Page 112 of Cruel Revenge

I open my eyes to cement walls surrounding me and shackles around my ankles, chaining me to pieces of metal embedded into the floor a few feet away.

There’s enough slack in the chains to allow me to get up and walk around.

More chains hang about me, and dim light shines through the windows, illuminating the otherwise empty warehouse.

I push to my feet, wobbling a little as the world around me spins. As I squeeze my eyes shut, I try to will the pain in my head away.

What happened? Where am I?

The last thing I remember is leaving the apartment building and going for a walk around the block. I did a couple of laps and was about to go home. I was going to go back upstairs and tell Skyla she was right about everything.

Which would have been difficult enough. It would’ve required swallowing my pride and apologizing to her.

But if she stayed, if she forgave me, it would’ve been worth it.

I take a deep breath, finding my balance as I turn and look around the room.

There are bars over all the windows. Not a single box or pallet is left in the building. Nothing that I could use as a weapon.

God, why did I leave?

Skyla was right. I am a coward.

Just thinking about something happening to her had me putting my tail between my legs and submitting to that bastard Grady.

Because of me, Skyla is hurting. And fuck if knowing I did that to her isn’t slicing me open.

I should’ve stayed and talked to her.

None of this would be happening right now if I had just stayed and told her the truth.

Or maybe it would’ve happened, but she would be with me right now and then I would have something else to worry about.

But at least I wouldn’t have been the one to stab her in the back.

All I wanted was to make sure she was safe. Because in the grand scheme of things, my life means nothing. Not if I lost her.

And now I lost her anyway.

A door opens, and light floods the room.

Too much light for it to be early morning.

How long was I out?

Judging by the sounds pouring in, I’m probably somewhere at the harbor, or a marina.

Heels click against the floor, and Zoe Esposito strides in front of me, stopping just out of reach of the chains.

Two men follow her in, each one kneeling in front of me and undoing the shackles around my ankles.

The shackles fall away, and they take several steps back.

Zoe smiles and steps closer to me, her fingers trailing along the side of my face and coming away with dried blood on the tips. “You know, it’s a shame that we had to hurt you to get you in the van.”

“Sure.” I ignore the aching in my head. “You want to tell me what the fuck I’m doing here, Zoe?”

“Oh, you do know who I am. This is going to make this so much more fun.” She takes a step back and crosses her arms. “You know, I’ve been watching you for a long time, Joshua. I’ve been thinking about killing Skyla, but I don’t think that would phase her family enough, do you?”

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