19. Daniella

CHAPTER 19

Daniella

F inding out my father was still alive sent a whirlwind of emotions through my trembling body. I never questioned what happened to him. I figured he drank himself to death or hoped he was put in prison. He's made sure to make this experience an absolute living hell. I have been trapped in this room tied up for what feels like days, but I'm not sure at this point. The skin around my wrists and my ankles has started to rip off from how tightly the ropes have been digging into them. I have been punched and kicked numerous times by different people. I know that my head is bleeding, but I can't do anything about it. I don't understand why this is happening, I've never done anything to this man. He has put me through everything horrible that has happened in my life. I guess he hasn't had enough. I hear footsteps and try to mentally prepare myself for the beating that is to come. The door flies and the blindfold is ripped from my face.

"Hello again, you worthless slut. Time to answer some questions." My father spits in my face as two men come into the room and pick up my chair. I have no more fight left in me so I just let them do what they want. They take me out of the room and up two flights of stairs and down a hallway, placing me in what looks like an interrogation room. It's cold and there is an empty metal table and a chair in the center of the room. The room smells entirely too sterile, like they're trying to cover the scent of something else. They place my chair at the table and leave me there in silence. Thoughts run through my mind of all the ways that I'm going to kill this man. I am so sick of him haunting my life and now that he's here, he will die by my hands.

I don't know what he has planned or what kind of questions he's talking about, all I can think about is Braxton and how he's feeling right now. I just know that he and Leighton are trying to find me — destroying everything in their path. I use that to drive my anger forward and prepare myself for whatever is going to happen in this room. The door opens behind me and my father walks around the table, sitting on the opposite side.

"Aren't you happy to be back with your old man? You belong here, with me. And you have information I want." A creepy grin crosses his lips.

"Fuck you!" I spit in his direction. My anger barely contained within me.

"That's no way to speak to your father! You're alive because of me!" He reaches across the table and slaps me so hard that my head whips to the side and I can taste a coppery tang in my mouth. The burn on my cheek enrages me so much that I gather the blood in my mouth and spit it right at his face.

He's lost his fucking mind. "I would rather be dead than help you. You're fucking sick and I can't wait to watch you die."

Wiping his cheek, he laughs and jumps up from his seat, wrapping a hand around my throat and yanks me towards him. He leans down and brings his face way too close for comfort and whispers in my ear.

"Your friend Leighton is an heiress to a huge underground corporation. She doesn't know what she was born into yet, but I need access to it. And in order to get that, I must be wedded into the family — meaning your best friend is about to be your new Mommy." I don't even think as I quickly turn and sink my teeth into his cheek, ripping the skin from the muscle and spitting it at him. His scream catches the attention of the guards and they rush in as he shoves me back and releases my throat, cupping his new wound.

"You will never lay a finger on her, you fucking pervert."

"I'll be sure to cause as much pain as possible while I force my seed inside of her." He laughs maniacally. "Put her in a cell and make sure it's locked. Release her arms and legs, she won't be going anywhere anyway."

The guards do as he says, lifting my chair and throwing it down on the unforgiving floor of a dark cell next to the room we were in. They untie me while holding a gun to my head. Once they leave, I take a look around the room to try to find anything I can defend myself with. The door has no bars, only a small window that lets in a small amount of light. There's a small, dirty bed with what looks like blood on the sheets. I see a bucket in the corner and walk to it. Moving the bucket aside, I see the brick is starting to crack apart and crumble.

I spend the next few hours trying to dislodge a single brick or at least a piece big enough to cause damage. With one final whack of the bucket, a piece flies out and I quickly grab it just as I hear voices on the other side of the door.

"She has no strength at this point. Grab her and meet me in the car." My fucking father and his goons.

Just before the door opens, I hide behind it in the corner and wait for the guard to walk in. As he mumbles ‘what the fuck' under his breath and looks under the bed, I quietly make my way over, smashing the brick over his head multiple times until his body is limp. Peeking around the corner of the door, the hallway is clear. I quickly grab the guard's gun and leave the cell as quietly as possible. I can hear voices in the distance, but they're not close enough to know what's going on.

