They were stripping her of who she was, shattering everything she’d known to be true until this point, this irrevocable moment when her life would change forever. Each strike, each cry that left her lips was another step toward submitting to a fate she couldn’t fight. To a fate that would make her wish for death.

I was glad Zach had destroyed me, and not some faceless stranger. At least he loved me in his own sick way.

God. Even that observation proved how twisted my head was. I wasn’t normal. I’d become too immune to the evil that lurked in people. If I could trade places with the girl on the other side of the wall, I would.

It was too late to save myself, but she was innocent. She was fucking innocent and I couldn’t do a thing to help her, couldn’t even tell her she wasn’t alone. Her screams continued, and I buried my face in my arms to drown out her pleas for help.

6. Bad Blood - Rafe

6. BAD BLOOD - RAFE

“If you ain’t gonna fuck him, why shouldn’t I?”

“Because I said so.” Jax’s tone brooked no argument.

Cleft pushed off me, and I let out a sigh of relief as his heavy boots thumped across the floor toward Jax. “Just because you weaseled your way back in, don’t think you’re calling the shots now.” He jabbed a finger at his chest. “If you don’t do him, I will. One way or another, his ass is getting fucked and filmed. He’s fucking Rafe Mason. That shit will sell.”

“That’s exactly why you’re not filming him. It’s too risky. You know my old man will side with me.” Jax glanced around the room. “Besides, you’re full of it. I don’t see you filming shit here.”

“Just warming up.” Cleft rolled his shoulders. “Uncle Luke won’t have a problem with a little fun.”

“You’re not gonna touch him.” Jax curled his lip. “So back the fuck off.”

“This is bullshit.”

“No,” Jax said. “The mess in here is bullshit. Fucking clean it up.” He pulled a hand through his blond hair and moved toward me, his feet pounding the ground in angry stomps. “Get him on his feet. Move!” he yelled when the guys holding me down didn’t budge. They scrambled into motion and dragged me upright. Blood rushed to my head, making my vision fuzzy as one of the goons bent to release my ankles. The other stepped behind me and freed my hands.

“You don’t have the balls to do him,” Cleft said with a taunting edge to his tone. “Even though you want to.”