Devoted (14 page)
Authors: Kira Johns
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Desolate Souls
Forgotten Souls MC Book One
Kira Johns
Copyright © 2015 by
Kira Johns
Prologue
“Lana!” Jax shouts as he enters my room, slamming the door closed behind him. He rests the full weight of his body tightly against the wooden barrier, his chest heaving. “We have to go!” Reaching out, he grabs the worn wooden chair from my desk and lodges the back underneath the doorknob.
“What’s going on?” I ask, rubbing my eyes. It feels like I have just fallen asleep.
“Phil!” Reaching under my bed, he pulls out my backpack and begins dumping the contents on the floor.
My eyes widen at the mention of his name. He’s back? I had been certain he wouldn’t make bail, but I shouldn’t be surprised. With his pull, he could literally get away with murder without as much as a slap on the hand.
I throw the covers off, tossing them into a heap on the floor as I scramble from my bed and rush to the window. I lift it with such force shards of glass shower around me as I pull myself up and through the window. Stepping onto the roof, I reach my hand inside for Jax just as my bedroom door splinters under the impact of Phil’s shoulder.
Phil’s eyes are reddened and filled with pure fury as he rushes towards the window. “Jax!” I scream, yanking on his arm in an attempt to pull him through the window. As soon as he jumps to his feet, we rush towards the trellis, making our way down to the ground.
“Run!” Jax yells, just as my feet hit dirt. I don't hesitate as I take off towards the wooded area adjacent to the house, stopping when I realize Jax isn’t following me.
Turning around, I see him lying face down on the ground and I stop breathing. He doesn't appear to be moving as Phil straddles him, pounding his fists into the back of his head over and over. The need to run falls away, overpowered by seeing Jax’s limp body being pummeled and I know what I must do.
Running back towards the house, I scream at Phil. “Stop it! Leave him alone!” He continues beating him until I am within arm’s reach. Only then does he stand, tightly grabbing hold of my arm.
“Where were you two going, Alana?” he asks, his eyes cold and filled with unbridled fury.
I do not answer him. Anything I say will only anger him more. Closing my eyes, I wait for him to unleash his rage on me, making me pay for trying to run. When his fist collides with the side of my jaw, I cry out in pain as I drop to my knees on the dew covered ground. Hovering above me, he strikes me again and again until I am lying on my back, drifting in and out of consciousness.
I manage to whimper when I feel his callous hands on the bare skin of my stomach. Bile rises in my throat as he tugs at my shorts, swiftly pulling them down my legs.
Please make this end
, I silently beg, knowing that no matter how much I plead, he will never stop. This is our punishment for an unknown crime and Phil will be forever in our lives.
“Phil?” Janet’s voice should give me a sense of relief, but it doesn't. She will do what she always does, look the other way as if ignoring it makes it all go away. If his anger is taken out on Jax and me, she reaps the benefits. That’s the game she plays, and I hate her for it.
“Go back inside!” he orders before I hear the sound of his zipper being lowered. Hearing the door close, I know she has abandoned me, just as she always does. She may have never laid a hand on me, but I blame her just the same.
He spits into his palm as I clench my jaw, waiting for the pain that is sure to come. Squeezing my eyes shut, I try to zone out, my mind focusing on anything but what is about to occur.
“You’re so beautiful, princess. You know that, don’t you?” he whispers into my ear. “Happy birthday.”
I’ve known for a long time that this day was coming. Since we arrived here a little over three months ago, Phil has made his intentions clear. The beatings I could handle, even him touching me was something I could bear, but not this.
When I feel him pressing himself against my entrance, fear consumes me. This shouldn't be happening. Instinct should tell me not to fight, to take what I know is coming, but I can’t. To lay here and take his abuse would be him defeating me, making me a victim, something I refuse to be.
Summoning every bit of strength I have within me, I draw my hand back before thrusting it forward, my palm colliding with his face. “You fuckin’ bitch!” he growls, his hand clutching his face as blood pours from his now broken nose. This is my only chance of escape.
Thrashing my body from side to side, I am able to move out from under him. Scrambling backwards, I get to my feet and rush over to Jax’s still unconscious body. I refuse to leave him behind but am unable to carry him. Frantically I look around, trying to find some way to escape. Just as I roll him over, I am rammed from behind. Falling face first, my head collides with the ground, my forehead splitting upon impact.
