Chapter 11
Chapter Eleven
Samantha spent the next few days working hard to perfect her punches while she waited for her brother. But tonight, he finally strode through the front door. “Simon!” she called as she threw herself into his arms. “You came!”
“Of course I came.” He held her so tightly. “My sister needed me.”
“It means the world to me. I know how busy you are.”
He stepped back and looked her over from head to toe, a smile growing on his lips. “I can hardly believe the change that has happened with you in such a short time.”
“And you,” she said, tugging on his lapel. “I barely recognize you in black.”
He shrugged. “It’s what the new job requires. I notice your long hair is gone. Had enough of it, did you?”
She rubbed her fingers nervously through her short hair.
“It suits you.”
He pulled her back into his embrace as a grateful tear ran down her cheek. He was always so good to her. Anyone else would have chastised her for cutting it.
“Where’s Trent?”
“Putting Maggie to bed. He’ll be down shortly. Where’s Madelene?”
“She has family up in Scotland, so they met us at the station, and she continued on with them.”
“Come.” She took hold of his hand and led him toward the blue drawing room. “Let’s sit and have a drink.”
“Well, I won’t say no to the drink, but I’ve been sitting all day, so I hope you won’t mind if I stand.”
Benson was in the room when they entered. “Excuse me, miss. I’ll get out of your way.”
“No, Benson, stay. I want you to meet my brother, Simon.”
She turned to her brother. “Benson has been teaching me how to play backgammon.”
Simon gave a quick assessment of him before shaking his hand.
“What will you be drinking?” Benson asked.
“Whisky, if you have it.”
“Whisky it is.”
“So,” Simon said, after taking a sip. “Backgammon?”
She laughed and a stunned smile slowly grew on her brother’s face. “That is music to my ears.” With a long sigh, he pulled her in for another tight hug, his voice a rough whisper. “I wasn’t sure if I’d hear your laugh again.”
“I wasn’t sure either.”
He stepped back and just smiled at her. “You”—he tapped the end of her nose—“are amazing.”
“Stop it.” Warmth filled her cheeks, but then she leaned in and whispered, “You don’t really have to stop.” It felt so good to be teasing her brother again. They hadn’t shared banter since… before Norman.
There was a patter of running footsteps and Maggie burst into the room, her smile beaming. “Mr. Allister! I got my pony!”
Simon crouched before Maggie. “You did? Well, perhaps tomorrow when it’s light, you can take me out to see her.”
She nodded animatedly. “I will!”
Trent walked through the doorway, chuckling and shaking his head. “Back to bed, Little Mouse.”
She pouted. “But I want to visit.”
“It’s past your bedtime.”
She turned, her eyes pleading. “Will you tuck me in, Mantha?”
Of course she would. Samantha had always dreamt of having a little girl of her own. But since that was no longer a possibility, she’d enjoy every moment she could with this one. She held out her hand and Maggie’s smile was instantly back as she slipped her smaller one inside.
* * *
“Apologies for my tardiness. It’s good to see you, Mr. Allister.” Trent shook the man’s hand.
Benson handed him a glass of brandy on his way out of the room. “You’ll know where to find me if you need anything.”
“Please, sit,” Trent said, gesturing to the sofa.
“As I’ve just told my sister, I’ve been sitting all day, so I’d rather not, if it’s all the same to you.”
“Just as long as you won’t mind if I do.” Trent let out a sigh as he settled into the chair and took a grateful sip of his brandy.
“You seem to have performed a miracle, Trent.”
“Perhaps that would explain why I’m so tired. Presumably, miracles are hard work. But if you’re referring to the change that has happened with Samantha, I’m not sure I get to take any credit for that.”
“It’s not just a coincidence, Trent. After I got her away from Norman, she lived with me for eight months, and I tried day after day to help her, with no success.
She stayed at Raven House for several weeks, with very little improvement.
She’s only been here a few days and she’s glowing, laughing, and smiling. It’s like she’s come back to life.”
Trent nodded as he considered his words. “She has certainly blossomed here, but she’s been working hard at it. It didn’t just happen on its own. The credit for her transformation goes solely to her. And perhaps a bit to Maggie.”
“What do you mean she’s been working hard at it?”
“Well, I don’t know if you’ll approve, but I’ve taught her how to throw a punch. We’ve been using her sketches for her to let out her anger. Air her grievances, if you will.”
Allister raised his brow. “I absolutely approve. You’re being far too modest.”
Trent shook his head. “All I do is hold the portrait while she punches it, and then make sure she knows she’s safe while she’s going through…” He sighed and took a sip of his drink. He hated thinking about all the pain she’d been through. “Whatever comes up,” he finished with a shrug.
Allister stared at him for a long moment before speaking. “You can’t imagine how grateful I am. I thought I had lost her forever. I thought she had lost herself. She’ll never be the carefree girl she was before, but there’s certainly a good deal of it returning.”
“She’s a fighter.” Trent nodded. “Stronger than me, certainly.”
“So, confronting Norman. Whose idea was that?”
