Chapter 5
Aurelia didn’t get a second of sleep. The moment dawn broke, she was out the door.[]
Her real child was being tortured somewhere, and she couldn’t wait another fucking minute. She had to get to the cops, had to find him and bring him home.[]
But she barely made it to her car before two guys in black hoodies jumped her and threw a bag over her head.[]
When she came to, she was strung up like a piñata in some abandoned warehouse, surrounded by at least a dozen thugs.]
Verena stepped out from behind them, walking toward her with this sick smile on her face.[]
“Rise and shine, sleeping beauty.“[]
Her voice was all sweet and innocent, but her eyes were absolutely psychotic.
Aurelia’s heart was hammering against her ribs. “Verena, what the hell is this?!“|[]
“What’s this?” Verena picked up a crowbar, twirling it like a baton. “Just a little payback for that bitch slap you gave me last night!“||
She turned to her goons. “Boys, beat the living shit out of her! Cassian said just make sure she doesn’t die on us!“[]
Aurelia felt like she’d been hit by lightning. Cassian ordered this?
Because she’d slapped his whore once, he wanted her tortured?]
Aurelia yanked at the ropes, her eyes wild with panic and disbelief.[]
No fucking way! Cassian wouldn’t do this! Verena had to be lying!]
“Aww, what’s wrong?” Verena got right up in her face, clearly getting off on this. “Having trouble believing your loving husband wants to beat you?”
“Tell you what–I’m feeling generous. I’ll give you one shot. Call your precious Cassian right
now. If he picks up, I’ll cut you loose. If he doesn’t…” She shrugged like she was talking about the weather. “Well, guess that tells us where
One of her guys cut Aurelia down and shoved a phone in her bloody hands.[]
Aurelia’s fingers were shaking so hard she could barely dial. She called Cassian’s number.
One ring, then straight to voicemail.
She tried again. Same thing–voicemail after one ring.[]
Third call. Fourth, Fifth…]
you stand.”
By the time she’d called ninety–nine times, her phone was dead, and so was every last bit of hope in her chest.[]
It really was him giving the orders…
Aurelia let out this broken laugh that sounded more like a sob.]
Chapter 5
Before she could even process the betrayal, someone grabbed a fistful of her hair and yanked her upright.[]
The crowbar came down on her skull with a sickening crack. Blood poured down her face instantly.
The second blow caught her in the ribs. She doubled over, choking on her own spit.]]
The third one swept her legs. Her kneecap exploded with a sound like breaking glass.]
After that, everything became a blur of pain and metal and blood.]
When they finally got tired of using her as a punching bag, Aurelia was crumpled on the concrete in a spreading pool of red, barely breathing.
She tried to laugh, but it came out as more of a wheeze.
What a joke her entire life had been.
She’d actually thought that even if their marriage was over, Cassian would never hurt her. []
But here she was, beaten half to death because he’d rather protect his mistress than his own wife.[]
She managed to lift her head just enough to see Verena standing there, looking like she’d just won the lottery.[]
God, she wanted to wrap her hands around both their throats and squeeze until they stopped breathing.[]
But she couldn’t. Her real son was still out there somewhere. She had to survive this. She had to save him.[]
Verena was barking orders at her thugs again. “String the bitch back up! If Cassian doesn’t want her dead yet, fine–we’ll just let her hang there and think about her life choices!“]
Then they hauled her up by the ropes again, and the pain was so intense she nearly passed
She hung there like a broken marionette, blood dripping steadily onto the warehouse floor.
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“Here’s some free advice, sweetheart. Divorce Cassian and get out of America. Because if you don’t, look like a spa day compared to what’s coming next.“[]
What
happened today is gonna
She turned on her designer heels and sauntered toward the exit, her footsteps echoing through the empty space.
As Verena disappeared into the shadows, Aurelia’s vision started going dark around the edges. The only sound left was her own ragged breathing.
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