Page 16 of Beautifully Shattered (Secrets & Scars #3)

Wendy scoffs. “You think he kept me alive for you ?” She shakes her head slowly, a bitter smile twisting her sunken face. “If that’s what he told you, then he was lying. He kept me alive for himself . I told you. He likes his sex violent. But you wouldn’t listen.”

She pushes herself up with effort, her legs trembling beneath her. Her naked flesh clings to her bones, every rib visible. Every joint too sharp. She’s malnourished. And broken.

But not broken enough.

“He kept me alive so he could fuck me like this .” She gestures to her frail, ruined body, and I frown before I can stop myself, her eyes flaring with victory.

But I’m not buying her bullshit.

“More lies,” I deadpan, and she laughs manically, the high-pitched sound grating on my nerves like nails running down a chalkboard.

I know that laugh, though. The unhinged sound used to throw off your enemy.

It’s the same one I used at the chapel, when my mum and Minister Banes thought they were going to force me to marry Daniel.

That kind of laugh isn’t about joy. It’s pure madness wrapped in defiance.

“How can you be sure?” she snarls at me, and it really shocks me that she has the audacity to continue with her twisted charade. “You hardly know him. You’ve got no idea who the man is that you married. ”

That hits a nerve.

Not because I believe her. But because I’ve asked myself that exact question before.

Do I really know Ringo?

Still, I know better. She’s baiting me.

I’ve seen Ringo with Jols. With his mates. With his club. Hell, I’ve witnessed his mum tear shreds off him while he just took it.

Ringo is a monster, but not the kind she’s trying to paint.

“You just couldn’t handle it, could you?

” I cross my arms over my chest, smirking at the bitch.

“He chose me . After all those years you begged for his attention, and he barely even looked at you. Then out of nowhere, he claimed me .” I shrug, like it’s no big deal.

“Guess your dirty cunt wasn’t as good as you thought it was. ”

Her mouth drops open in a gasp, eyes wide in disbelief. Probably because I’ve never spoken like this to her before.

Maybe I should have.

Then, she starts screeching like a banshee, yanking on the chains and fighting against them like a rabid animal, while I start laughing.

The sound of her breaking is like music to my ears.

“Just admit it, Wendy. You fucked up. You got sent away. Banished from this chapter, and your bruised ego couldn’t take it. So you decided to take me out of the picture.”

She bares her teeth at me, pure hatred dripping from her glare.

“Why won’t you just die, you fucking cow! You’re not good enough for him or this club! You’re worthless, used-up trash!” She seethes, spittle flying from her cracked lips. “I did Ringo a favour ! He didn’t want to raise another man’s kid! And now he doesn’t have to!”

I snap.

Spinning on my heel, I storm to the table by the door, my hands closing around a pair of spiked knuckledusters. I don’t hesitate, sliding them on as I turn back to face her.

“Say it again, bitch.”

Wendy’s eyes gleam with malice. She knows exactly what she’s doing. She knows exactly how to get under my skin.

But fuck her. How dare she speak about Bobbi’s death like it was a blessing.

She snickers, eyeing the flash of metal shielding my knuckles. “Now he doesn’t have to raise someone else’s kid!”

“And why is that?” I urge, needing to hear the words no mother wants to hear. But I need them. I need her to say it so I can finally let go and unleash my pain on her.

The moment her lips part, I know she’s going to give me exactly what I need.

“BECAUSE YOUR BABY IS DEAD!”

Red. Hot. Rage.

It bursts from me. Violent. Pure. And unrelenting.

I hardly realise I’ve moved before I launch myself at her. One second I’m standing over her, the next I’m on her, my fists flying, the spikes biting into her skin as I swing at anything I can reach.

I’ve never fought anyone like this before. Never even been taught how to throw a punch. But it doesn’t matter. It’s nothing but raw instinct right now, and I give in to its pull on me to swing hard. Faster.

Each blow lands heavy, fuelled by grief and fury, shredding her arms, her chest, her face, any part of her I can get to as she screams and thrashes beneath me.

When she tumbles to the floor, I go with her, straddling her bleeding and broken body, my fists never stopping.

Her blood coats my fists, warm and sticky, but still, I don’t stop.

I can’t.

