Empire of Pain (Torrio Empire #3) by J.L. Beck EPUB & PDF – eBook Details Online
- Status: Available For Free Download
- Authors: J.L. Beck
- Language: English
- Genre: Gothic Romances
- Format: PDF / EPUB
- Size: 2 MB
- Price: Free
What’s in the crate?”
I can hardly hear Romero’s voice over the thundering beat
of my own heart. My fingers grip the edge of the box for dear life as I stare
down at the contents.
Words refuse to come.
My brain short circuits. I can’t comprehend what I’m seeing.
Images come to me in flashes, one piece at a time.
Green eyes that once flashed dangerously, that used to burn with
contempt. Now they see nothing, their vacant stare looking right into the
deep confines of my soul. A bullet hole is directly between them. I force
myself to look away from Amanda’s face, and down to the body in her
arms. In her arms is my daughter—our daughter. Her head rests against her
mother’s bloody shoulder, appearing as if Amanda had rocked her to sleep.
It’s a grotesque parody of motherhood that only a truly sick, heartless
cretin could put together. Amanda is seated with her back against the inside
of the crate, with her head tilted backwards and her eyes staring lifelessly at
the ceiling. A trickle of blood trails from the hole in her forehead and down
her nose before drying there.
I’ve seen many terrible things in my life. Images that have haunted me
for days after, robbing me of sleep. The result of violence brought on by
greed. The aftermath of explosions, gun battles, death. But this? This is
unfathomable.
I can’t accept it. Something inside me refuses to accept what I’m seeing
as one precious second after another passes by. I can’t move. I can’t breathe.
It’s real, even if I don’t want it to be. Amanda is dead. It’s only when
Romero jostles me and reaches into the crate that I snap back to reality.
Every ounce of information comes rushing in, assaulting me from all sides.
Tatum.
They might have killed her too.
Romero’s choked cry rings in my ears. “No!!” He reaches into the crate,
taking Tatum’s limp body into his arms. Her skin is pale, a drop of dried
blood trails down her temple from a patch of blood-matted hair on the side
of her head. The ugly bruises circling her arms portray someone bigger and
stronger holding her tight. I have no doubt she would’ve fought.
“No, Tatum, wake up. Wake up.” I manage to rouse myself in time to
take her legs and lift them over the edge of the crate before Romero lowers
her to the floor.
I take a knee beside them and press an ear to her chest, listening for a
heartbeat or any sign to let me know she is still alive. Everything moves in
slow motion. Countless moments flash before my eyes, as fresh and clear as
if it was only yesterday they took place.
Her first steps, toddling across the floor with her chubby arms extended
outward, reaching for me. She knew I would catch her and hold her when
she fell.
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