Page 12 of Scarred in Silence

“I’ll be back.”

I climb up the ladder as her muffled cries echo behind me. When did she become so fucking soft?

I pull up the ladder and close the door, locking it in place. As badly as I want to remind her of who she fucks, I also need to make sure she doesn’t run again. No matter how much of a whore she is, she is my whore. I can’t fucking lose her like that again.

I won’t.

I grab my keys off the counter and shoot a text to Gideon Monroe.

She is safe. Ready to meet to discuss treatment?

I wait a few minutes before I get a text back.

Meet me in my office. 12 P.M.?

I need this to go smoothly. That way, no one will ask questions. I canfinally make her realize I am her only option. Her only savior.

I’ll be there.

The gravel crumbles beneath my boots as I get on my bike and rev the engine. My Yamaha MT-10 SP is the only thing that helps me clear my head these days. Hopefully, Astra will come around, and she can help me in other ways soon.

I take off up the gravel driveway and pass the main house, entering the roadway. It will take me two hours to get there, and it’s already 9:45 A.M.

I speed on the winding trails, thinking about what the fuck I’m going to tell her parents.

Fuck.

* * *

I pull up to Astra’s house, and my thoughts race. I place my helmet on the back of the bike and walk up the stone walkway to her front door. The cigar smoke infiltrates my lungs. I stride confidently into her father’s office to find him waiting there. Alone.

“Gideon.” I hold out my hand, and he shakes it in return.

“Lucien.” He nods.

“Is Verona joining us today?”

He chuckles to himself. Blowing out a smoke ring from his cigar.

“Not a chance.”

I should have figured. Verona hates Astra with a passion. I think she abused her as a kid, but I would never say it out loud.Something tells me that’s why my little Siren likes to act out the way she does.

“Well, in that case, I think we should discuss her future.”

Gideon’s head cocks to the side as he studies my calm expression.

“What future?” He laughs as he chokes on the cigar smoke.

I clench my jaw.

“Let me ask you something,” he says figuratively.

I nod.

“Do you want my daughter?”

I pause, taking in his words. I have no idea where the fuck he is going with this, but I sure as Hell don’t want him to give her away to anyone else. I am her only chance at saving herself.