Stealing Her (Covet 1)

Fat chance.

The door buzzed, and up we went about seven flights of concrete stairs. With each step, I clenched my fists harder until I couldn’t feel the skin on my palms. All too soon, we arrived on the designated floor and began walking down the hall. Green wallpaper was peeling off the walls, the hardwood floor was worn and warped, and I knew without even looking that the place would have enough cockroaches to fill a stadium. Room 66 was at the very end of the hall. Hah, add one more six and I would just nod expectantly; this was exactly what I’d chosen.

I’d traded heaven for hell.

For them.

And I would do it every damn time.

It was like history repeating itself. I had protected Julian from the monsters when we were in school, and now I was doing it all over again. Only the monster was our dad; Julian just didn’t see it, he never had and probably never would.

The door swung open before anyone knocked. Three men filled the small apartment, each of them wearing all black and leather gloves. They looked like old-school mafia. The one directly in front of me grinned like it was Christmas morning.

I had a suspicion he was happier than ham in that moment.

“Make it quick,” Edward barked. “We have a lot to do.”

“Pity.” The guy shoved a toothpick between his teeth and grinned. “I would have liked to savor this.”

I stared him down. Yeah, I bet he would.

“Not today,” Edward said in a stern voice as my body was shoved through the doorway.

I sighed. “Is the plastic tarp really necessary?”

“He sounds just like him.” Toothpick guy twirled the damn stick. “Pull off your hood, kid.”

I gritted my teeth and pulled my hood back and stared straight into his evil eyes. “See something you like?”

His grin fell. “Yeah, you’re a Tennyson, ain’t ya?”

“Unfortunately.” I crossed my arms. “Expecting me to bleed a lot?”

“We like to cover our tracks.” He rubbed his hands together while the door shut with a resounding boom.

The three of them circled me.

I let out a sigh. “I’m not running. I’m in this, you don’t need to circle me like I’m your next meal, just get it over with.”

“Taunting is part of the fun,” one of the short ones piped up.

“This isn’t fun, this is business.” I clenched my teeth and cracked my neck. “And lucky for you, this business transaction states I can’t fight back, so do your fucking worst.”

“You really shouldn’t have said that.” Toothpick guy grinned. “And yes, the tarp is very much necessary, boy.”

His fist came flying across my right cheek, and the punch hurt like hell. I rubbed the skin just as the short one elbowed me in the stomach. I actually felt my ribs crack.

And I knew what was next.

After all, people could get on board with a miraculous recovery.

But no scratches after a concussion, multiple head wounds, and three broken ribs along with a broken leg? Not so much.

At the sight of toothpick guy holding a baseball bat over his head, I said a little prayer. I heard my bone crack but only briefly experienced a sharp pain before everything went blessedly black.

Chapter Six

ISOBEL

Turns out, sleeping in your ex-fiancé’s bed knowing that he’d had the maid there really isn’t a good recipe for rest. I ended up in one of the four guest rooms and woke up with a start at around ten a.m.

Panicked, I quickly grabbed my phone and searched through my texts. Nothing from Edward, nothing from Marla. I had a few texts from friends at the hospital, mainly Annie, offering their support and prayers. And instantly wanted to crush my phone in my hand. Annie didn’t know my secret pain. I was afraid to share too much information and afraid that she would judge me for staying with a cheater, for going through the motions, even though I knew she was one of the best people in the world. Maybe it was my pride that kept me from saying anything. I sent her a thank-you text then pleaded with Edward for more information. He surprised me with a swift response.

Edward: Rest. That’s what’s most important. We need the entire family to stick together. Besides, things are looking up.

I stared at my phone for a solid three minutes before the tears came. Were they tears of relief? Fear?

The sting of tears returning full force, I typed out another response.

Me: When can I see Julian?

Edward: Soon.

Did that mean he was getting better? Coming home? I started to pace as my mind replayed a montage of all the times we’d been together and all the lies he told. I’d sacrificed everything for Julian. He told me right after graduation that a Tennyson wife didn’t work, she planned and volunteered. I laughed because I thought he was kidding.