Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 79087 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 395(@200wpm)___ 316(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79087 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 395(@200wpm)___ 316(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
“You’re asking us to lie, to manipulate, and that doesn’t bother you?”
“Oh, it bothers me. Trust me, this bothers me immensely. They tortured her. They nearly fucking killed her and when I asked the doctor if there was a chance of them killing her and us not knowing about it, and bringing her back, he told me anything was fucking possible. She can’t have kids. They butchered her enough that she can’t have kids. Any kids you have will be adopted.”
The Beast ran a hand across his face.
I had listened to everything the doctor had told me, and I hadn’t shed a tear. I couldn’t. All I could think about was what I could do to keep her safe, to keep her alive, and away from the darkness. I owed her everything, and wiping out that memory was the only thing I could do for her.
“What about Freya? What about everyone close to you that knows her?” The Beast asked.
“I will tell them what they need to know.”
“You know even if she has amnesia, there is a chance she will remember. People remember all the time.”
“Then we pray she never remembers,” Ivan said. “I don’t want her to remember what she went through.” It was that bad.
“People will still look for her.”
“The Butcher is gone. The surgeons had to do small jobs, and she doesn’t even look like The Butcher anymore. Her whole being is gone.”
“So, you’re just going to write a whole story for her?” The Beast asked.
“No, if you agree, we’re going to write both of your stories together. She will be your wife and help you where she can. You will protect her, and she will never doubt that you love her.” The Beast looked toward me. “Yeah, don’t give me that look and pretend you don’t. We both know the reason you have never killed her is because you love her, and have for a long time.”
“I don’t like this. She deserves better.”
“What other idea do you have?”
The Beast looked toward her and then growled. “None, okay, I don’t fucking have any.”
“Then it’s decided?”
The Beast stared at her. The machines filling the sound of the silence.
“Yes, if she wakes up and doesn’t remember anything, I’ll do what you ask.”
Epilogue
Freya
Two Years Later
Sitting on the blanket, I feel the sunshine on my face. It had been a glorious summer and I just knew it was going to be a cold winter. At least Victor kept saying so. He’d see the fruits on the trees and in their abundance, he’d say we were in for a cold winter.
I held our baby girl in my arms. She was one year old today. Little Bethany. My little girl. And Daddy’s little girl. He had promised to come back out, but he had been gone awhile. I hummed to my baby as she settled in my arms, trusting me.
Being a mother is one of the best feelings in the world. Finding out I was pregnant again terrified me.
Ivan had told me what he needed from me. What The Butcher needed from me. Her name was now Sara, and she had a whole new identity. She was no longer Bethany, nor The Butcher. Ivan had told me she had died in that cave, saving me.
He asked me to follow his lead on this, and I hated it, but Sara didn’t remember anything. She didn’t even remember me, and Ivan had told me that rather than be sad, I should be rejoicing in knowing she was not going to remember the hell she had been through.
Her face had changed. It was subtle, but there. She was willing to still be my friend, and we had girly nights. There were times we were together that I would see her staring off into the distance, and I would wonder if she had memories of the past.
She would often smile at me and tell me it was nothing. Just whispers. She loved kids. That did come as a surprise to me. She loved my little Bethany, and whenever she came by, she was always holding her. She told me how she hoped to have a baby soon.
Ivan told me not to interfere. I wanted to, but I also knew that if I told her the truth, she would remember. Ivan had told me enough to keep my mouth shut. I loved her.
Putting my hand to my stomach, I felt the slight swelling as Victor and I were pregnant again. Ivan was pleased with the news, as was Sara.
“Is everything all right?” Victor asked, coming closer to me, and I looked up to see him carrying something in his arms.
We had fallen in love with each other.
The last two years had been utter magic. Yes, he was still a Volkov Bratva, and I was still his wife, and Ivan’s sister. But our love hadn’t dissipated or grown boring. It had gotten stronger.