Chapter Twenty-Two

Elise

Two Days Later

Voices drag me out of my sleep, but I can’t open my eyes just yet. It takes me a moment to focus on them.

“That is up to her,” Lucian says.

“How is she?” a man asks.

“She fell asleep around probably three in the morning and hasn’t really gotten up since. I wake her up every six hours or so. I have her use the restroom and drink some broth. She goes back to sleep immediately,” Lucian explains.

“You know how big of an ask this is, right? This isn’t just overlooking you beating the piss out of someone. This is forty-six people you want to kill.”

“I’m not telling you to pull the trigger, Clark,” Lucian says. “I’m just asking that you divert your investigation and we will handle it. Do you realize what they did to her? To all of those other women held captive there? They deserve far worse than prison. The only reason I’m coming to you about this is because I know you want them to pay. I know your sister was dragged into a cult like this and killed.”

“That’s not fair,” he says.

“It is. What happened to the guy who killed your sister, hmm? I bet he got exactly what the fuck he deserved. I’m just asking that you let me get my wife justice. There are forty-six men in that group, and all of them raped my wife. All of them. She is so bruised that she doesn’t have even an inch of skin on her back that isn’t black or purple. He branded her with his goddamn initials, Clark.”

“Okay,” he says. “Okay… but I want to know everything you do and when.”

“Just come with us,” Sheriff Donaldson says. “If this catches up with us, we get the same murder charges either way. May as well get to see the fuckers die. "If something happens… none of this comes back on her,” Lucian says. “I will not let her go to jail for this.”

“I will handle everything,” Clark says. “Just don’t make it messy.”

“Define messy,” Bradley laughs.

“Don’t open an artery or slit his throat. Just shoot him in the head. Quick and deserving,” Clark says.

“Fine. One shot to the head. All on plastic, and then we will burn the place to the ground,” he says.

“I can mark it up as a mass suicide,” Clark says. “When?”

“As soon as Elise can manage to stay awake for more than ten minutes at a time,” Bradley laughs.

“We have eyes on them,” Lucian says. “They are all holed up on the compound. No one has left and they are all indoors. They know she got away and got back to us, so they’re hiding.”

“Yes, but you all are nonviolent, and you aren’t extremists. They have no reason to suspect that you’d come after them,” Sheriff Donaldson says.

“Jake knows,” I mutter. “He knows Luci would kill for me.”

“Hey,” Lucian says softly. “How do you feel?”

“Like I was gang raped,” I say. “But better than before.”

“Good. Maybe we can get you to eat something today,” he says, helping me sit up. “Are you okay if I show them?”

“That’s fine,” I say. “My being silent doesn’t prevent others from being hurt in the future.”

Lucian assists me in gingerly pulling my shirt off. I don’t even care that my tits are out. Not having anything touch my back feels incredible comparatively. I fold myself over my lap and Lucian removes the bandages.

“Jesus Christ,” Clark says with a sigh.

“I don’t even know what to say, Elise,” Sheriff Donaldson says.

“Now imagine having every available hole battered with dicks for a total of what… Almost thirty hours?” I say.

“Her cervix is bruised significantly,” Lucian says. “She is damn lucky to not have any damage otherwise.”

“Mmm. Luckily for me, they used plenty of lube while they raped me. By the way… that’s a bitch to clean up. Forty plus men's worth of come plus me apparently shitting myself is hard to clean up after being whipped and branded as well,” I say with a snarky tone. My mood is sour because that fucker is still free, living his life.

“I’ll take care of him,” Lucian says with a promise in his tone and rage burning in his eyes.

“I can’t lose you, Luci. Not even to get revenge,” I say as he helps me get my shirt back on.

“Do what you need to do, and I’ll handle everything else,” the detective says. “Just keep it clean, and Donaldson and I will handle the rest.”

“I want him to suffer,” I say. “I want him to know what it’s like to want to give up because you are in so much goddamn pain that dying is preferable to facing the world as a survivor. Do you know how annoying pity is? People fucking pity me, and I hate it. I’m so goddamn angry all of the time. My nightmares are better than reality, and that’s fucking sad.”

“I know,” Clark says softly.

“No. You don’t know. You have no fucking idea what I went through. None of you do,” I shout. “I’m alone while surrounded by people, and it fucking sucks. Why in the fuck did I fight so hard to survive if this is my reality? My body remembers everything. Every hit. Every thrust. Every cut. Every burn. It remembers things that I don’t, and it will never fucking forget.”

“I know, Elise. I know you are hurt and embarrassed. I know you are so angry that you don’t know how to see past the rage. I get it. I’ve been that angry before. I may not understand the level of abuse, but believe me when I say that everyone understands the anger. Lucian is nearly consumed by rage right now, but is forcing himself to slow down and focus on you. The two of you balance one another, so keep your focus on that. Find something that brings you solace with him and find a way to release that anger.”

“It will be easier when he’s gone,” I say, and then look at Lucian. “When?”

“As soon as you are healed enough to join us,” he says. “As long as you go easy, maybe just a few days.”

“Okay,” I say. “Can I… can you do me a favor?”

“What’s that?” he asks.

“I want you to brand over what he did,” I say.

“Why?” he asks.

“Because he doesn’t own me. You own me. I don’t want it there, but I can’t make it go away yet. Having you replace it will remind me that you are the only one I will ever submit to.”

“What do you want over it?” Bradley asks.

“The Wheel of Destiny and LV underneath. Having faith in my destiny and in knowing Lucian would save me is what kept me alive. I need something to remind me that no matter what has been done to me, I still want to be alive and keep fighting to get where I belong.”

“Okay. I’ll talk to Carol to see when would be best to do it,” he says, softly kissing me.

“Is it weird I want you to fuck me while you do it?” I ask. “I just want you to replace what my body remembers and make new memories.”

“Not weird,” he says. “I will support you no matter how you want to heal.”

“What if I want to brand you?” I counter.

“Do you?” he asks.

“I… don’t know. I didn’t expect you to say that,” I laugh.

“I don’t think you would have said it if you didn’t,” he says. “Whatever you want to get, I will get the same.”

“Really? You’d do that?” I ask.

“Baby, you owned me the second our eyes met. I want to show you that I absolutely mean it when I say that I am just as much yours as you’re mine,” he says. “You’re more than just my wife, Elise. You’re my whole fucking world, and I will destroy everything to make room for you.”

“Okay,” I say with a soft smile.

“Let’s get you something to eat and we can watch a movie,” he says.

“We will let you two rest,” Clark says. “Call me and let me know the plan.”

“Will do, man. Thanks,” Lucian says.

“I can’t wait to not be sore anymore,” I sigh.

“It’s a process,” he says. “You’re pretty swollen, so it will take some time.”

“I’m going to brand him,” I say.

“Oh? With what?”

“My initials. I’ll do it on his chest,” I explain. “I want to torture him the way he did me, but I want him to die more.”

“He deserves far worse than death, but it’s a start,” Lucian says. “Let me clean your back and re-bandage you. I’ll have Bradley bring up some food.”

“Okay. I want to keep my shirt off. It feels better that way,” I say as he helps me take it off.

“Yeah. We can try icing it now too, since your body temp is back up and consistent.”

“That sounds heavenly,” I admit as he helps me lie down on my belly.

“You’re gonna be okay, babe,” he says. “I’ll make sure of it.”