Page 60 of His Deadly Devotion

“Put these on. Quick. We don’t have long.” He presses something into my hands. A pair of eyeglasses.

He must realize I can’t do it myself, that I can’t lift my arms high enough, because he takes the glasses back and slides them onto my face. I wince as they press against my cuts and bruises. But finally everything comes into focus. I can see.

“What are you doing here?” I hiss. “Where’s Connor? You have to help him.”

“Shh. We don’t have much time. Connor’s coming. You just have to hold on a little bit longer. Look around. Memorize the room,” Patty tells me.

I don’t think twice before I look around the concrete hell I’m trapped inside. There’s one door. A table pressed against the far wall, along with the whips these assholes have been using on me, and not much else. That’s it.

“Where is he?” I repeat. “Don’t let him in here. Don’t let him see me.” I refuse to look down at myself. It will only be worse if I can see the damage I’ve endured.

“I’m putting these under the mattress. When the time comes, you can get them.” Patty takes the glasses off my face and I’m thrust back into the darkness. I want to protest. I want to be able to see.

“He’s coming. He’ll be here soon,” Patty assures me. “Don’t let them win.” Then he presses something cold and metal into my palm. “Don’t use this until it’s time.”

“What is it?” I feel the object in my hand.

“A key, for the chains. Don’t use it until he’s here. You’ll know when it’s time,” Patty says cryptically. “Remember who you are.”

“I’m Aurora O’Malley,” I say quietly.

“What now?” Patty pauses. I can sense him stiffen.

“I’m Aurora O’Malley.” I don’t hesitate to tell him this time.

“You guys… You didn’t?”

“You told him to wife me up. He listened.” I smile, thinking back to our private vow exchange on the beach.

“Fuck,” Patty curses.

“What?”

“Nothing. Just… don’t let them find what I gave you. I have to go.” His footsteps move towards the door. And then I’m alone again.

I feel around for the edge of the mattress—thankfully, I can reach it—and shove the key underneath before anyone comes in and spots it. I’m grateful that Patty interrupted when he did, but I know it won’t be long until they’re back. So I lean against the wall and close my eyes.

I just have to wait. I’m getting out of here. I will get out, and I will slaughter every fucker dumb enough to touch me.

The sound of heels against the concrete floor wakes me. It’s how I know it’s the woman this time. The one who comes in and never talks. Just sits in front of me and feeds me soup. At first, I refused to eat it, then I caved. I need food. I need to keep my strength up as much as I can if I’m going to walk away from this.

I think about my dad, what he would tell me.Do whatever you have to do to survive.

I can almost hear his voice. Tears well up at the sides of my eyes. My parents must be going through hell. My entire family will be tearing the world upside down looking for me. I just hope no one gets hurt in the process. I want to be found, but not at the cost of any of their lives.

The woman stops. She smells like tea. It’s odd. I have no idea who she is, and even though she hasn’t touched me, I still want her dead. She’s part of the problem. She helps these assholes keep me here.

“You know, I thought you would have broken by now.” A thick, Irish accent cuts through the silence.

“You don’t know me,” I counter.

“Oh, but I do. I know your type. Rich, privileged,bitch,” she hisses.

“Who are you?” I ask. At first, I thought it might have been Connor’s mother, but the voice is different from the one I heard when I first woke up. And this woman is younger, much younger.

“Who I am doesn’t matter,” she says.

“It doesn’t. You’ll be dead soon enough anyway.” I smile and then stop when I feel my lips split open. They’re cracked, bloody, broken.