Page 112 of Retribution

The next thing I know I'm being carried in someone's arms down the hall. There are whispers, then I hear the elevator music and we're upstairs in the suite.

They’re talking to each other in urgent, hushed voices, and then someone’s pulling at my clothes.

Terrified they’ll see the Stinger, I struggle and my eyes fly open.

'Stop,' I gasp.

Blake, Shade, and Mav are around me, looking concerned. I even see Sauvage off to the side a little further back with his eyes trained on me.

'What the hell is going on?' Shade snarls.

I close my eyes and try not to burst into tears.

I have to show them. I'm not going to be able to get out of this now. Why did I think I’d be able to deal with this myself, that they’d never find out?

I look away from them and unfasten my pants, asking Mav to pull them down. He’s confused, but he does as I say, and the Stinger comes into view.

Shame courses through me as they stare at it, my deepest secrets laid bare to them.

'What is that thing?' Mav asks quietly.

'He had it made and put it on me when I wouldn't do what I was told,' I say miserably.

‘Banderville?’ He shakes his head. 'I don't get it. What is it? A tracker? What does it do?'

Blake rises quickly, his fists clenching hard at his sides. 'It shocks her, doesn't it, sweetheart?'

BLAKE

She’s surprised. Speechless.

She stares at me in question, fear, anger, and shame warring in her eyes. It breaks me. What have they done to my fierce, strong girl?

‘I saw something similar down a rabbit hole when I was researching your diagnosis,’ say to her quietly before I raise my voice for the group to hear. ‘They’re considered a method of torture. Their use on patients is outlawed by the Geneva Convention, but private hospitals can still use them for…punishments.’

I take her hand gently. ‘Gorgeous, I’m so sorry they did this to you.’

Daisy opens her mouth to speak, but no words come out. She looks away, her cheeks red. I glance back at the French fuck who’s intruding on this moment.

‘Leave,’ I say softly.

Sauvage doesn't quibble, and I almost like him for a second. He gives a solemn nod and exits the room.

I don't speak again until I hear the elevator doors close.

Time to get some answers.

‘We assumed all this time that the place you were in in England was like a health spa,’ I say.

My eyes bore into hers.

‘But it wasn't, was it, baby?’ I ask gently.

She shakes her head a little bit, and I'm surprised when she's able to speak because I can tell how upset she is.

'No,' she whispers. 'I wore one of these for ten years. It rarely came off.'

'Why?' Shade snarls and I elbow him surreptitiously because she's finally opening up, and I don't want him to ruin it.