Claimed (For Her 3)

“I love you,” I tell her.

“I love you, too.”

She climbs up me, and I brace my legs, trying to be as sturdy as possible while on a cot. I can hear the bed groan under our weight. I close my eyes and give a small prayer, hoping like all hell this works.

She puts her foot in my hand and then steps up while I try to lift her. She puts her other foot on my shoulder and almost gets the other up to stand when the bed gives way. The frame snaps, and we both tumble down in a heap. I hit the dirty mattress that has fallen through the frame, and Summer lands on top of me, knocking the air out of my lungs.

I want to cry out, not just from the pain but from the fact that our last shred of hope has slipped away. It takes a moment before I can breathe normally again and my lungs aren’t burning from the pain.

“Are you okay?” Summer asks, hurrying to get off me.

I tell her I’m okay and start to get up when the door to the room flies open. Both of us jump, going to the far wall as fast as possible, trying to put some space between us and the man in the doorway.

It only takes me a second to get my bearings, but once again the air is knocked right out my lungs when I see who is standing in the doorway.

“Mr. Spencer?” I say, as if I almost can’t believe what I’m saying.

He reaches outside the door and flips a switch, and light floods the room. As he steps inside, my attention fixes on the open door. He must notice it, because he shuts it closed behind him immediately.

This guy has been into Osbourne Corporation more times than I can count. He used to be nice to me, but as time went on, he got sleazier and more aggressive. Did he do all this? How could he possibly be involved?

A sick smile spreads on his face as he glances around the room and looks down at our untouched food.

“Is our food not good enough for you, little bird?” At the use of the name Jordan calls me, my stomach tightens. “Nothing is ever good enough for you, is it?”

“Why are you doing this? I brought the files. That’s what you wanted, wasn’t it? Let us go.” I stand a little straighter, trying to use the same voice I do when I’m at the office. I don’t know if that’s a good idea or not.

I’m not even sure what’s going on at this point. I thought this was about the Lannister project. I was sure I’d end up seeing Stein, not Spencer. Unless they’re in on this together. Now I’m worried who else might be in on this. How far through the company does this go?

“I think we both know there’s something else I’ve been wanting to get my hands on for a while.” At his words, I move to stand in front of my sister. I put my hands on my hips, not only trying to make myself feel bigger, but so he won’t notice that my hands are shaking.

“I’ll fight you,” I tell him. And I will. I won’t make it easy for him. My stomach turns, and I want to throw up. My skin is crawling. I still can’t believe this is even happening. How could I feel like my life was finally perfect and now it’s all falling apart? I only got a tiny taste of it.

He closes the distance between us. I look up at him, meeting his eyes. “I think I’ll like it when you fight me.” He gets right in front of me and lifts his hand, dragging a finger down my cheek. “It will be so much sweeter when I get you to break.”

I smack his hand away, and he smirks.

“You’ll have to fight both of us,” my sister says, trying to step around me, but I block her with my arm.

“Two for the price of one. It’s my lucky day.”

“Fuck you.” I reach up and smack him.

The smack echoes around the room, and my hand burns. When his face turns back to me, I see blood where my nails dug into his cheek. His face turns redder than I have ever seen. The deadly anger is clear in his expression. Yeah, I don’t think he likes the fight, after all. I brace myself when he strikes me back. I almost fall backwards, but my sister catches me.

“You fucking bitch!” he bellows and lunges for me.

The door to the room flies open, and Summer and I use the distraction to move farther away from Spencer.

“That’s enough.” This new man’s voice is deep and holds a tone of authority to it. Spencer stops immediately. I can tell he’s fighting his orders.