my head on my knees as more tears came.

The knocking on my door had stopped.

This was worse.

Worse yet were the feelings they were able to bring out of me.

Worse yet was how I had come to crave their presence… their touch.

Worse yet was how blinded I had been.

The Tiernan brothers were nothing more than monsters, and I was their victim.

---