Page 12 of Death

Grace: No. I’m fine. Don’t worry about me.

“That’s enough.” Nolan grabs the phone from me, and I can’t stop a sob from fluttering over my lips as I try to reach for the device.

“Just one minute more,” I beg.

Nolan shoves the phone into his pocket, and leaning over me, he grips my chin and growls, “Don’t make me regret letting you talk to Grace. I’ll destroy the phone.”

Not wanting him to do that, I clench my hands together on my lap.

He leans even closer. “Thank me, Ciara.”

My eyebrows draw together. “H-how?”

He tilts his head slightly while lowering his eyes to my mouth. “Kiss me.”

My chin quivers, but not wanting to miss any future chances I might have of talking to Grace, I close the inch between us and press a quick kiss to his lips.

A satisfied smile forms on his face, and he moves his hand to my cheek. “See, it’s not that hard. You’ll learn quickly.” Straightening up, he says, “Your breath stinks. Let’s brush your teeth and get you cleaned up.”

Cleaned up.

No.

My muscles lock in place, and Nolan has to yank me to my feet. The loving demeanor vanishes, and anger ripples over his features.

“Do I have to spank you again?”

I quickly shake my head, and when he pulls me toward the bathroom, it feels like a noose is being tightened around my neck.

My breaths keep coming faster and faster until they’re nothing but fear-filled puffs.

Nolan brings me to a halt in front of the sink, and letting go of me, he grabs a pink toothbrush and squirts toothpaste onto the bristles.

“Open your mouth wide,” he orders. A sob threatens to escape my throat as I do as I’m told, and I pinch my eyes shut. Nolan takes his time brushing my teeth, and when he’s pleased, he says, “Spit.” Once I’m done, he cups his hand beneath the cold water spray. “Rinse your mouth.”

Feeling utterly degraded, I’m beginning to realize Nolan is going to take every single thing from me, and I’m filled with an overwhelming sense of hopelessness.

He leaves me standing by the sink, and after he walks out of the bathroom, I wrap my arms around myself and suck in a desperate breath of air.

I’m still unable to process the hell I’m being subjected to. There’s no time to make sense of what’s happening, because before I can deal with whatever horrible act Nolan inflicts on me,something else happens. The weight of it all is bearing down on me.

Nolan returns with a yellow dress, and he places it on the closed toilet lid before moving past me to get to the bath. Dread spins in my stomach while I watch him fill the tub with water.

Once he’s satisfied with the temperature, he comes to me and takes hold of the dress, pulling it up my body. Where the fabric brushes over my butt and lower back, it burns, reminding me of the beating I got last night.

Unable to stop it, a sob escapes as I lift my arms so he can pull it over my head.

“Get in the tub,” he says, his tone gentle.

My movements are jerky as I do as I’m told, and when I sit down in the water, the skin on my lower back, butt, and the back of my thighs burn.

Nolan reaches for the body wash, and when he squirts some into his palm, I close my eyes, trying to brace myself for what’s to come.

He begins to wash my shoulders, then moves down my chest. Torturously slow, he fondles my breasts, and unable to take anymore, my mind finally spirals into a panicked trance.

Chapter 4

CIARA