Untamed (Unbeautiful 2)

I have no clue what’s going on. How on earth did my father and Evan find out what I told Ryler? Yes, I expected that it might happen if Ryler chose to tell my father, but if he did, how could he have done it so quickly? There’s no way Ryler had time to tell them unless…

I grind my teeth until my jaw pulsates in pain. Unless that’s what he was doing in the car when he was texting my father.

No, he wouldn’t do that.

Or would he?

I don’t know.

I’m so confused.

Drowning in madness.

Never to breathe again.

No, I won’t go down like this.

I’m going to fight.

“Now you have to pay.” Evan raises his hand between us, his fingers wrapped around a syringe.

“I won’t be punished again!” I shout, wrenching my arm away while bringing my knee up to kick him. “The scar on my side is enough. I’ve paid enough.”

My foot collides with Evan’s shin, and his fingers slip from my arm as he lets out a sequence of curses. I skitter around him and sprint toward the open door leading into the house, but one of the bodyguards clotheslines me with his arm and my legs flip out from under me.

I collapse to the ground, and my head hits the concrete as the world starts to spin in bright colors and odd shapes. My neck throbs in pain as my lungs battle to get oxygen.

“I tried to warn you,” Ellis’ voice fills my head. “I’m so sorry, Emery. I knew they were coming for you, just like they did with me.”

Evan appears above me, red faced and enraged. For the first time since we met, he doesn’t seem so beautiful. He seems ugly and horrid. Flaws, flaws, flaws for the entire world to see.

“I hate you,” I choke out as he snatches ahold of my arm. “And one day, I’m going to make you pay for this.”

“That’s a big threat for such a hollow, pathetic girl.” He plunges the needle into my forearm.

Like a match struck, my veins ignite with white-hot pain. “No… I’m… going… to… be… free…

“No, you won’t,” Evan says through my cries, smiling, smiling, smiling, as if he’s wholly enjoying my pain. “No matter what you want, you’ll still end up with me, Emery. Your life has never been your own. My plans for our future together will happen. Now, down, down the rabbit hole you go.”

My flesh scorches like melting wax as I’m dragged into the darkness of my own mind.

Down, down the rabbit hole indeed.

Chapter 15

The Secrets of Butterflies are About to Fly Free

Ryler

The instant Emery slips into unconsciousness, Evan’s bodyguards free me from their hold. I stumble from my knees and stride across the garage, heading straight for Evan, ready to slam my fist into his face.

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” he warns as he straightens his legs and stands up. He has the syringe in his hand and a pleased grin on his face. “You know who I am now; therefore, I’m pretty sure you can guess the consequences of so much as laying a finger on me.”

Even though it kills me, I grind to a halt. If I go after him, his bodyguards are going to kill me. Revenge can’t go down like this. It has to be more discreet. But it’s going to happen.

What was that? I mouth to Evan.

“Just a little drug my father invented,” he says, eyeing me over. “Don’t worry. It didn’t kill her. It has a little bit of heroin in it so she’ll be out for a while. But she should wake up in a few hours as good as new.” He starts for the door again, but pauses at the steps. “Although, her mind might be a little off whack. At least, that’s what happens in most of the patients my father tested the drug on.”

My eyes widen. Wait, what?

He rolls his eyes. “Don’t worry. It’s only short-term. Just long enough for her to learn her lesson to keep her fucking mouth shut.”

My fingers curl into fists. What I wouldn’t do to be able to beat the shit out of him, but like with Ben, if I hit Evan, things aren’t going to go in my favor. I need to be careful, yet still bring that fucking asshole down.

Evan glances at Emery lying on the floor, then looks over at his bodyguards. “Put her in the car,” he orders. “Doc said to let Ryler drive her home.” He seems irked as hell about that.

Like fucking hell they’re touching her.

Shoving him out of the way, I stride across the garage and bend over to pick up Emery. Without mouthing a word, I lift her into my arms and carry her past Evan and to the door.

“I said to let my bodyguards carry her out,” he calls out, chasing after me.

Ignoring him, I hurry through the house and out the front door. When I get to the driveway, I gently put Emery in the passenger seat of my car and check her vitals before heading around to hop in the car. Evan is exiting his house by the time I have the driver’s side door open.

“Did you just deliberately disobey me?” he asks from the front porch, while his bodyguards linger in the doorway.

Battling the urge to rush over and slam my fist into his face, I lower my head to climb in.

He runs off the steps and grabs the door as I move to shut it. “I know you can’t speak, but I know you can hear. You weren’t supposed to touch, Emery. My guards were supposed to put her in the car. Not you.”

I count to ten backwards in my head. His guards are distracted by something inside. They’re not paying attention. I could beat the shit out of him right now and peel out of here before they get to me. But then what about consequences?

Calm. Stay calm. You’ll only make the situation worse if you don’t.

Evan smirks at me like he’s won some sort of battle. “As soon as she wakes up, let me know so I can come fuck the shit out of her and remind her who’s in control.”

That’s it. Something snaps inside me—all of my control. I hop out of the car with my elbow craned back. Before he can react, I bash my fist into his nose.

He stumbles back, cursing, as he cups his nose. “You fucking—”

I cut him off with a punch to the gut and then counter the move, my knuckles colliding with his ribcage. I steal one last hit to his jawline before bailing out, because the guards have taken notice.

They holler at me as I dive back into my car and slam the door. Then I drive like mad down the road, constantly checking in my rearview mirror to see if I’m being followed. I’m not sure how this is going to go. Is Evan going to come after me himself? It seems doubtful. More than likely he’ll send someone else.

So what do I do next? I could call Doc and try to explain, but from what Evan said, Doc is the reason he injected Emery. Plus, he’s the one who’s been sending her those notes to scare her. No wonder he knew about the last note the moment Emery received it, despite the fact that Emery never brought it up.

Another question plaguing me is how in the hell did Doc find out that Emery told me he is a monster, and Evan is Donny Elderman’s son? How does he seem to know everything the moment it happens? It doesn’t make any sense.

I need to text Stale, and tell him Evan is Donny’s son. Then let him know what I’ve done before I get the fuck out of here.

Shit, this is so bad. I should feel pissed off at myself for making the same mistake again, for lose control and retaliating with violence.

I glance at Emery, leaning against the car door, completely out of it, just as powerless as me. No, I don’t feel angry at all for protecting her. It was worth it. I just wish I knew how to protect us both now.

Fuck! This isn’t fair. She shouldn’t have to go through this all because I pushed her to open up to me. I never should have brought her tonight. I had a bad feeling but went against my gut. All so I could what? Pick up another stupid package. Stay on Doc’s good side?

With one hand on the steering wheel, I yank the package out of my pocket. It seems too small to be carrying drugs. I’ve never bothered looking inside the packages I’m supposed to deliver. Usually it’s all about business, but after what they did to Emery to

night, I want to know what’s in it—what I’m doing this for.

Carefully lifting the lid off the box, I peek inside.

What the hell?

My gaze snaps to Emery. Her arm is lying lifelessly to her side. Attached to her wrist is a silver bracelet with a butterfly pendant shimmering against the glow of the streetlights filtering through the window. It’s the exact same bracelet that’s in the box except Emery’s is secured by a twist tie. I’ve noticed her wearing it before, but it was never been broken. Is that what this package is for? A replacement? Or is it something more?

I flip over the bracelet in the box and squint at the inscription on the back of the butterfly pendant. So we’ll always know where you are.