Page 112 of Like An Animal

“Are you okay, baby?” Jeremy asks and I contemplate my answer for a moment. Jer knows about what I have had to experience in these walls…well, most of it anyway. However, I don’t think he can handle knowing what Isaac did to me as soon as we got here. At least not when we’re already in a high stress situation.

“Can’t complain, emo boy.”

A smirk pulls at his lips, but then Isaac lets out a loud laugh.

“Oh, my Lord. This is priceless! With all your free will and the freedom you gained with your escape from my clutches, darling, you chose to settle down with your step-brother? I shouldn’t be so surprised. You always did have a knack for being the sluttiest version of yourself.”

Isaac trails his blade along my neck, lightly nicking the skin. I jump from the sudden cut and Jeremy’s eyes narrow in on the move.

“Jer…” Xavi grabs his attention. “…this is Isaac and based on what he said, he thinks our Bron is his property.”

“Is that so?” Jeremy’s eyes darken, his brows dropping in anger. “Just the man we wanted to see.”

“Have you been talking about me, darling? I’m touched.”

My chest rises and falls with every sharp breath I take, feeling my anxiety spike, as I catch the sight of masked men lining up on the second level balcony overlooking the courtyard.

“I haven’t thought about you once.”

“Ah, ah, ah. Be careful. My hand might slip,” he threatens.

It has gone from Jer having the upper hand to it being even.

“Jer,” I gasp his name which gives me back his attention.

“It’s okay, baby. I’m gonna get you out of here.”

“Not likely. You see,thisis mine and I’ve taken her back. This knife will slice open her pretty neck if anyone makes a move on me. So I’m going to take my property and leave. You can do what you want with the rest of the place.”

“Notfuckinghappening.”

We’re at a stand off and the longer we stand here, the worse Jeremy’s odds get. He’s already outnumbered because they know this is where the leader of the ambush is.

“Jer.” I grab his attention and give him a bittersweet smile. “The only thing that matters is making sure Charlotte never has to go through what we went through. All that matters anymore is keeping her safe. She actually has a chance.Youneed to keep her safe, okay?”

I know he won’t understand why I’m telling him something he already knows. We’ve discussed it plenty of times. It’s one thing we can agree on.

His eyes narrow with confusion as I turn my eyes to Xavi, who is just as puzzled.

“Make sure he gets back to her, okay?”

Then, I do the one thing no one could possibly expect out of me. Leaning forward, I press my neck against the knife and pull on Isaac’s wrist, feeling the blade tear through my flesh.

CHAPTER 46

THE SHADOW

The second I see her hands grab onto his forearm attached to the arm holding the knife, it clicks.

Her plan.

And all of the warmth leaves my body, replaced with a bone-chilling freeze.

She drags the blade against her throat and before I have the chance to scream at her to stop, blood squirts from her throat. The moment it starts, the fucker drops the knife and lets her go.

“No!” I scream at the same second he bellows, “What the fuck!”

Before she hits the ground, she has her dress bunched up in her hands, pressing it against the wound.