Page 8 of Scarred in Silence (The Twisted Trilogy #2)

Lucien

It’s Wednesday morning, and I’m on edge. After our conversation, I realized how delusional she is. She thinks she’s special. That used to be the case, but now, she’s nothing.

I stand in the shower, letting the scalding water sear my skin. Fuck. The burn feels so good. I let it wash the irritating thoughts from my brain.

How can she sit there and act like she did no wrong? She left me and then pimped herself out. What the fuck?

I still have a plan, though, and we will see just how loyal she is to me after that. I still don’t trust the bitch. The second I turn my back on her, she will stab me. That’s what she always does.

She has kept Evelyn as her friend all these years. Even though she has treated her like shit, it’s because Evelyn is empathetic. She cares. She is gentle. Astra isn’t. Evelyn is the calm before the storm, and Astra is the storm.

I turn off the water and step out onto the cold tile floor. A chill runs through my body. I grab a clean towel out of my towel warmer. The warmth calms my nerves. I’ve been using the sa me soap as my little Siren. Honey-scented.

She infiltrates every part of my being. I hate the fucking slut, but I crave her. I want to remind her of why she fucking belongs to me.

I slip on my black jeans, pairing them with a fitted navy t-shirt, and my black combat boots.

I open up the live feed on my phone and see that she is lying on the floor, looking up into the light. She is just staring at it like she’s lost her goddamn mind. She is lying right where the ladder would fall if I put it down into the cell.

She has always been so reckless, but that’s what I love about her. I love the chaos that she brings.

I slip my phone into my back pocket, and I grab her breakfast from my counter. I stride out the front door, and I am greeted by an unlikely suspect. Evelyn.

“Hi… Sorry… I just wanted to drop these off to Astra…”

She holds out a couple of letters. I take them swiftly, glaring at her.

I said only, “Thanks.”

“Is she doing okay?”

“Yeah. She’s fine.”

She nods, casting her glance down onto the ground.

“Okay… Thanks.”

She turns to leave, but I stop her.

“You know, I’m doing what’s best for her.”

She nods and continues her walk to her car.

I wait for her to pull away. What the fuck was that about? She thinks she can show up here unannounced and just go behind my back to tell her shit? I will know what Evelyn has to say to her. I don’t need her feeding Astra lies.

I head back inside, tossing the letters on the edge of the table before I head down to the abandoned shack of a house that harbors my little whore.

* * *

I open the door and peer down at her, lying there, staring at me through the opening. I could tell her to move, but what’s the point?

I dangle the bag over the opening, to the side of where she lies. I drop it down and she startles.

“What the fuck!” She yells.

“You watched me do it,” I reply.

She looks around as if she is confused. Was she sleeping? With her eyes open?

“I—I….”

I step back from the opening, not caring to listen to her ramble about how I’m an asshole.

“Wait!” she calls up to me.

I pause, not going back over to the door.

“Come down here… Please…”

I hesitate. Is this a fucking trap?

“Why?”

“Because… I haven’t had a chance to talk to anyone… I want to eat my breakfast with you.”

“I can sit right here. Talk away.”

She whines.

“Will you please just come down here?”

I roll my eyes. Fuck.

“Fine. You have twenty minutes.”

I put the ladder down and make my descent.

She sits o n the bed with her breakfast bag. She appears to have gained a pound or two, which is a good sign.

I lean against the wall and watch her eat. She picks at her bagel, looking at me between bites. Somehow, she is making this weird.

“You wanted me to watch you eat?”

She shrugs her shoulders, as if it doesn’t bother her.

I roll my eyes and go to walk up the ladder, but the rattling of chains stops me.

“Please wait… I need to talk to you.”

I stop and turn to face her. She now stands in front of me with her arms crossed and her eyes search mine for answers.

“About what?”

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry that I ran… I’m sorry that I sold my body to other men. You know that I have always wanted you… It’s always been you.”

I search her eyes for any signs of doubt, but I don’t see any. She looks genuine in this moment. I know she is suffering from withdrawals, so that could cloud her judgment still. I bring my hand up and tuck her hair behind her ear. Her full lips part, and she licks her lips. Fuck me.

“You know… I cheated on you so many times.”

She swallows thickly.

“I-I know…”

“Why did you forgive me?”

She casts her eyes down at my chest, unable to hold my gaze.

“Fucking look at me!”

She looks up into my eyes, her eyes glassy.

“Why did you come back to me?”

“Because.. I’m a whore…”

I hold back the smirk that wants to form on my lips.

“Yes. You are. You’re my fucking whore.”

I snake my hand around her hair and fist it, forcing her head back, exposing her fragile neck.

“I’ve missed you, little Siren.” I sink my teeth into her neck and she moans. Fuck.

My cock swells in my jeans. Her hands lace around my neck, and I pull back from her neck, staring deep into her glacier-colored eyes.

I crash my mouth to hers. Fuck, she tastes so sweet. I can taste the spearmint toothpaste as I bite onto her bottom lip. A familiar metallic taste blossoms in my mouth as I suck on her lip. She moans into my mouth. I release her hair, and my hand travels to her neck. Squeezing slightly.

She releases her hands from my neck and runs them down my back. Fuck, I have missed her touch. Her hand finds my back pocket, and I shove her off of me. She falls down against the concrete floor, the sound of chains scraping the concrete bouncing off the walls. Fucking bitch.

“You thought you could fucking trick me?”

She looks at me as if she is fucking terrified. She should be. I’m seeing fucking red. “You really are a whore, aren’t you? You thought you could take my phone?” My laugh booms throughout the cell.

“News flash, Astra. Nobody is coming to save you. I am your fucking savior. DO YOU HEAR ME!” I scream at her. I’m about to fucking lose it.

She nods her head, covering her ears. I know screaming makes her want to crawl out of her skin, and I wouldn’t normally do that to her, but she left me with no choice.

I climb up the ladder, removing it from the cell, and I slam the do or shut.

She can fucking rot in there for all I care. She thought she could manipulate me? She does not know what is coming for her.