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Or, it can inspire them to rise…
Seeing Lynx for the last time, I couldn’t have been more grateful for the image that would forever be burned in my memory. That magnificent, leathered angel thundered as invisible wings grew, ready to take flight with his beautiful bike underneath him.
The sight was unreservedly glorious.
Even as I dabbed my bleeding lip, I had no regrets for the smile that caused my new injury. Soon enough, I’d be choking on tears. So, I held on to what little satisfaction I had against Jacopo—him now knowing my heart had been reawakened and freely given away.
Let him report that to his boss.
After landing on the roof of a hotel, the cool air of the night was welcomed. It helped me gather the needed strength to begin the process of shutting down my heart again. I knew it was going to be immensely challenging after Lynx had spurred it back to life.
Every heartbeat, from this moment forward, was one closer to the final goodbye to memories of the biker who had tried to save me.
If I’d had time, I would’ve told Lynx that he did save me. He reminded me there are things in life worth fighting for. That’s why I fought for him—his smile—and his animal spirit that would forever be a part of me now. Even knowing Lorenzo would break me all over again.
Without explanation, Jacopo grabbed my sore arm and led me from the helicopter and to an elevator, where I was to ‘stop sniffling so loud’. I hadn’t even realized I was crying.
Once the metal sliding doors reopened and I was guided to a hotel room door, I begged my heart to start shutting down sooner than later. If I were to go numb, maybe all Lorenzo’s future assaults wouldn’t hurt as bad. Maybe I could imagine Lynx’s smile and let my mind fade away.
The hotel room was the normal expensive kind with a living room and kitchen, so far from the dingy motels I now dearly missed. There was even a large Christmas tree perfectly placed in front of the impressive sliding glass doors. My shoulders shook as I cried as quietly as possible, thinking of an over-decorated old truck. I tried to swallow a sob at the memory of those beautiful voices singing carols with added curse words.
Oh, Lynx. Letting you go is going to hurt worse than any punishment.
Wincing in pain, I was suddenly being dragged to the bedroom. “I said stop that crying!” Jacopo stopped me at the end of the bed and jostled me. “Pick an outfit and fix yourself. You look like shit.”
The part of me that felt safe with Lynx wanted to say, Well, I recently had a barbaric surgery, courtesy of your boss’s animal tracker, but I wasn’t safe in the slightest. It was survival time. I was back in the presence of a past red light, so I kept my mouth shut. Trying to follow Dagger’s advice, I was going to do my best to avoid a collision.
On the king-sized bed were several pieces of expensive clothing and shoe boxes from stores I hated. My skin ran cold as I faced captivity again. These items were shackles and came at such a heavy cost to me. Lorenzo made me pay in unthinkable ways for material things I didn’t even want.
“What are you waiting for?” yelled Jacopo. “You haven’t been gone long enough to forget the rules!” This time, my right arm was snagged and pulled. I stumbled into the bathroom. “Do as you’re fucking told! We leave soon.”
I had no idea why we were leaving after just arriving, but as Jacopo mentioned, I knew the rules and didn’t dare ask. Plus, I was busy feeling my stomach plummet when I saw more items I was once forced to use daily unless in the dungeon. On the counter were makeup, hair products…
Not able to stop crying at my horrid fate, Jacopo was suddenly and aggressively in my face, so I backed up against the wall by the toilet. He sneered, “Tread carefully. I am exhausted and want this pointless search over with. You are not worth the time and effort, you biker whore.” Manic eyes warned me as he derided, “Lorenzo has been beside himself. You’ve made all our lives a living Hell.” He started ripping at the clothes Sweets had given me. “Get in the fucking shower or I will kill that Vice President my-damn-self!”
With shredded clothes hanging from my trembling body, I raised my hands. “Okay. Okay. I’m doing it.”
Years on the boat, in underground clubs, and during the rape at Devil’s Cave, this guard had seen my naked body in many positions, but that didn’t stop me from craving the privacy the Stallions had offered so willingly. Asking for discretion could have sparked another spout of outrage, so I turned around and finished undressing.
I did my best to muffle a whimper when the guard ripped the bandage from under my shoulder blade. “Do not get blood on your new clothes.”
It was almost shameful how obedient I was already becoming, but old habits can be hard to break. Especially when your life is on the line. “Can you call for some new bandages?”
“Not that you deserve them.” He started the shower and then left the bathroom.
I didn’t bother locking the door. That had never been a privilege of mine, nor one I wanted while with Lynx.
Once showered, my hair how Lorenzo preferred, silky straight with loose curls at the ends, and my split lip covered with makeup, I came out of the bathroom in a towel.
Lying on the bed, watching TV, Jacopo lazily gestured to a collection of bandages. “Pack leftovers and what you don’t wear in that bag. We’re headed back to Mississippi.”
It was dumb, but my mind suddenly hoped I was being returned to Lynx. That’s why I dared to ask, “Why?”
Jacopo lifted a brow. “Since when are your whereabouts any of your concern?”
Since certain men had treated me like a human.
Jacopo, eyeing my towel, sat up in bed. “Come here.”
