Page 160 of Savage Don

I understand how to rule the darkness now. Ray taught me.

It’s not enough just to escape. Everyone who has wronged you needs to pay as well.

“I never shut up about you,” Father says, and my bruised gut churns as I hear them share a disgusting wet kiss.

“You are such a sweetheart,” Sonia giggles, before turning her attention to me. “Let’s get this bag off of our pretty little zombie’s head. I want to see to see the look on her face when she hears about what I just did.”

I don’t have enough energy left in me to react to her dreadful taunts. What more could these two threaten me with?

I’m already almost shattered. If it wasn’t for the hope that Ray has managed to build up inside of me, I’d be nothing more than a husk already.

Without hope, I’d already be desperately trying to claw my eyes out—not that I be able to. My limbs are still tied tight.

But at least the bag comes off.

The moment that Sonia rips the thick black fabric from my face, I wish that she hadn’t. Even if it takes a moment for my vision to readjust, I’m still left with the worst sight imaginable.

Sonia and Father. They’re practically wrapped around each other; her hand on his lap and his arm around her shoulder.

The sight makes me even sicker than I already was.

“Come on, dear. Look at me,” Sonia taunts. Leaning forward, she digs one of her long, sharp nails into the bottom of my chin, and I don’t have the energy to resist as she forces my eyes off of the floor.

“That’s a good girl,” Father smirks, his cheek stained with Sonia’s blood red lipstick.

“I hate you…” I choke. But my voice is so faint that I hardly know if anything comes out at all.

“Guess who I just got off the phone with?” Sonia asks, her nail still digging into my tender skin.

“Fuck you,” I mumble.

“Not the smartest guess, but I figure you’re not the smartest girl, either. That must have been why you were so desperate to sneak off to school. But they can’t teach brains, honey. No. I wasn’t on the phone with ‘fuck you’,” Sonia grins. “I was on a video call with our precious Raymond.”

Just the mention of his name is like a shot of electricity to my fading pulse.

Ray.

He’s still out there. He loves me. He wrote it down and then crossed it out because he knows me.

And I know him. He’s coming for me.

He’ll save me, and I’ll tell him that I love him too. I’ll let it all out.

I love you, Ray Byrne.

You’ve made life worth living.

I just have to survive long enough to see you again.

“I hope he told you just how fucked you are,” I hiss. Inside of me, the darkness is being pierced by the light of an approaching star. Ray’s star.

It’s hope. Bright and sharp.

“He tried to,” Sonia says. “It was the last thing he ever did.”

I’m about to lash back at her when I realize what she just said.

The last thing he ever did…