Talk To Me

Chapter twenty-Two

February fourteen

Leah winced at the horrific sight before her. The thick, pungent scent of burning flesh clung to the air, mixing with the sharp tang of sweat and fear. Lily's screams tore through the room, raw and agonized, each cry digging into Leah's chest like a blade.

Tiny held the branding iron in his right hand, the round metal plate at the end glowing an angry crimson. He pressed it deeper into Lily's bicep, his smirk widening as the girl writhed, her body convulsing with pain. Diesel pinned her down, his hands gripping her shoulders, forcing her back into the armchair.

"This," Tiny murmured, finally pulling the rod away. "Will remind you who you belong to. So you won't get any more ideas about running away." He turned on his heel, setting the iron near the fireplace. The metal sizzled as it met the stone hearth, sending up a hiss of steam.

Lily's body trembled violently, and then, as if her mind had decided to escape where her body could not, her head lolled to the side, unconscious. Diesel released his hold on her, stepping away without a second thought.

The sharp ring of a phone cut through the crackling fire. Diesel dug into his pocket, glancing at the screen. His expression shifted instantly, his posture going rigid.

"It's Mario," he said, his voice uncertain. He lifted his head, meeting Tiny's gaze. "What are we going to do?"

Tiny arched a brow. "We?" His tone was mocking. "It's your fault the girl is dead, so you figure something out. I'll take care of this one."

Without another word, he bent down and scooped Lily into his arms. Leah swallowed hard and followed as he carried the girl down the hallway.

Diesel hesitated, then answered the call, slipping effortlessly into a fake, cheerful tone. "Hey, Mario! How've you been, man?"

Leah barely spared him a glance. She was more concerned with Tiny and what he planned to do. She trailed him to the bedroom, stepping into the doorway just as he laid Lily down on the bed. Her breath hitched when he reached for Lily's jeans.

Panic surged through Leah, her pulse pounding. Without thinking, she rushed to the end of the bed, as if merely being closer could somehow stop whatever was about to happen. But Tiny didn't go any further. He simply stripped the bloodied jeans from Lily's long legs, slung them over his arm, and left the room. Leah exhaled shakily, her essence still tense.

She had no idea how long Lily had been unconscious, but time dragged unbearably slow. Leah paced the room, stepping back and forth, her movements restless and uneven. Beyond the bedroom door, the muffled sounds of an argument flared between the men, voices rising and falling in heated bursts. Then, suddenly, the front door slammed shut with a force that rattled the cabin walls. Silence followed as one of them had left.

Leah didn't bother checking. She refused to leave Lily alone, not even for a moment.

She stood at the window, watching as the sky darkened, the sun disappearing behind the tall trees. The shadows stretched long across the room, deepening the unease twisting in her gut. Then, the faint sound of metal scraping against metal caught her attention.

She turned sharply.

"Leah." The voice was weak, barely a whisper.

Leah moved fast, rushing to the bedside. "I'm here."

Lily's eyes fluttered open, hazy and unfocused. "What... happened?"

Leah hesitated. "You passed out after—"

"The branding," Lily finished, her voice brittle.

Leah nodded, lowering her head. "How are you feeling?"