Page 5 of Scarred in Silence (The Twisted Trilogy #2)

Lucien

I stand in the spare room, leaning against the wall.

The room is covered in old floral wallpaper, and the air is stale.

This abandoned home is situated farther back on my property, which I purchased when I decided to relocate to a more rural area.

It has a bunker room underneath the spare room.

That’s where I will be keeping my little Siren.

She has no idea where she is, or that this is one of my properties. She doesn’t know where to go, even if she manages to escape. But she won’t.

I hear the sound of metal chains scraping against concrete, which is my signal that she has woken up.

Creeping into the adjacent room, I grab a bag of food I got for her. She looked deathly when I saw her standing in the ocean, and even worse when I got her onto shore. She looks like she has probably lost 30 pounds in just three months.

Striding back into the room, I lift the door that leads into the bunker. I grab the ladder and anchor it in place. I climb down the metal ladder, carrying her food.

I reach the bottom and turn to face her. She lies in the bed, curled up with the sheets tucked in around her. Her pouty lips are parted slightly, eyes closed softly. Fuck.

My cock twitches in my pants. I’ve been fantasizing about her perfect mouth for months. I miss how good my little whore is at sucking my dick.

I place the bag next to her bed and walk over to the wall across from it, leaning against it and crossing my ankles. I could watch her sleep all fucking day, but I have things to do today.

“Wake up. I know you aren’t sleeping.” My voice is cold.

Her eyes spring open quickly, almost as if she weren’t actually sleeping. Who would’ve guessed?

“You need to eat.”

I nod to the bag on the ground next to her bed. Her eyebrows pinch together.

“No.”

I cock my head to the side. I push myself off the wall and stand before her.

“Did you forget who is in charge here?” My words come out as a threat.

She sits up in the bed, her long blonde hair wafting scents of honey. Fuck.

“Last time I checked, it’s you who needs me to live. Not the other way around.”

I place my hands on the foot of the bed, staring up into her glassy blue eyes. They looked lifeless last night, but today, they seem to have a fire burning deep within them.

“You will eat your fucking food.”

She casts her gaze down, bringing her knees to her chest.

“Why did you run?”

She looks up at me with a pleading expression. My Siren is hurt. She’s lost.

“Tell me. I need to know.”

“I… I just wanted… to be free…” Her glassy eyes fill with water, not letting anything spill over her soft lashes.

I move to sit next to her on the bed. My thumb runs over her bottom lip, and her breath catches. Such a fucking whore.

I lean forward, letting my lips come centimeters from hers.

“You will never be free,” I whisper.

She presses her eyes shut and pushes me away from her. I chuckle as I stand at the base of the ladder. She thinks she can seduce me into letting her go. She’s fucking crazy. Astra will always be loyal to me. It’s time she accepts it.

“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 can finally 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.

“Yes.”

He nods.

“Great. I’ll send you the Power of Attorney Document.”

I look at him, pinching my brows together.

“She’s 22 years old. Why would I need that?”

“She didn’t tell you?” He chuckles to himself.

“She tried to kill herself several times in high school. I have been her power of attorney ever since. She isn’t capable of making medical decisions for herself.

She’s too reckless. She never even tried to challenge it.

She was either too strung out or scared to do so.

I’m willing to hand it over to you and have her last name changed.

I’m done spending all my time and money protecting my reputation for that delinquent child. ”

My mouth dries. He would hand her over so easily. Fury settles in my bones.

I guess I didn’t realize how much her parents hate her. They want to control everything about her so that she doesn’t ruin their reputation. Isn’t that what you’re doing? No.

I want to control her because she is mine. I want her to fight me. I want my little Siren to be reckless, but loyal. She can be anyone she wants to be, except for somebody’s fucking whore. Only mine.

“Deal.”

I stand and shake his hand.

“I hope you know what the Hell you just signed up for.”

“I’ll help her. She will be a new woman by the time I’m through with her.” I flash him a smile, and he chuckles in response.

I exit the house and inhale the scent of pine trees. My little whore is going to be so pissed off when she hears the news. And I couldn’t be happier.

I slide on my helmet and speed onto the street. I have one more stop to make before I return to my newest possession.

She has always belonged to me, but now it will be in writing.

* * *

“So he just gave you legal rights over her?”

Dante sits across from me, looking confused as Hell.

“Yes. He didn’t give a fuck.”

He nods as he takes a drink of water. I snap my head towards the door frame as Evelyn and Harmony appear from the hall.

“Hey,” she says quietly.

I nod at her.

“Is she okay?”

I smirk to myself. Okay? Yes. Happy? Absolutely not.

“Yeah, she’s fine.”

She smiles as she squeals with excitement. She rushes over to me and wraps her arms around me. Dante clears his throat, and she quickly removes herself.

“Um… sorry… I was just worried about her. Thank you.” She smiles at me as she goes to sit down on Dante’s lap. Harmony stays fixed, leaning against the doorway.

“Can we see her?” Harmony asks quietly.

“No.”

Evelyn’s expression changes from joy to question. I can’t let them see her. She isn’t ready yet. She needs to understand that I am the only one who can save her from herself.

