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Will he find a smaller room in the mansion to banish me to?

“I can see, Brenna. You are in good health, no new bruises or marks. As far as I can tell you are being well provided for.” His eyes jump from mine back to Cormac. “It seems like this debt has been settled.”

A debt settled? That’s all I’m worth. Payment.

I suck in a breath and bite the inside of my lip to keep the tears from streaming down my face. I don’t want to give either of these bastards the satisfaction.

“Yes, I believe all is well with our arrangement.” Cormac grabs hold of my arm and moves me out of the way.

“Truly? Your father is still holding his reservations. It won’t be set in stone for him until your heir is on the way. I’m sure the two of you have been busy working on that stipulation.”

My heart drops to my feet and my eyes slam to my father’s face.

Did he just fucking say heir?

Like I’m supposed to give Cormac a child? Is that really what they are expecting out of me? I chuckle but neither of them pays me any mind.

They are both too busy drinking crazy juice if they think I’ll let something like that happen.

My freedom has already been forfeit for this fucking deal and now they want to add a child into the mix.

If I thought my objections would do anything but bleed away into the air I’d shout the walls down about how I’ll never give him a child. Instead I keep it all bottled up inside of me.

“He’s just going to have to understand those things take time. I’ve got no doubts the O’Sullivan name will live on,” Cormac speaks and smiles slightly.

I don’t want to be here. Not with Cormac and definitely not with my father.

Honestly, right now I find myself longing for the solitude of my room back at the mansion. At least there I won’t have to think about this. I could lose myself in sleep or in a book.

“I’m alone. Scared. I’m breaking.”

I don’t know what prompted me to speak. The words have no context in the conversation my father and Cormac are having but as the words slip from my lips I know I’ve never said anything more true.

This is all too much for me to bear. All I want is for one of them to see what they are doing and care.

They don’t.

“You’ll get over it. You just need a little more time to adjust.” My father nods his head.

Cormac leans in closer to my ear and whispers, “Broken things are my area of expertise. I’ll make sure I put all the pieces back together.”

I close my eyes but not in enough time to stop the tears.

I won’t find any reprieve here. No kind words. I’m nothing to these men. Worthless.

I turn on my heel and run out of the trailer. Workers turn in my direction. If any of them can see I’m in distress none of them make a move to help me.

I race back to the truck and open the door. I slide inside and cry.

Cormac’s words echo in my mind.

He said he was an expert at broken things.

What will I be when he’s finished with me? After years of being nothing more than a prisoner in his care who will I be?

Will there be any part of me that I remember or will I just be another ghost haunting his existence?

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