“After she left, they both took off their masks and kicked the door shut before they walked toward me and untied me from the chair. I fought them as they took my dress off. The taller one picked me up and threw me down on the bed.” I whisper, closing my eyes. “I tried to fight him off. I scratched and kicked, hitting him wherever I could, but he was too strong. He grabbed me by the throat and punched me hard in the face. I was in a daze, but the other one held my arms down while the bigger one took my underwear off.” I explain and choke on a sob. “They raped me.” I cry, shaking my head. “I screamed the whole time, begging them to stop, but they didn’t. They took turns assaulting me, biting, and grabbing me until I was screaming, and they would laugh, enjoying the pain they were inflicting on me. Every time they forced themselves on me, they would whisper that I was worthless, that I was theirs now.” I sob despairingly into my hand.“That’s enough,” Cole growls, walking over t

It went on like this for weeks, and I could see her sinking deeper and deeper into depression and reclusion. She shut off from everyone around her. Even me. She’s angry and resentful, and every day that passes, I feel like I’m losing her.“What are you thinking, man?” I turn and look at Josh while I pace in the kitchen.“We need to pull her out of this, Josh. I can’t stand to see her like this anymore. She won’t talk to anyone. Not the girls, not her mother, not me. She won’t even open up to the therapist. I tried to take her to one of those group therapy meetings, where she could sit and be with people who have suffered as she has, but she got up and walked out after ten minutes. That’s not Shayla up there, and I’m scared if I leave her alone for a moment, she’s going to do something stupid or hurt herself.” I tell him frenetically, and he watches me sadly.“The girls are here. They can watch Alaia. Let’s take her to the gym, as you said before. This could be t

“Are you sure about this?”“Yes.”Cole and I stare at one another for a beat before he nods and turns his gaze to Josh, who watches us silently, a stoic look on his face.“The last thing we want to do is set you back, Shayla. You’ve been pushing yourself too hard. Do you really think you’re ready for this? What if it triggers you, and you go right back to the state you were in?” Josh questions, concerned, pulling his knees to his chest. I look at him and wipe the sweat that had gathered above my top lip.“I have to do this. Otherwise, what am I killing myself for?” I utter, looking between him and Cole, who share a look. “What am I fighting for if it’s not to face my fears.”“The trials will start next week, baby. You’re going to face them there. Don’t put yourself in a position where you’ll be vulnerable before you take that stand.” Cole voices, reaching over and rubbing my ankle. We just finished another training session, and we were sitting in t

A couple of days later, Cole and Josh told me they had arranged what I had asked for, and here I was, sitting in the passenger seat while Cole drove us to the prison where they were keeping Harvey and Quinton Smith. Just hearing their names gave me chills. It’s incredible what money can buy you. Cole wouldn’t tell me what it cost him, but I could imagine it would have been quite a bit to get me in a room with the bastards that stole everything from me. I stare out of the window silently, mentally preparing myself to face them again and going through everything I wanted to say to them.Cole looks at me, “Shayla. We can turn—”“No.” I cut him off firmly and turn my gaze to him. Cole holds my gaze and frowns a little before he nods and looks at the road again. I look at the prison up ahead, and my hands fist tightly in my lap.“Hey,” I look back at Josh when he leans closer to speak to me from the backseat. “We’ll be right there, and guards will be in the room too,

“You should be rotting six feet under right about now.” Sophie hisses her frosty eyes on Shayla, who smirks.“And you should be sipping champagne in some pretentious restaurant, but… here we are,” Shayla mutters, crossing her arms over her chest. “Orange really isn’t your colour. All though it does go well with the black eyes you’re sporting there.” She pushes her finger against it, and Sophie hisses and pulls her head back.“Is that why you’re here, to give me fashion tips?” Sophie snarls, and Shayla shakes her head.“No, I came here to tell you personally that you failed, and your little plan tanked just like I told you it would.”Sophie grins, biting her lip a little. “Maybe, but it wasn’t a complete failure. I hear those brothers fucked you up real good. If you’re alive and standing there today, it’s because of me.” She hisses haughtily. “If I hadn’t told them where you were, you’d still be rotting in that little room. You owe your pathetic life to me