I pound the spikes into her until her struggles weaken. Until her screams fade into whimpers. Yet still… I’m not done.

Animalistic screams fill the room, and it takes me a beat to realise it’s coming from me . But still, I don’t stop.

My eyes are trained on Wendy, watching as her skin splits with each blow, her blood spraying across my face, dripping from my chin as I tear her apart.

“ABBEY! STOP!”

The roar slices through my frenzy, and I jerk upright, chest heaving as I turn and hiss, baring my teeth at my husband as he stops dead in his tracks, just inside the doorway.

His eyes lock on my blood-coated fists, and the spiked knuckledusters that now look like they’re a part of me since no skin or metal can be seen.

Only blood.

“Fuck,” someone mutters behind him, probably JD, but I don’t look away from Ringo.

“She’s mine ,” I growl, like a wolf snarling over its kill.

Every part of me is wound tight, ready to pounce again if anyone so much as tries to take this from me .

“She’s nearly gone, Angel,” he says carefully, holding his hands out in front of him like he’s trying to tame a beast. “Let me finish it. You don’t want to carry that.”

My husband is a beautiful monster, made up of sharp lines, rough edges, and so much lethal control simmering beneath the surface.

I know he could put me down in an instant. But still, I shake my head.

“No!” I snap. “I need this, Cameron. Her death is mine .”

My voice doesn’t sound human anymore. It’s husky, and primal, laced with savagery I didn’t know I had in me.

“I don’t want you to carry that burden, Abbey.” His voice softens even though his eyes are still hard as they pin me in place. “You think you want it now, but later… it’ll eat you alive.”

“I appreciate your concern, but this isn’t up to you, husband.” I bite back, and Ringo exhales hard, running a hand through his hair.

Then he turns to JD. “I’m gonna need your help, man.”

Help?

My stomach drops.

He wouldn’t… would he ?

Shit. They’re going to overpower me. I can see it in their eyes. Two men with strength I can’t outmatch even if I tried. They’re going to take this from me. Take what’s rightfully mine.

I don’t even think. I react.

The moment Ringo turns his back on me again, I lunge forward, my fingers curl around the grip of his gun, yanking it from the back of his pants before he even registers what’s happening.

By the time he spins, eyes wide, I’ve already got the gun pointed at him .

“Her death is mine. Now get out of my way.”

“You seriously pointing my gun at me, wife ?” he snarls, his lip curling with rage.

“You can punish me later,” I snap, barely hearing Wendy’s blood-soaked gurgles behind me. “Just move out of my way.”

“Punishing you later is a fucking understatement , Angel. You sure you wanna push me on this?”

“Never been more sure of anything in my life.”

We stare at each other for a long beat, neither of us flinching, the heat between us laced with danger.

Then JD clears his throat. “Ringo, man… she’s right. It’s her call. If she hates herself later, that’s on her.”

I raise a brow at my husband. A silent challenge, and he snarls again, jabbing a finger in my direction.

“I’m trying to save you.”

“I don’t need saving. Not anymore .”

“Yeah,” he scoffs bitterly. “That’s what I’m fucking afraid of.”

“Riiingoooo… helppp…”

I spin, hearing Wendy’s gargled voice, her eyes barely cracked as she tries to reach for him.

I stomp on her hand.

Hard!

A sickening crunch follows, and her scream dies in her throat, choked off by her own blood.

“Don’t fucking speak to my husband !” I scream, my voice ripping through the room so loud, I almost don’t hear the fast footsteps coming my way.

I spin just in time, gun up in an instant, aimed right at Ringo.

He skids to a stop, freezing in place, surprise flickering over his expression at being caught attempting to take me down .

“Stop!” I yell, angry tears bursting from my eyes. “Whose side are you on?!”

“Yours, Angel. Fuck . Always yours .” His voice breaks, laced with pain, and I know I’m the one that put it there.

I swipe at my face, nearly grazing my cheek on the spiked knuckles, smearing more of Wendy’s blood across my skin.

“ JD !” I bark, not taking my eyes off Ringo. “Unchain her.”

JD hesitates, but only for a moment before he slowly and carefully moves past Ringo, giving me a wide berth as he heads for Wendy. Then I hear the clink of the chains, and the sound of metal against metal as he does what I asked.

