Page 43 of The Fighter who Needed Me
Bruce sat back down and knocked on the roof of the carriage, then he leaned forward, his knife still in his hand and pointed it at her, “If you dare mouth off again, or try in any way to defy us, I will come after them. I care not that he is a lord of the realm. His title is unimportant to me. You will do what we say and go where we want you to go. You will marry Reginald as soon as the season is over, and you will do it without complaint.”
She swallowed, “I will do anything you ask. Hurt me, do anything you want to me, but do not touch them. I beg you.”
Bruce looked at Kitty, who nodded. They drove back home, and Persephone was put in her bed, and Kitty and Bruce left her in the room alone.
She let out a breath, and then another trying her best to keep her tears at bay. She felt one slip free, and then another.
That sealed it then. Her fate. She did not want any harm to come to any of the people she loved.
Refused to put them in harm's way because of her. So, she shut her eyes and felt her last ray of hope die in her chest as she said goodbye to the people she loved.
Knowing that she would never see them again and feeling what remained of her heart shrivel up and die as well.
Brooks. Her love. Her life and her husband was gone as well.
She would not let him be touched by them and knew he would if he came near.
She could only hope he had moved on and even though the thought made her want to retch, she knew it was safer.
She looked out the window at the stars in the sky and then shut everything that she had ever loved out of her life forever.
