Page 12 of Scarred in Silence
“I’ll be back.”
I climb up the ladder as her muffled cries echo behind me. When did she become so fucking soft?
I pull up the ladder and close the door, locking it in place. As badly as I want to remind her of who she fucks, I also need to make sure she doesn’t run again. No matter how much of a whore she is, she is my whore. I can’t fucking lose her like that again.
I won’t.
I grab my keys off the counter and shoot a text to Gideon Monroe.
She is safe. Ready to meet to discuss treatment?
I wait a few minutes before I get a text back.
Meet me in my office. 12 P.M.?
I need this to go smoothly. That way, no one will ask questions. I canfinally make her realize I am her only option. Her only savior.
I’ll be there.
The gravel crumbles beneath my boots as I get on my bike and rev the engine. My Yamaha MT-10 SP is the only thing that helps me clear my head these days. Hopefully, Astra will come around, and she can help me in other ways soon.
I take off up the gravel driveway and pass the main house, entering the roadway. It will take me two hours to get there, and it’s already 9:45 A.M.
I speed on the winding trails, thinking about what the fuck I’m going to tell her parents.
Fuck.
* * *
I pull up to Astra’s house, and my thoughts race. I place my helmet on the back of the bike and walk up the stone walkway to her front door. The cigar smoke infiltrates my lungs. I stride confidently into her father’s office to find him waiting there. Alone.
“Gideon.” I hold out my hand, and he shakes it in return.
“Lucien.” He nods.
“Is Verona joining us today?”
He chuckles to himself. Blowing out a smoke ring from his cigar.
“Not a chance.”
I should have figured. Verona hates Astra with a passion. I think she abused her as a kid, but I would never say it out loud.Something tells me that’s why my little Siren likes to act out the way she does.
“Well, in that case, I think we should discuss her future.”
Gideon’s head cocks to the side as he studies my calm expression.
“What future?” He laughs as he chokes on the cigar smoke.
I clench my jaw.
“Let me ask you something,” he says figuratively.
I nod.
“Do you want my daughter?”
I pause, taking in his words. I have no idea where the fuck he is going with this, but I sure as Hell don’t want him to give her away to anyone else. I am her only chance at saving herself.
