Page 15 of Saving Her

“What’s going on?” Luther’s bellow echoes off the walls moments before he enters the room, Cole hot on his heels, both their rage clear to see.

Bile rises in my throat. My limbs tremble.

I huddle into the corner of the kitchen, clutching the counter on either side of me as Luca raises his hands in surrender.

He looks guilty, like he’s the one who just threw away his life instead of me.

“Someone better start talking,” Cole snarls. “My patience is growing fucking thin.”

I can’t speak. I can’t think.

Luther will rain hell down on me for this. He’ll take pleasure in the break of my bones.

“He didn’t do anything.” Tobias’s timid voice carries from the doorway on the far side of the kitchen, his head poking around the frame from the hall.

My heart becomes a fragile butterfly, each violent beat threatening to break the thin membrane of my sanity and send me nose-diving.

He heard.

He heard, and he’ll do absolutely anything to make his father proud. Even if it means stabbing me in the back.

“You saw what happened?” Luther asks.

“I was snooping.” Tobias inches into the kitchen. “I know I shouldn’t, but Penny sounded upset and I was worried.”

“And?” Cole growls. “What happened?”

“Nothing. The man was being nice and Penny was…” Tobias glances at me, killing me with his guilt before he hangs his head.

I don’t know what’s worse: his conflict over betraying me or the inevitable possibilities if he tells the truth.

“What, son?” Luther approaches him, placing his evil hands on the boy’s slight shoulders. “What was she doing?”

I silently beg Tobias to keep quiet. To lie. To betray his father even though I know he never will.

“She was being mean.”

Pain slices through me, a soundless sob clogging my throat.

Luther grows an inch with his palpable fury. “You dare to make a guest of mine unwelcome?” He turns toward me, approaching with menacing steps.

I cower, turning my face away, wrapping my arms around my middle. I can’t help the show of weakness. I’m fucking bathing in it, my fragility clear for everyone to see.

That man—that stranger—has fractured a resolve I’d built over years of torture. And he did it all with a few perfectly chosen words.

“I’m sorry,” I plead. “I don’t know what came over me.”

“Fucking stupidity, that’s what.” Luther looms above me, fists clenched at his sides. “Do you need to go back to basic training? Or maybe I should send you to work with the majority of my women so you can understand how well you’re treated here.”

Horror consumes me.

“Please.” I collapse onto my knees. “I didn’t mean it. I apologize.”

“It’s my fault.” Luca’s voice breeches my nightmare. “I got carried away. I tried to make small talk and when I mentioned her past I think she took it as a taunt.”

I hold my breath, the burn of building suffocation sliding through my veins. I don’t understand his motive for taking the fall. Why would he? Why risk his safety for mine?

Luther grabs my chin, his rough grip forcing me to meet his gaze, his other hand raised in threat. “You need to be punished for your disobedience.”

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