Suddenly, I'm startled by the floor beneath me shaking and a loud bang coming from downstairs. It sounds like an explosion of some sort. I hear guards yelling and excessive gun fire. What the fuck is going on? I make my way down the hall and peek around the corner to see the guards shooting out of a massive hole in the front of the building. I still don't know where the fuck I am. I stay hidden and watch as the guards go down one by one until a familiar face comes into view. Braxton? I start to run towards the stairs when I feel a hand grip my arm and yank me back. A rag is shoved into my mouth and I'm dragged back towards the hallway. I try to throw my body around to get loose but it's no use because the man holding me is much stronger than I am. I kick and drive my heels into the floor, thrashing and trying to rip my arm free. He drags me into a dark room and holds a knife to my throat.

"Shut the fuck up or you're dead, bitch!" He spits, and I growl in response. I hear footsteps running by the door. Trying to discreetly lean forward, the knife pushes into my throat more and I feel blood trickle down my skin. I throw my head back and connect with the guard's nose. He drops the knife and releases me, allowing me enough time to pick up the weapon and plunge it into the side of his neck. I push it in as far as it will go then twist it, ensuring his death. Blood splatters up on my face and I wipe it off with my arm. Once his body hits the floor, I take the rag out of my mouth and spit the filth out. Fucking disgusting. I rip the knife from his flesh and peek around the corner, I see Carter opening doors and checking rooms. I exit the room and take off towards him, praying that nobody gets to me first. As I get closer, I call out to him.

"CARTER!" He spins around and a look of relief washes over his face before it turns to fear.

"Dani, get down!!" I do as he says before a shot rings out and Carter goes down. No no NO! Before I can think, I quickly turn and throw the knife. It lodges right in the center of the guard's forehead and he drops to the floor like the shitbag he is. I get up and rush to Carter. Putting my finger to his neck, I feel his pulse before I realize where the bullet hit. It grazed his cheek leaving a nasty gash. That will definitely need stitches. He begins to laugh like a mad man and I can't help but join in, leaning down to hug him tightly.

"That motherfucker has some shit aim. That's going to leave a sexy ass scar if I do say so myself." He continues laughing as he hugs me back. He presses a finger to his ear and speaks. "I've got her, let's get the fuck out of this hell house. I'm hungry." He looks at me then points to his ear and smiles. "How fucking cool is that?!" I just shake my head and help him up, turning around to check our surroundings.

We tiptoe down the hallway and make sure to glance in every room and corner that we pass. I am too close to freedom to let another fucking guard get in the way. Once we make it down the hall, it seems that it has cleared out downstairs, so we quietly make our way down the steps. Looking around once more and seeing that nobody is around, I walk towards the hole that was created earlier. I step outside and take a deep breath, reveling in the fresh air. As I look to my right and see nothing, I'm bombarded and arms wrap around me. The smell of coconut and vanilla overtakes my senses. Leighton. I turn and squeeze her back as tears brim my eyes.

"I'm so glad that you're okay, Dani! I'm so sorry this happened to you! Every single one of these fuckers will pay for this!" I let the tears fall as I squeeze her harder, feeling comforted by her familiarity. As I look up, I lock eyes with Braxton as he makes his way over to me. I release Leighton and she goes over to Carter, scolding him for being reckless and freaking out about his cheek, telling him about how he could've died. I can't help but laugh as her voice is drowned out by the sight of Braxton approaching me. We stare into each other's eyes for a moment before he grips my chin between his thumb and his pointer finger. A stray tear rolls down his cheek and it makes my heart constrict.

"Little Rage."

I can't help but lean up on my tiptoes and press my lips to his as I wrap my arms around his neck. He hugs me back and more tears fall from my eyes. I feel safe, I feel home. His familiar comfort is the anchor I've been searching for my entire life. He pulls away and uses his thumbs to wipe the tears from under my eyes before kissing my forehead.

