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“No. She asked Lucian to set this up,” I say idly.
“That still doesn’t explain why you’re here,” he grinds out. “I’m pretty sure she didn’t have Lucian set it up with you specifically.”
“Just let me go,” Cleo whines, and her words take Talon’s attention off of me as he quickly moves back over to her. I watch without a word as he removes her blindfold.
“It’s okay, Cleo. I’m right here,” he says.
As I watch Cleo take comfort in my brother’s presence, regret crashes into me. I’ve had this all wrong from the beginning, only making matters worse the more I’m around her. With all the pain and trauma I’ve caused her, I’m no better than my father.
Maybe she’d be better off without me, after all.
CLEO
Ican’t stop the sobs that wrack my body as Talon removes the dildo from my ass as gently as he can. Splintering pain robs me of my breath, and I can’t even remember a moment in which I wished for death as much as I do right now. I just want to get out of here and drown myself in something that’ll take the pain away and make me temporarily forget what happened here.
“I’m so sorry I didn’t get here sooner, Cleo,” Talon murmurs. I know he’s trying to comfort me, but the words do little for the pain seizing my body. He directs a pointed glare at this brother. “How about you come over here and help me get her off of here instead of standing there being stuck on stupid?” My wrists and ankles are raw and red from the rope. My shoulders are stiff and achy, and my entire body hurts. All I can do is fall to my knees on the floor and cry.
Talon offers me his good arm, and I gratefully take it, noticing how he winces a little when I accidentally bump against his other arm that sits in a sling. He murmurs soft apologies as he helps me get dressed while Tristan only stands there as if he’s in a daze. I’m sure he’s still trying to process what I’ve told him,as the bewildered look is on his face. It’s not until Talon steers me toward the door when Tristan blinks and finally notices us.
“Where are you going?” he asks.
“That isn’t your concern,” Talon snaps as he leads me out of the room.
I try to keep myself composed long enough to walk through the club. I can only imagine how I look with all the shocked expressions on the faces we pass on our way out. He takes me to his car and at this point, I don’t even care where he takes me as long as it’s far away from this club.
“Do you want to go to the hospital?” he asks once he’s in the driver’s seat.
“And tell them what?” I sniffle. “Considering that I’ve already been in the ER once because of Tristan, I’m sure a second time is going to raise red flags.”
Talon nods his understanding and starts the car. I wrap my arms around myself and try to concentrate on anything other than how painful it is to sit. I nearly want to jump out of my skin when I realize he’s taking me to their house, as I know it’s only a matter of time before Tristan gets here as well.
As if sensing my discomfort, Talon puts a hand on my knee. “You’ll be fine here. I can promise you that.”
He helps me out of the car and takes me into the house, helping me get settled on the couch. I wince in pain, opting to lie across the couch on my stomach instead. Talon crouches down next to me and runs his fingers through my hair.
“I’m so sorry, Cleo.” He shakes his head and sighs. “This shouldn’t have happened.”
“It was either that or a stranger. I was bound to leave in pain, no matter who it was.”
His jaw tightens at my words. “I’ll be right back,” he says. I close my eyes when he walks away. Even the fabric of my clothes rubbing against me is excruciating, and I’m almost tempted tostrip out of them just to find some relief. Talon reappears next to me, holding out his hand. “Come with me.”
“Do I have to?”
“I have something that’ll help with your pain.”
“Can’t you bring it to me?”
“I think a tub full of water would be a bit hard to move,” he jokes, trying to break up the somber mood, but I’m in no mood to laugh.
I force myself back up to my feet, grateful at the thought of soaking some of this pain away. I follow Talon into the bathroom to see that he’s run a bubble bath for me. He helps me out of my clothes and allows me to hold onto his good arm to ease into the water. It stings when I first try to sit, but soon the hot water is comforting to my aching body.
“Thank you.” I breathe.
“Of course. It’ll help with the bruising and some of the superficial pain.”
I look at him and frown. “Are you going to come in?”
“I would, but…” He gestures to his arm. “I can’t get these bandages wet just yet.”
