Inside my mind, the links break on the chain wrapped around the cage, the lock disintegrates. The door is now open.
Welcome home, Zander. We’ve been waiting for you.
“Honey, I’m home!” Shark singsongs as he and Ford laugh, making their way to the shitshow happening right now.
*Enraged* Fuck!
Voices near, as my grip tightens on the door frame, my muscles beginning to burn.
I glance her attire; short shorts and a string top do nothing to cover her, or her secrets. There isn’t a scrap of clothing nearby I can lend her, and I’m afraid if I move, she’s going to bolt, and my men will let her leave. She noticed me regarding her and tried tugging at her shorts with little benefit.
“Mornin’ Corporal!” Shark’s hand clasped my shoulder, ruining this more than private moment.
I let out a growl of fury and sent him a death glare before placing my eyes back to hers. My grip on the molding slackened as I brought a hand to rub at my forehead, feeling a sudden headache brewing.
“Boss. Why are you not upstairs with that pretty little thang? I saw the clothes as we came in, seems you two had some fun-", Ford’s words trail off as the tension in the room hits him.
“Did ye know about this?! Do they know, too?” Lili bites out and slashes a hand to point at my men. The file on the table is still open and spilling its contents for all to witness.
Flamed anger lights her cheeks, the look of a formidable warrior ready to strike. She shoves her hair in a messy bun atop her head so it’s out of her face. The movement has her shirt lifting and showing everyone a glimpse of her tattoo.
Maybe it’s dark enough my men didn’t catch the scars.
I growled, actually growled at that thought of my men seeing Lili’s vulnerability, her secrets she hides from everyone.
*Inner demons*You can’t protect her, look at yourself. So very weak. Give in Zander. We will make this go away.
Her monster was a bastard who took advantage of a young innocent girl, marked her body, tried making Lili his forever. She endured pain no person should have to ever go through.
I’ve now added to that pain.
What the fuck. I’m just as bad as her monster.
*Demons tease*She’s never forgiving you now, it’s time you let us out to play.
Do I have enough strength to hold this cage closed alone? The answer is no. The demons are feeding from my rage; they grow stronger while I weaken. I’m not strong enough. I can’t do it alone.
“Oh –shit.” Shark mumbles behind me, “I didn’t get here quick enough."
“I dinnae want to hear it.” She’s quick to interrupt Shark’s explanation, “Why did ye do this, Zander?” There is a hurricane brewing in those eyes, category five and nowhere to hide.
I’m not surviving this.
“Whoa. It's not what it looks like.” Shark steps between the two of us, his hands out to her as if he is trying to tame a tiger.
“Isn’t it?!” She shifts on her feet gearing up for a fight, “Was this yer game all along? Get me to open up so ye could take advantage?”
“Hell no, that isn’t what I do.” Shark starts in.
Lili takes two steps deeper into the kitchen, fearful of my men. The only person she should fear in this moment is me, or part of me at least.
The one tactic Shark has specialized in is keeping civilians calm while we searched towns and villages for leads. Often enough, these women and children were tossed around, molested, and raped by men in their communities; they would offer us any information they knew if we would secure their refuge. We couldn’t help them all. Shark had a leniency to him that I would sometimes lack and start to show my animosity, not for them, but for their men.
Two vastly different cultures. Other worldly.
“Please understand this is all on me. Zander had nothing to do with this.” Shark lies on my behalf.
I was the one who poked the bear and started this mess.