"Nobody will touch you again, Angel. You're safe. Let's get you home." He throws an arm around my shoulder and starts to guide me to his truck when a thought hits me.

"Where is my father?" I turn to look at him and he chuckles.

"Don't worry baby, we've got him, too. But right now, you need rest and time to heal." That confirmation comforts me and I let him guide me to the truck and help me into the passenger seat. The drive back to the house is silent, but in a good way, as I start to feel more at ease from his presence.

I must've fallen asleep on the drive because I'm awoken by Braxton's scent of mint and tobacco as he carries me into the house. He sets me down on the edge of the tub and runs the water.

"Let's get you cleaned up. Can you stand?" I nod my head and rise to my feet. He unbuttons my pants and pulls them down along with my thong, then moves to take my shirt and bra off. He stares at me for a second and I can see that he is holding back for my sake. Braxton helps me into the tub and takes his time washing my body, being careful of the cuts and bruises that have already formed. He washes and conditions my hair, then helps me out of the tub and wraps a towel around me. He gently brushes my hair as I brush my teeth, before taking me into his bedroom and putting one of his T-shirts over my head. Helping me get into bed he kisses my forehead before speaking.

"I'll be right back, I need to shower this day away. Don't get up, please. Just rest." He starts to walk towards the bathroom then turns to face me again. "I love you, Little Rage." A smile instantly takes over my face and I can feel the blush creeping up my neck.

"I love you too, B." He smiles and walks into the bathroom, closing the door behind him.

I lay there, staring at the ceiling, and think about how the past couple of days have gone. I would not have ever expected to go through that kind of thing and I cannot wait for the vengeance that I am owed. I listen to the shower water and let it calm my nerves as I think about the fact that Braxton actually said he loved me. I know how I've felt about him, but there's been so much rejection in my life that has held me back from saying it. Knowing he feels the same way is unlike any feeling that I have ever felt before. I feel wanted, I feel important, and he makes me feel like I am actually worth something.

I hear the water of the shower stop and a few moments later he walks out in a towel and heads over to his dresser to grab a pair of shorts. Dropping the towel and putting the shorts on he looks over at me with a look I know all too well. Slowly, he makes his way over to the bottom of the bed and gently pulls the blanket off of me. He looks up at me for what I can only assume is approval and I give him a small smile and nod my head. He crawls up onto the bed and up my body, making sure not to put any weight on me as he softly kisses my lips, then trails the kisses down my body. He lifts the shirt above my chest and I sit up to allow him to take it off. He kisses from my throat down to my hip and down each leg. Slowly, he spreads my thighs and lifts my legs so my knees are bent and my feet are flat on the bed. He bites my inner thigh then licks it to soothe the sting, sending chills through my body.

"I've missed this sweet cunt." He kisses closer to my core then softly licks up my slit and sucks my clit into his mouth. A loud moan leaves my mouth and my back arches off the bed. I tangle my fingers in his hair and pull his head closer. He moans against my clit and the vibrations send tingles to my toes. Sucking the sensitive bundle of nerves hard, his fingers push into my dripping cunt gently and he starts to pump them in and out. It doesn't take long before I feel myself getting close to an orgasm. It's clear that he can tell too as he quickens the pace of his fingers and uses the tip of his tongue to stroke the center of my clit. My vision starts to blur and my fingers go numb. Heat puddles in my stomach and my legs begin to shake just before I squirt my release all over Braxton's face. He continues pumping his fingers, helping me to ride out the orgasm as he licks me clean. He crawls up my body and squeezes my cheeks until my lips part, spitting my cum into my mouth.

"Swallow it, Angel. See how sweet you taste." I swallow and he kisses me deeply. I try to get up to return the favor but he holds me down. "No baby, that was just to help you relax. Rest and remember, your pleasure is my pleasure." I kiss him and cuddle up on his chest. "I love you, Little Rage."

I'll never tire of hearing those words. "I love you too, Brax." I kiss him once more before darkness takes over and I fall fast asleep, safe in his arms.