“Why?” Harmony asks.

“She’s not ready. She needs time.”

“Time for what? She left us, she needs to know that people care about her!” Harmony walks into the room, crossing her arms over her chest.

I stand and tower over her.

“No. What she needs is me.”

Harmony backs up slightly, and Evelyn stays quiet. She knows not to get in between us, unlike Harmony.

I step closer to Harmony, letting her feel my presence as a threat.

“If you try to see her, I will fucking destroy you.”

She nods, swallowing the lump lodged in her throat. I back away and nod to Dante.

“We’ll talk soon,” he calls out.

I walk down the hallway with determination. I will destroy anyone who interferes with my perfect plan.

* * *

The stale air hits my nostrils as I carry Astra’s lunch to her. She ne eds to eat. I checked the cameras, and she dumped all of her soup into the toilet. Fucking bitch.

All I do is try to provide for her. She’s ungrateful. That’s probably why her parents hate her. She would rather have fucking drugs than food. Pathetic.

I open the door and drop down the ladder. Slowly, I climb down into the cell.

“Go away.”

I smirk to myself. She will have to try a lot harder to get rid of me.

“Mmm—No.” I spin around and see her sitting on the bed, rolling her eyes at me. I place the bag in the same spot I did before, and I sit on the other side of her bed. She stares at me, studying my every movement.

“I talked to Gideon.” My tone is dry.

She snarls at me.

“He doesn’t want you.”

She traces a cut on the inside of her thigh. She used to cut herself in high school, and now, when she is stressed, she traces over the scars.

“Why are you telling me this…”

“Because.” I stand and make my way over to where she is settled on the mattress. I place one hand on either side of her, looking deep into the depths of her soul.

“I do want you.”

Her breathing hitches at my admission. Her chest rises and falls evenly, but quicker than before.

“Do you remember who you belong to… my little Siren?”

I move my hand onto her leg, and she swallows thickly. I guide my hand up between her legs and press against the bare skin. Fuck. I forgot she can’t wear any underwear with the chains I placed around her ankles.

I lick my lips as I rub her swollen clit gently with my thumb. I glide my fingers down her folds, coating them in her arousal. I drag them back up, spreading it all over her sweet pussy.

“Do you remember?” I whisper as I stare into her eyes.

“Y-yes,” she says in a breathy moan.

I pull my fingers off of her and lick them clean. So fucking sweet.

“Good.”

I turn around and stop at the bottom of the ladder.

“Eat your lunch. Only good girls get rewarded.”

I creep up the ladder and remove it from the cell. She better eat her fucking lunch because I can barely hold myself together. Her attitude needs a fucking adjustment.

Closing the door, I open up my phone and watch the camera feed. I sit down on the floor above her as I watch.

She has her legs spread wide open. Her fingers dipping softly into herself. She pulls them out and starts rubbing her clit faster. Fuck. I tip the ladder over, letting it crash onto the ground above her. She jumps.

“Fucking stop!” I yell out above the floor.

I watch her as she scans the room, searching for the camera. She spots one and approaches it, as if she owns the place. Fucking Hell.

She removes her shirt, revealing her perfect tits, and she drapes the shirt over the camera. I would make a big deal out of it, but there are others.

I switch camera views and watch her as she returns to the bed. Only this time, she doesn’t continue what she was doing before. She picks up her bag of food.

Good girl.

* * *

I’m actually surprised that she ate all of her lunch and attempted to eat all of her dinner. I added a slice of cheesecake to her dinner as a reward for eating her lunch.

I really wanted to reward her in other ways, but she’s not ready yet. She would still fuck anyone if it meant getting out of the cell and getting back to her precious drugs.

That’s not going to fucking happen. I will be the only thing she will beg for.

I watch her on the cameras as I scroll through the documents her father sent over. He sent me the Power of Attorney paperwork, as well as the Marriage Certificate. He forged her signature on it.

I read everything carefully and email him back. Letting him know I will meet him at the notary on Friday.

My phone rings on my desk, interrupting the camera feed.

“What’s up?”

“We need to do a run on Thursday. A couple of hours north,” Dante says calmly.

“Can it wait until next week?”

“No.” His tone shifts into a stern tone.

“Ronan and Jared can’t go?”

“They are coming with us. It’s a new client. Something feels off about it, though.”

“What feels off?” I ask.

“The name and address they gave me sound familiar.”

“And?”

He pauses.

“I think it is where I found Destiny…”

Fuck. Dante’s sister died after being sold into sex trafficking. He sho wed up too late.

“I’ll be there.” I don’t hesitate. If any of the fuckers are there I’ll take them out with him.

“Thanks. Oh, and how is your fucking prisoner doing?”

I roll my eyes.

“Good. She will adapt sooner rather than later. I have a plan.”

Dante chuckles on the other end of the phone.

“Let’s hope this one works out.”

“It will. See you Thursday.”

I end the call, opening up the live feed once more.

My Siren sleeps curled up on the bed. Astra is so peaceful when she sleeps. She will never leave me. She won’t have a choice.