Deklan drops his gaze to the floor and nods.
“When I found you, there was a ring gag in your mouth,” he says quietly. “There really isn’t any other reason to gag you like that.”
My heart is pounding too fast. I can’t catch my breath, and I’m starting to feel dizzy.
“Kera?” I hear Miss Jolly, but I can’t respond.
What did they do to me? How many of them? What else did they do that I still don’t remember?
“Kera!” Deklan’s voice and his hands on my arms pull me from my thoughts. “Kera, listen to me! They didn’t do it. You hear me? They didn’t.”
I stare at him and try to comprehend what he’s saying. Deklan doesn’t take his eyes off mine as he addresses Miss Jolly.
“I need a minute with my wife.”
Miss Jolly nods and leaves the room, closing the door behind her. Deklan immediately takes my face in his hands.
“They did not rape you,” he says as he stares deep into my eyes. “They were going to. They were about to, but I got there first.”
“You didn’t tell me that.”
“I didn’t want you to think about it. I s
till don’t want you to think about it.”
I close my eyes for a moment, and it all floods back.
The hands on my head, holding my face tightly as the gag is shoved in my mouth. The sound of laughter and then a loud burst of gunfire. Laughter turns to screams. I have no idea what’s happening as I’m left alone again. I hear scuffling above me, screams, and more shots.
I begin to understand the rest of the story that Deklan didn’t want me to remember.
“What did you do?” I whisper.
Deklan is silent for a long time. He grits his teeth, and his eyes flash with a fury I have never seen before. When he finally speaks, each word is slow and deadly.
“I made them suffer.”
I swallow hard. He’s right—I don’t want to know any more.
Miss Jolly comes back in. She and Deklan talk softly, but I don’t listen to them. I’m trying to remember with more clarity.
“It’s past the deadline. He ain’t gonna make it.”
“What now?”
“Kill her, that’s what.”
“We ain’t gonna kill her. Not yet, anyway. This is his deal, and we’re gonna get our money. Just be patient.”
“Fuck being patient. If we’re stuck waiting on O’Conner, we should at least have a little fun with her.”
“Gotta keep her a virgin. That’s part of the deal.”
“So? Her mouth works, don’t it?”
I feel pressure against my face, and my mouth is forced open. Whatever he’s put inside keeps me from closing it again. I smell sweat and hear chuckling. Tears are pouring out of my eyes, soaking the blindfold. I wait for it to happen, but I hear the gunshots first.
Deklan did get there in time. If he had obeyed Fergus Foley’s orders, he wouldn’t have. If he had waited, it would have been too late. They would have raped me, and I might have ended up dead.