Violent Ends

He’d shattered the bed and tried to impale himself on one of the wooden slats.

In the process of knocking him out, they had removed everything from his room, put chains in the wall, and he only had a mattress that they checked over daily.

She hated seeing him like this. His gaze was dead inside. The charming young man she once saw was long gone.

“Hey, Landon,” she said.

“If you’re here to cheer me up, fuck off.”

She entered the room and heard the moaning, the whimpering, and as she stood near the television, she saw someone had put porn on.

“Do you want to watch this?”

“Why not? It’s boring as fuck.” He snorted. “It’s not like I’m getting hard or anything. Maybe fucking a chick would have once got me hard, but that was before … her. That’s not going to happen now. It doesn’t matter how many times I watch a woman take a cock, or swallow cum, or take it up the ass. I’ve got nothing.”

She grabbed the chair and sat down. “I don’t like seeing you like this.”

Landon stared at her. “You think I’m going to change because you give a shit.”

“No, of course not. I’m sorry. I just … I don’t know what to say to you. You lost someone you love, and to top that, you’ve not even been allowed to go and say goodbye.”

She saw the tears in his eyes.

“Thank you,” he said.

“What?”

“You’re the first person to remind me of everything. You’re not pretending that I’m not in pain, or that this shit is normal.” He pointed at the television as another loud moan erupted. “I never got to tell her that I loved her one last time. That I wanted to spend the rest of my life with her. Dad, he wants me to move on now. A Denton man doesn’t show weakness, and right now, I’m weak.”

“You’re not weak, Landon, far from it. You lost the girl you loved. I don’t know what that feels like, but I don’t imagine you’re going to be getting over it any time soon.” She stared at the sandwich on a paper plate.

This was all a little too much. Gideon told her that he tried to stab himself with the porcelain plates. She handed him a sandwich and watched as he actually took it. He ate the sandwich without complaint.

“My dad told me that if I didn’t start eating, he’d force feed me.”

“Wow, that’s awful,” she said.

“It is, and so now I’m eating, yay.”

“I’m really sorry.”

“Don’t be. It’s not your fault.”

“Would you like me to put something else on for you?” she asked.

“Please, this shit has been on repeat way too long.”

She picked up a couple of the movies that were there and waited for his nod of what to change it to.

“I’m not allowed to take you for a shower or anything.”

“It’s fine. I got it. Gideon told me you now belong to him,” Landon said.

She nibbled her lip, not really sure what to say to him. Would it hurt him?

Landon laughed. “It’s fine, Emma. I’m pleased Gideon is happy. You’re not in love with him though yet, are you?”

She shook her head.

“I don’t blame you. I wouldn’t love that sucker either. He’s a pain in the ass.”

“Is there anything else you’d like me to do for you?”

“No. Nothing. Sandwich is all gone, and your company has been fine for now. I’m ready to be alone again. Thank you, Emma.”

She picked up the tray.

Once she was at the door, she glanced back at him, and pain filled her at seeing him. He wasn’t himself, and she doubted he ever would be again.

Taking the tray to the kitchen, she saw Maddox and Charlotte there.

“I think it’ll be good.”

“He’s twenty-four, Maddox. I don’t care. Our daughter is not even eighteen yet.”

“We can marry them at sixteen with our permission.”

“Really, you want to marry our daughter off to the highest bidder. I can’t even believe you right now.”

“The Savona family is one of the best there is,” Maddox said. “A connection with them via marriage will help cement the Denton name.”

“And you being you, will have expanded your empire over dozens more cities at the cost of our daughter.”

“Tamsin doesn’t suffer the curse like we do. She’s not going to meet her dream man, and this is good for the family.”

Emma left the kitchen.

She’d heard enough of marriage proposals.

Her hatred of Maddox Denton was growing every single day. She couldn’t stand him.

Rounding the corner, she came to a stop when she saw Tamsin, back against the wall, clearly listening in on her parents’ conversation.

She was so pale. Tamsin put a finger against her lips.

Without saying a word, they left the room, and Emma didn’t allow them to know she had been listening to them.

“You okay?” she asked when they were clear of being heard.