“What are you doing, Angel?” Ringo asks gently, his hands raised again, like I’m a wild creature he doesn’t want to spook.

I guess I am the beast in this story.

“Vengeance,” I snap. “Justice. Call it whatever you want.”

Behind me, the chains hit the concrete floor with a heavy clatter, and I know Wendy is now free.

Such a pity she’s in no state to run.

Glancing over my shoulder, I eye JD closely, ready to turn on him too, if I have to. But he just gives me a nod and backs away, leaving Wendy sprawled in a slick pool of her own blood.

“Leave,” I tell Ringo, but he shakes his head.

“Nope.”

I huff, frustrated, but not surprised. “Fine. But don’t touch me. Don’t try to stop me.”

He holds his hands up in surrender, but his jaw is tight, and his eyes stormy. He hates this. Every second of it.

For a moment I wonder if this is it.

The moment he stops loving me .

The moment he realises I’m too far gone. That I’m not worth the trouble.

“ Help… ” Wendy’s gurgled plea floats up to us, and I spin, dropping to my knees, gun still in my left hand as I slam another flesh-tearing punch into her already mangled face with my right.

Ringo and JD curse behind me, but they don’t move. Not when I stand, my fists bloodied, and start dragging Wendy’s limp body across the floor.

Not even when I grab her under the arms and start hauling her up the stairs.

My lungs burn, and muscles scream from the effort, and fuck, my gut aches, a round of cramps clawing at me, reminding me that my little girl is no longer growing inside me.

I drop Wendy at least half a dozen times, cursing myself, because shit… I didn’t think this through.

I’m not strong. Not like this. Maybe it’s the adrenaline making my muscles work harder.

Or maybe it’s the weight she’s lost, making her lighter.

But eventually, I get her to the top of the stairs, dropping her with a thud as I heave in air, staring down the stairs at Ringo and JD at the bottom, staring up at me like I’m something holy. Or monstrous.

Probably the latter.

“ Please… Don’t… ” Wendy starts to beg, weakly struggling as I lift under her arms again, and drag her across the filthy floor of the shipping container.

She’s too weak to put up a fight, still, I punch her again, just to shut her up.

“Shut up,” I snarl, dragging her again. “You don’t get to speak or beg for your shitty life.”

I kick the container doors open with one boot, the night air hitting me like a slap as I haul her out into the flood-lit yard with JD and Ringo slowly following.

“Do you think those men stopped raping me when I begged them to stop?” I hiss, dragging her through the gravelly sand, her skin scraping raw as her blood-soaked eyes blink up at me. “Do you think they cared when I fell and went into premature labour?”

Gasps ripple through the air like a wave, the Southern Sadists’ and Doxies’ attention now turning to me before the music cuts off, leaving only the sound of the crackling bonfire and Wendy’s gurgled breaths.

“Do you think anyone could save my daughter when I begged them to? Even when I begged a god I don’t believe in to save her instead of ME! ”

My scream echoes up into the night sky as I keep dragging her into the centre of the yard, beneath a tall light pole that illuminates us for everyone to see.

Then I let her go.

Her body hits the ground with a sick thud, her skull bouncing off the dirt.

“Maybe…” Wendy rasps, coughing, the sound horrid and wet, “maybe you deserve… everything you get.”

I scream again, pure unleashed fury ripping out of me.

Even now, knowing she’s about to die, Wendy can’t stop being a spiteful bitch.

I hit her again.

And again, blood spraying across the sandy ground, soaking in like a stain as tears stream from my eyes, hot and fast .

Then, I spin, facing everyone watching on. Their eyes wide. Their bodies frozen.

Including my husband.

“She’s responsible for their deaths!” I yell, my voice cracking as I jab a finger towards the row of motorcycles, and the eight leather vests. “And she’s responsible for the death of MY BABY!” I cry as the unbearable pain shatters my heart. “ Bobbi Cameron Musgrove! ”

They need to hear her name. I want the world to remember it. Remember her even though she never got a chance at life.

And then, I turn back to the woman who took it all from me, and lift the gun, aiming it at Wendy’s head.

“See you in Hell, bitch,” I sneer, before I pull the trigger.