Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 84635 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 423(@200wpm)___ 339(@250wpm)___ 282(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84635 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 423(@200wpm)___ 339(@250wpm)___ 282(@300wpm)
“Ouch! Please, you’re hurting me!”
“Did you hear that, Steve? The entitled little princess is complaining.”
They pushed me over the threshold of the same small conference room I had been brought to earlier.
I tripped and fell forward against the table, pushing the edge into my side.
The guard named Steve grabbed me by my hair and pulled me upright before dragging me over to a straight-backed wooden chair. He stepped behind me and snatched my arms back. Cold metal clasped around my wrists as he handcuffed me then slammed me down into the chair.
The room spun, adrenaline flooded my veins as the panic squeezed my chest. I fought for every short, rapid gasp.
Both men stood close, towering over me. The one whose name I didn’t know leaned down to lift the hem of my skirt. He rubbed the fabric between his thumb and forefinger. “Don’t you just love when the pretty ones wear skirts to court?”
“My attorney will be here any second.”
They both laughed.
“Barry Finkle? That idiot is halfway back to his mommy’s basement by now.”
He let go of my skirt and grabbed the chair’s armrests.
He was so close the stench of his breath was overpowering. “After that little stunt you pulled, I wouldn’t be surprised if the judge ordered a thorough strip search.”
The other one slapped him on the shoulder. “I agree. Anyone who’s desperate enough to disrupt court like that is probably desperate enough to have smuggled a shank or weapon in. I think we should strip search her here and now to be sure.”
His hand was on my hem again, pushing it higher. I kicked out, catching him on the shin.
He retaliated by slapping me across the face. “Bitch.”
My head snapped to the right as the chair rocked up on two legs, then settled again, as my mouth filled with a metallic tang. My hair came loose from its bun, partially obscuring my view.
He took off his gun belt.
Then reached for his pants. “Time for your first lesson in prison obedience.”
I swallowed past my dry mouth, getting ready to scream even though I knew no one would hear me.
Just when I thought all hope was lost, the door burst open.
Pierce?
I hated the way my heart leapt.
It wasn’t him; it was the judge.
He was so angry he was already shouting at me in mid-sentence by the time he crossed the threshold. “...book at you. Obstruction of justice. Assault. Contempt of court. And—and—anything else I can think of.”
“I’m sorry, I—”
“Sorry? Sorry? Let me tell you what, young lady. You’re going to be sorry. I don’t give a hot damn what the jury verdict is. You turned my courtroom into a fucking circus. I’m a laughingstock. I’m going to throw the fucking book at you. You won’t see the light of day until you’re eighty.”
The judge wheeled away from me with a disgusted huff. “Get her out of my sight.”
One guard cleared his throat and elbowed the other.
Taking the hint, the other one spoke up. “Your Honor, we were thinking we should take her down to the tombs and do a proper search of her person.”
The judge nodded, his swollen jowls jiggling with the movement. “That’s a good idea, do it.”
Without a backward glance, the judge stormed off, slamming the door shut behind him.
The guards fist-bumped each other. “Your pretty ass is ours now, princess.”
My salty tears stung the heated and bruised skin of my cheek.
I uselessly twisted my wrists in the handcuffs till they were raw and chafed.
As the guards closed in around me and hauled me out of the chair, the door opened again.
I didn’t even bother to look over. What was the point?
I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to mentally separate myself from the physical horror I was about to endure.
A hand touched my chin, raising my head.
The touch was gentler than I would have expected.
My eyes sprang open and clashed with the intense silver stare of Pierce Worthington.
The air in my lungs froze.
He tilted my head to the side, surveying my red cheek.
Without taking his eyes off me, he asked, “Who did this?”
The one who’d grabbed my skirt puffed out his chest. “I did, sir. The murdering bitch deserved it for getting mouthy with me. Don’t you worry. We know what she did to your brother. She’ll get more of that when we get her down into the tombs.”
I tensed my body to keep from trembling.
He released my chin and stroked his knuckles down my cheek.
An almost affectionate gesture. Some new game?
He moved me away from the table then stepped back and unbuttoned his suit jacket. After he shrugged out of it and tossed it onto the table, he faced the guards while rolling up his sleeves. “Gentlemen, we have a problem. You have harmed someone I consider my property.”
His property?
HIS PROPERTY?
The guards exchanged a confused look but caught on quickly.