"No one is controlling me but you! You’re a psychopath!"
He chuckles, biting his lip. "And you loved me anyway. Youandthe doctor did. Or you still do. I'm confused with you both." He presses his lips to my forehead, inhaling deeply. "Okay, let's go."
Dragging me to the back of the car, he looks at our surroundings, the neighborhood in darkness with no one out to see what the noise is.
"Get in," he orders me as he pulls the trunk open. "Now." I struggle, trying to get away from him as his hand tightens in my hair, sending shocks of pain through my scalp.
I whimper, doing as he says, climbing in and curling up as he slams it shut. My heart needs to slow before I pass out, which is probably a good thing at this point so I won’t feel what pain Tobias is about to inflict on me.
"I'm so sorry," I tell my babies, my hands wrapping around myself. "I'm so sorry I failed you both."
I've never thought about dying. Well,I have, but not at my own hands or someone else's. I always thought I'd be an old lady, lying in my bed, my children and grandchildren surrounding me, feeling like I accomplished something by living my life.
I wanted my kids to have a life, and that's about to be taken away at the hands of their own father.
And now? I'm regretting everything, everything from the point of meeting Tobias Mitchell.
I care about him a lot. I know he has his issues, that he needs help, but at this point, he’s truly irredeemable in my eyes. The dark side of him is far too powerful for his softness, the part I fell in love with. I wish I was stronger, that I was able to fix him, to make him see sense.
All I can do is lie here and hope my family and friends know how much I love them, that no matter what lies ahead, I will fight until my lastbreath.
The car comes to a halt, my hand pressing to my mouth as I hear chattering, my pulse quickening.
Footsteps crunching on stones make their way to the back of the car, my entire form freezing as it opens wide, my blood running cold at Justin smiling down at me. "It's about time you both got here."
He isn't gentle. I yelp as he grips my wrist and yanks me out into the cold. There’s a snow-covered woodland surrounding us, hiding us. Tobias is standing with his arms crossed at the entrance of the small, abandoned building of an old animal shelter. I recognize it; it has been closed down for years in the middle of nowhere.
The woman next to him makes me freeze.
"Aria, dear, it's good to see you again," Violetta says with a smile, opening her arms for some sort of embrace. I flinch as she approaches, making her stop in her tracks, looking from me to Tobias. "She didn't agree?"
Tobias shakes his head. "I didn't ask. Just take her inside."
Ask what?
They walk me into the foul-smelling building, mould and grass growing on the walls and floor. I whimper as I enter a room filled with bright white lights, my eyes widening at the sight before me.
Five large, caged kennels line the opposite side of the room, set up with drips hooked to each one. My heart sinks when I see Gabriella shoved into one, sedated with whatever they're pumping into her.
For some reason, Kaleb is in the one beside her, also sedated.
"Gabriella?" I sob out with a gasp, bile rising in my throat. "Gabs?"
Tobias comes up behind me as his mom and Justin walk in front of me, grinning. His hands rest on my hips while I stand frozen in place, holding my breath as he lowers his mouth to my ear.
"Which one do you want, Doctor?"
Chapter 47
Tobias
Where the fuck is Aria? Where the fuck is Aria? Where the fuck is Aria? Where the fuck is Aria? Where the fuck is Aria? Where the fuck is Aria? Where the fuck is Aria? Where the fuck is Aria? Where the fuck is Aria? Where the fuck is Aria? Where the fuck is Aria? Where the fuck is Aria? Where the fuck is Aria? Where the fuck is Aria? Where the fuck is Aria? Where the fuck is Aria?
I can’t stop it.
Chapter 48
Aria