Page 58 of Beautiful Trauma

She whipped her head around to stare at me. “Why?”

“Because I need to go check us in, and I wanted to leave you with my gun.”

After pulling it out of my pocket, I held it out to her. “Can you shoot it?”

“Yes,” she whispered.

“Good. If anyone suspicious comes near the car, don’t hesitate.” I gave her a pointed look. “Just shoot.”

After placing the gun into her hand, I headed inside the hotel lobby. Thankfully, my wallet was in my pocket and not back at Brian’s. When I breezed through the door, a grey-haired woman glanced up at me.

I gave her a tight smile. “I need a room with two double beds.”

She shook her head. “We only got rooms with one king.”

I grimaced. After what had transpired with Brian, I knew there was no way in hell that Mila would want to sleep anywhere near any man, including myself. With a sigh, I realized I would just have to sleep on the floor.

“Fine. I’ll take it.”

The woman nodded and then started the paperwork. I kept an eye on Mila in the car. As soon as I was handed the keycard, I hurried back outside.

Just as I exited the door, a scream tore through the parking lot. Fear ricocheted through me at the sight of a man standing next to Mila’s car window. I broke into a run across the parking lot.

When I reached the car, I realized it wasn’t Brian or one of his minions. It was merely a homeless man looking for change. Although I should’ve been glad Mila hadn’t fired on him, herreaction was far more concerning. She had her hands in her hair, tugging at the strands as she screamed over and over.

“Get the fuck out of here!” I shouted at the man.

Thankfully, he had the presence of mind to turn and run away. When I opened the car door, Mila continued screaming and tearing at her hair. I reached inside and pulled her to me. “Shh, it’s all right. It’s me, Kellan.”

My words did nothing to soothe her. She continued wailing while kicking and thrashing against me. I quickly ushered her to the room, which was on the ground floor only a few feet from the car.

When I got her inside, I deposited her on the bed. She rolled into a fetal position and kept crying loudly. I knew if she continued that we would be kicked out or draw more attention. I was also concerned about her mental health.

Since I didn’t have anything on me to sedate her, I was left with a less desirable option. With extreme regret, I put my index and middle finger together before bringing them to her neck. As I pushed them into the pressure point, Mila’s cries choked off. When I pushed harder, she went limp on the bed.

Easing back, I felt like a complete and total bastard for knocking her out. At least she was at peace now. I just didn’t know for how long.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN: MILA

Rough hands skimmed over my body. They grabbed at my breasts and shoved between my legs. Pain radiated through me. A harsh voice whispered in my ear,“I’m going to fuck you until you bleed all over my cock!”

“No!” I screamed as I shot up in the bed. My body convulsed as I fought to breathe. I gulped down desperate breaths. At the feel of arms encasing me, I began thrashing against the arms around me.

Then a voice cut through my panic. “Easy, now. You’re okay. You’re safe.”

I froze. I knew that voice. Was he really here? Oh God, please let him be here.

The back of his hand rubbed against my cheek. “As long as I have a breath in me, no one will ever hurt you again.”

My eyes flew open. I was in a bedroom. As my eyelids fluttered to clear my vision, I realized it wasn’t a bedroom–it was a hotel room.

I realized then I was in Kellan’s arms in the bed.

But then the events with Brian ricocheted like gunfire through my mind. Bile shot into my throat, and I sprinted from the bed to the bathroom. I barely made it to the toilet before I vomited. Over and over again, I violently heaved.

When I finally finished, I collapsed onto the tile. Too weak to raise my head, I began to weep. Kellan’s feet came into my line of sight. After he squatted down beside me, he pressed a cool washcloth against my face. “I’m so sorry,a mhurnin.”

At him calling me darling again, I began to sob even harder. Oh God, how did it come to this? I’d been saved by the man who should’ve hated me. For what I had done to him, he had every right to leave me there.