Right now, she didn’t think it was possible to love him.
He’d stopped hitting her. There was no pain from his hands, and he also seemed to like her company. Whenever she asked him for something, he provided it, and he’d been a nice guy to her.
Of course, there were times she couldn’t get away from who he really was. The monster who’d killed many women during their travels. She heard the women’s screams, but she didn’t dare to venture out. Reaper had told her to never come out when she heard those screams as it would always end badly for her.
She didn’t need to be told twice to follow instructions.
“Are you enjoying the book?” Reaper asked, coming out of the bathroom.
“It’s okay, I guess.”
He sat down on the edge of the bed, pulling on a pair of jeans, followed by some socks that had holes in, and boots. There was a knock at the door and she tensed up. She hated to hear those knocks. It either meant something had gone wrong or it was time to move.
Reaper opened the door.
“He’s here.”
“Excellent. Get him set up. I’ll be out in a minute.”
“What’s going on?” she asked, closing her book and paying attention. Whatever was about to happen, it wouldn’t be good.
“There’s someone I want you to meet.” Reaper grabbed his shirt, pulling it over his head. “Come on.” He took her hand and she followed close behind him as he walked her out toward a man, who was setting something up in the parking lot of the abandoned hotel. “This here is Trick. He does the best ink all around, and well, I wanted to prove my commitment to you.”
“What do you mean?”
“Stay there.” He let go of her hand.
She didn’t try to run. His men would be given the signal to stop her, and well, she knew what battles she wanted to fight and those that were pointless.
Folding her arms, she waited, wondering what all of this was about.
“You do know ink is for life,” Trick said.
“There’s treatment to get it removed,” she said. “It’s a hard and painful procedure.” She didn’t have a clue what it entailed.
“I’m not getting rid of it. You know what I want,” Reaper said.
He winked at her, and Trick got to work, inking something over his heart. She didn’t like this one bit, and as he finished, she didn’t know how long it took, but it was a red heart, not a garish color either, one that suited the rest of the ink. Almost a dull red and in the center, was her name.
“This will show you, baby, I’m committed.” He stepped up to her, tilting her head back and kissing her. Again, she never responded to his attempts to woo her, but that didn’t seem to stop him. If anything, her determination not to respond only seemed to spur him on. Reaper wasn’t going to give up. Not until he got what he wanted. She didn’t know why he was so determined to win her over when she knew she could never love him.
He’d hurt her. Taken her from the man she loved.
“Now, it’s your turn.”
“What? No. I don’t want to get any ink. Please, don’t make me.”
She tried to fight him, but he wouldn’t let her go. He held her down with the help of his men and Trick began by inking the base of her back. She cried the moment the needle touched her skin. She wanted it all to stop, but there was no way, not when Reaper forced her.
He was going to get what he wanted one way or another.
She had to be strong.
The ink wasn’t done at her back, though. No, he got Trick to ink both of her wrists so she would know for now and all eternity she was chained to him for life.
****
Present day
Robin’s heart raced as she waited to hear the truth from his lips. Did he love someone else? Was there ever going to be a chance for her?
Pressing her lips together, she looked up at him, wanting to touch him, to hold him, to love him more than anything. Her memories weren’t back yet. She didn’t know if she ever wanted them to be back.
“I didn’t find anyone else. There is no way I could ever want anyone but you.” He stroked her cheek.
He was a large man, full of muscles and strength. Yet, each time he touched her, she was shocked by how sweet and gentle he was with her. It was like he couldn’t bring himself to hurt her, and well, she wasn’t going to complain about that.
She offered him a smile. “There’s no one?”
“There’s no one.”
“Then why haven’t you been with me? Why haven’t you tried to help me remember?”
“I don’t know what you went through with Reaper, Robin. There are memories that are going to be unleashed, and they’re not pretty. Randall has warned us. The room upstairs, there’s more to that tale. It’s not easy.”