Page 123 of Beautiful Trauma

A sob tore from my throat as I pulled her against me. “I love you so much. I’m so very proud of you. Don’t let Father marry you off to anyone undeserving.” I pulled away to stare into her dark eyes. “Boston is there whenever you need it.”

She kissed my cheek. “I love you, too. And I’ll remember that.” With a pained expression, she said, “I’m going to leave first. I’ll try to keep anyone I see away from the chamber or the downstairs exits.”

“Thank you.”

“Be safe, Mila.”

“You too.”

And with those words, I watched my baby sister walk out of the room and out of my life.

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR: KELLAN

Searing pain slammed into me as I came back into consciousness. With a groan, I jerked my eyes open. I stared down onto a concrete floor. My bare feet stood on a large, metal grate.

Slowly, I pulled my head up to see that my arms were suspended above my head in chains. I’d been stripped of everything but my briefs. And stinging pain radiated from my back.

“He’s awake,” someone said.

I craned my neck to try to identify the voice. Somewhere behind me came a distinctive clinking. It took me a moment to realize it was the sound of a cane.

To my surprise, Dima Korolova came into my view. His face was contorted with pain as he leaned heavily on a cane. He dragged his right leg with each step.

It was his pride that had him enduring so much agony just so he wouldn’t appear weak in a wheelchair.

“I’m glad to see you on your feet,” I said.

His response was to punch me in the jaw. “I wouldn’t be in this situation if it wasn’t for you brainwashing my sister.”

“I love her,” I pronounced. Even though I hadn't said it to Mila yet, I knew it was the truth.

Dima nodded to someone behind him. The next thing I knew a pipe struck my lower back at my kidney. An agonized yell broke from my lips as I bowed forward on the chains. I tried to catch my breath as the pain ricocheted through me. It was so intense that I retched and emptied my stomach at Dima’s feet.

When I finally recovered, Dima glared at me. “What do you get out of feigning love for her?”

“I do love her.”

As Dima nodded again, I braced myself for the impact. This time it hit on the opposite side. My face contorted in agony as my arms jerked in the chains.

“Why are you doing this to her?” he growled.

“Because…I love…her.”

He shook his head manically. “You don’t know her.”

“I know her…better than…you think.”

He lunged forward to wrap his free hand around my neck. “You’ve fucked her, so you know her body.”

“I know her heart,” I gritted out.

“You’ve turned her against her family.”

I fought to suck oxygen in my lungs before I spoke again. “I don’t want that for her, I swear.”

“Your hold on her is why I’m a fucking cripple now!” he blared.

Growing lightheaded, I replied, “I’m sorry. I would do anything to be able to take it back.”