Tragic Beauty (Beauty & The Darkness #1)(75)
“What did I tell you?!” he shouts. “There is no more Shayne!” He tears off to The Cage, frantic, searching for something. When he storms back, I see what’s in his hand.
“Please,” I beg. “It doesn’t have to be like this. We can—”
My words are cut off when he shoves the red ball gag in my mouth and secures it tight behind my neck, disarming me.
He’s off to The Cage again, and when he returns, I know what’s coming next. I plead with my eyes, the only weapon I have left, but my plea is lost when he yells, “Don’t look at me like that!” and shoves the blindfold over my eyes.
It’s dark. So dark. But that’s alright. It’s home to me now. I hang with my chin to my chest, bleeding and oozing, my only comfort that Gavin is still safe. The horses are safe. Ben is safe. And I’m going to keep it that way, because I’m going to make things right, even if it kills me.
He paces around me and I hear his whimpers once more, like he’s weeping again. Then he shouts, a loud demented shout, filled with so much rage it rattles my skull. It’s followed by a giant crash that I know is The Cage being tipped over, and another crash that I think is the bed frame being flipped. I brace and hold my breath as things begin to fly by me, whizzing through the air and crashing into walls. I’m in the middle of a tornado, the chain anchoring me in place while all around everything spins out of control, until it suddenly dies out. All I hear now is the loud beating of my heart and his heavy breaths from across the room.
I hang for what feels like an eternity, knowing he watches me. I listen to his breathing, trying to get a read on him. Eventually, his lungs slow, and I wonder if it’s the beast or the man that’s been left standing.
“I went to kill him, Ava,” he says, finally breaking the silence.
I strain, not sure of the quiet tone I’m hearing. It’s got the familiar eerie sound to it, but it’s…different. Almost like he’s a mix, of both man and beast. An unstable mix.
I hear his footsteps, getting closer, until he’s right in front of me.
“But you knew that,” he sighs, caressing my cheek.
His touch trails down my neck, and over a cut along my breast. I know he touches me, I know it hurts, but all I focus on is his voice.
“I took my gun and waited for him, out back of his house, near that pretty pool of his . When I first got there, I saw him, walking past the living room. I think he must’ve even caught a glimpse of me, because he came over and stood by the slider, looking around. I was crouched down, behind some bushes, and I had him then. Had my gun on him, but I wanted to watch him a bit, wait for just the right moment, but then he left and took off in his car. I thought he’d come back, so I kept waiting and waiting over the next few days, but he never did. So figured I’d try again later. Then I come home to you, and you’re full of all these apologies and offering forgiveness.”
He circles behind me and his fingers graze over the brand, tracing the curve of the M and the R. “I want to believe you, Ava, I really do. But I know what you’re up to. I know you’re just doing anything you can to save him.” His touch moves on from the brand, over my back, and around my other side until he’s standing in front of me again.
“But I’ll tell you what,” he says, leaning in close. “Seeing as how you’re being all merciful, I’ll do the same. After all, relationships are about compromise, right? So I’ll spare his life, again, in exchange for something. Something big. Something that will help us start over. See, I had something made special. Something I wasn’t sure I’d have the balls to use on you, but with everything that’s out in the open now, I think it’s time. And if you can take it…take all that I give you with it, then I’ll let him live and we’ll start fresh. And I won’t use anything over you anymore, including him. You’ll still be my wife of course, and we’ll still have our sessions, but this way we can leave him behind us. Otherwise he’ll always be there, hovering. And then you can prove to me that you really mean those things. Because then you’ll be doing everything for me, won’t you, baby? Just me.”
He pauses and slides his hand up my body until he’s cradling my face, then his lips brush against my ear as he whispers, “But there’s a catch. Normally I love hearing these little whimpers and all your screams, but this time is different. Special. See, I need you to be that little girl on the playground, the one who stole my heart. Sort of a full circle kind of thing. That means I need you quiet, like you were back then. And this will make it more intimate too. So not a sound from you, okay? Just you, me, and the pain. Or else the deal’s off, and I get to kill him. And I know it’s a little unfair, you not knowing what this thing is, but that’s me, isn’t it, baby? I’m not fair when it comes to you. So what do you say?”
I nod, because it will save Gavin and the others, forever. Which is what I set out to do. And who knows, by the strange way Shayne’s talking, maybe it will help save him too.
“That’s my girl,” he says. “So brave.” He strokes my cheek and presses his lips to my forehead. “Be right back.”
He leaves the room, and I begin to tremble, trying so hard not to think about what I’m in for. My only comfort is the lives that will be set free.
The door opens and closes again, and my heart begins to pound and a sweat breaks out on my skin. I hear what sounds like buckles being fastened, then his footsteps grow near and he steps in close.