Page 256 of Like Grim Death: Part One
Her lips look blue, a contrast to the yellow tone of her skin.
I sink to my knees. I couldn’t stay standing even if I wanted to. The gun drops from my hand, clunking softly and harmlessly on the carpet, but even if it had gone off, as long as it didn’t hit her, I don’t think I’d care.
“Ella.” I breathe out her name. I lift my hands, drawing them close to her, but I’m scared to touch her. I don’t understand. I don’t know what’s wrong.
Her hips are arched in the air, like some twisted child’s pose, and it takes me a second to realize she isn’t wearing any shorts, or if she is, they show off almost every inch of her lower half, not covered by my T-shirt.
Pale skin. Freckles.
And…
“Maverick. Check her back.” It’s Cain’s voice, frozen with fury. I’ve never heard him speak so coldly before.
“No, Mavy,” Ella whispers. “No, no. It’s okay. I’m okay. It’s not the first time. I’m okay.” She tries to plant one palm on the floor. She attempts to push up, but the muscles in her arm give out and she drops back down, cheek to the floor, her elbow bent, and fingers splayed over the runner.
My mind goes blank for a second… or two, three; I’m not sure what time is anymore. Fuzzy fear builds in my bloodstream, leaving me feeling dizzy, like I’m going to pass out, even though I’m on my knees. It’s hard to breathe, the walls of my lungs sticking to one another as I take in shallow gulps of oxygen.I don’t understand.
It’s not anger that blooms in my chest, my fingers reaching for the hem of her shirt, clenching in the soft fabric, damp from her sweat.
It’s a fear I’ve never known, like my stomach has dropped away.
She tries to wiggle from me, arching her back toward Cain, who is standing opposite me in this circle, the wall at his back. The high ceilings should give us plenty of air to breathe, but it’s like…I can’t.
“Ella,” I whisper as she squirms. “Stop fighting me.” I try to make it sound like a command. So she’ll think everything is okay. So she’ll stay calm. I try to assume our roles, so I can figure out what’s happening, but my voice breaks all the same.
Slowly, as she protests weakly, I lift up the shirt, pulling it back, and back, and back. I see her underwear, a beautiful dark green, stretched over her round ass, and for a split second, reality cuts in.Why am I showing my brothers so much of her body?I want to tell everyone to leave.
But something glitches in my brain.
Something dark and black and red and fire.
And the only thing that comes out is, “Who. Fucking.Hit you?”I try to stay upright, but it’s like I collapse, trying to collect myself.
I close my eyes, leaning over and resting my forehead against the back of her skull, catching her scent as she trembles. Usually, it soothes my soul. But right now, it does nothing but flash crimson against the back of my eyelids.
Then I see it again, even with my eyes closed.
Black and red bruises on the back of her fucking thighs. Like someonebeather. I’ve been whipped before.A lot.I’ve had my blood spilled on the fucking garage floor. I’ve beensurroundedby it, and I’ve taken so many lashings, the scars will never heal on my back.
I know what it looks like.
This wasn’t that.
And I just got beaten too. I just got my shitwrecked.
It looked more likethat.
I’ve used a belt on her before, both of us agreeing to it. I’ve hit her too. A thingsherequests.
But nothing I’ve ever done to her has left a mark like the ones on the backs of her thighs.Ever.
She doesn’t answer me, but she’s not trying to get away.
She’s perfectly still. I slide my fingers to her neck, and I can feel her pulse racing beneath my arm over her back.
“Ella.” There’s a pounding in my ears, an edgy, twitchy feeling in my fingers. The scent of bile is acrid, flooding my nostrils.What happened? I don’t… Nothing makes sense.
If Atlas hurt her…I’m going to fucking kill him. Hasthisbeen it all along?I’m aware he’s standing in this circle. I am very fucking aware, and I don’t look at him right now.