Suddenly I am lifted from the ground, being jerked backwards again by my hair. Screaming into the silent night, I plead for someone, anyone, to help me but the only person who cares is lying unconscious a few feet away.
“You think anybody’s gonna save you? You’re worthless, both of you. Your own parents didn't even want you! Nobody cares if you live or die!” he spits at me, mere inches from my face. Shoving me hard onto the ground, he reaches behind him and pulls out the six inch blade he always carries. “You have a choice, princess,” he says, walking over to where Jax lies. “And I’m tired of playing nice. You can either give me what I want, when I want it, or…” he lifts Jax’s head off the ground, revealing his battered face illuminated by the full moon out tonight. “I’ll slit his fuckin’ throat. The choice is yours.”
My shoulders sag in defeat. I can’t win. All of this has been for nothing. I should have stayed in my room and just let him have his way with me. I shouldn’t have let my fear of this man override my judgment. It always came down to this moment and I am done fighting.
I nod slowly. “Just leave him alone,” I say, motioning towards Jax.
“You give me what I want, and I’ll never lay a finger on him again.” I have no choice but to believe what he says is true. We are out of options. There is no place we can go, nowhere to run and hide. He will always find us like he has in the past.
Carelessly he releases Jax’s head, letting it land with a thud on the ground. He drops the knife as he reaches down to free himself again. Gripping himself roughly, he strokes his length as his eyes bore into me.
Swallowing hard, I do what I know I must: protect Jax. He is all I have in this world, the only person who has or will ever truly care about me. Slowly, I nod and begin walking towards him completely defeated. He grins at me, revealing his stark white, perfect teeth. He knows he has won.
Grasping my hand, he leads me inside the house passing by Janet who is standing immobile and silent in the entranceway to the living room. There isn’t even a hint of remorse in her eyes as he leads me down to the basement.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
There are so many people I want to thank who took part in Blake’s journey with me.
Tamra Simons – I don’t even know where to begin. What you do goes far beyond simply beta reading. You give me confidence in what I do. You push me to pour my heart and soul into each of my stories. You encourage me when I am feeling down. I admire your strength and courage more than you could ever know. You aren’t just a rock star, you are my friend.
Monica Holloway – Designer of covers, maker of teasers and beta reader extraordinaire. Thank you for your encouragement and support through it all! You are amazing!!
Paula Hunsinger – My amazing PA and beta reader. Although we haven’t known each other long, you’ve helped me in more ways than you could imagine! Thank you, my dear, sweet friend.
Lisa Filipe – You’ve been there for me since Destined and I don’t know what I would do without you. You are meticulous with your critiques, always offering suggestions that I take to heart. Thank you for sticking by me and helping me grow as a writer.
Jessica Martel – My newest beta reader and friend. You gave me that final bit of confidence I needed to finish Blake’s story. Thank you for all that you do!!
Gaele Hince – My amazing editor. You go above and beyond every single time. Thank you for sticking by me and helping me in every way possible!
Last, but definitely not least, to the fans of the Satan’s Rebels MC Series – You have stuck by me through thick and thin. Your kind words since the release of Destroyed have meant so much. Thank you for the emails and messages that offered me encouragement when I felt like giving up. You guys are amazing and without you, this would all be meaningless!
Email: [email protected]
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Website:
www.authorkirajohns.com
Kira Johns donates a portion of all proceeds from her book sales to Feathered Friends Forever, the largest non-profit tropical parrot rescue in the United States.
Home to more than 1,300 birds, Feathered Friends Forever works diligently to improve the lives of companion birds by providing them with an intermittent or permanent safe haven as it endeavors to further advance avian welfare through public education and awareness efforts.
For more information on Feathered Friends Forever, visit Kira’s charity page on her website at:
http://www.authorkirajohns.com/charity.html
or visit the FFF website at:
http://www.featheredfriendsforever.org
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Other Works by Kira Johns
Satan’s Rebels MC Series
Destroyed: Satan’s Rebels MC Book 1
Destined: Satan’s Rebels MC Book 2
Deserved: Satan’s Rebels MC Book 3
Damaged: Satan’s Rebels MC Book 4
Devoted: Satan’s Rebels MC Book 5
COMING SOON – Satan’s Rebels MC Book 6 (Bethany’s story)
Forgotten Souls MC Series
Desolate Souls: Forgotten Souls MC Book 1
COMING SOON - Desolate Hearts: Forgotten Souls MC Book 2