“Samantha's. I would never have suggested it. I just assumed he was dead, but she says he's not, and since you're here, I assume that's true.”
Allister nodded. “She made me promise to not kill him. It wasn't easy. He has a few scars and doesn’t walk the same, but I kept my promise. So, what does confronting him look like to you?”
“There are three of us. Brennan, you, and me. I had imagined that two of us would subdue Norman so that Samantha can do whatever she wants to. And then either you or I will be there solely for her. She needs to know someone will carry her through whatever might come up if she needs some support.”
“After what I’ve seen here, that person needs to be you.”
“I’d be honored to do whatever I can.”
Allister nodded. “If you’re up for a night without sleep, we should go tonight. The weather’s good, and I have a job to get back to.”
“I’m ready.”
“And what about Samantha?”
Trent nodded. “She’s ready.”
A few hours later, they all climbed down from a carriage in front of a mid-sized country manor. Samantha’s breathing was shaky as she stared at the dark house. She must be absolutely terrified seeing it again. It was a house of horrors for her.
“We can still turn around and leave. You don’t have to do this.”
She shook her head. “I want to. I need to know why.”
He offered his hand. She gripped it as if she was hanging from the edge of a cliff, and he was the only thing keeping her from falling.
“We’re not breaking down the door this time, Brennan,” Allister said quietly.
Brennan merely held up his hands.
Allister had the door open in but a moment. Not his first time picking a lock, then. Probably not his first time picking that lock.
Once they were inside, he gestured for them to wait and disappeared up a flight of stairs while Brennan began lighting lamps. From down the hall, Allister’s voice was just audible.
“Good evening, Norman.”
A moment later, the man limped and struggled as Allister forced him down the stairs in his pajamas. When he was four steps up, Brennan grabbed the front of his shirt and yanked him down to the bottom with a yelp.
“I’ve already told you all the names I know, Allister.”
But then his gaze landed on Samantha, his eyes roving over her from head to toe and back again. His lip curled in disgust. “You cut your pretty hair. That’s a shame. No one will want you now.”
Samantha inhaled a quick breath and pressed herself against Trent’s side.
“You’re safe,” he reminded her, even as anger boiled in his belly.
Allister’s razor was against the man’s throat. “She isn’t here for you to look at,” he growled. “The next time you remark on her appearance, I’ll remove both of your eyes.”
“Easy, Allister,” Trent warned. He squeezed Samantha’s hand. “I know he’s scary, but you’re strong, and you’re not alone.”
She squeezed him back and briefly pressed her cheek against his bicep.
Allister removed his razor from the man’s throat. “Kneel.”
“I can’t, thanks to you.”
Brennan snatched the man’s cane and slammed it against the back of his legs, forcing him to his knees with a howl of pain.
Allister gave him a nod of approval.
“He’s all yours, Samantha.”
Trent wrapped cloth around each of her hands. “Remember your form,” he whispered.
She looked up at him with just a hint of a nervous smile growing before she nodded. “Thank you.”
Letting go of his hand, she took one step toward Norman.
“That’s the hardest step,” Trent said quietly, “and you’ve already conquered it.”
She straightened her spine and nodded once more.
“You’re a horrible man, Norman. A horrible, wicked, evil man.” He sneered at her, but she curled her right hand into a first and slammed it into his face.
His head rocked back. Perhaps more from shock than actual force, but it knocked off his sneer. He was stunned.
And then she did it again.
“What’s come over you? This isn’t you, Samantha. You were always such a sweet girl.”
“Not anymore!” She threw another punch, this one bloodying his lip. He groaned, struggling against Brennan and Allister as she pulled back for another. It slammed into his nose.
She was going to hurt herself, even with the cloth protecting her hands. He placed his own gently on her shoulders. “Throw the rest of them into his stomach. It will be easier on your hands.”
Allister and Brennan lifted him back to his feet. With a shriek, she slammed into his stomach. He coughed, and drew in a ragged breath.
“You took my innocence! You told me how clever I was, told me I was perfect. And then you sent me away to be abused, over and over and over again!”
Each repetition was accompanied by another forceful punch. The man grunted but didn’t speak. Tears ran down Samantha’s face, and she sucked in a shuddering breath.
Her words clawed at Trent’s heart. This monster had taken her innocence.
Somehow, he’d never considered that she was a virgin before it all started.
But of course she had been. He wanted to throw his own punches.
But right now, she needed him to be stoic and strong.
This was her moment to confront the man who had caused her so much pain.
Her moment to grieve, and to prove that she was strong enough to overcome him.
“Why did you do it?” Her next punch was weakened by her sob. “Why did you do that to me?” Her voice shook as she cried, her breathing labored.
The cretin didn’t speak or look at her, but then she leaned in, and unleashed a guttural scream. “Tell me why!”
Allister shook him, and finally, he looked up at her, blood dripping from his lip and his nose. “You got me into their club. I don’t have a title, and they all do… did. You gave me entre to their world.”
“You traded my body”—she gasped for breath—“my soul… to elevate your social status?”
Trent wanted two things, to pull Samantha into his arms and protect her from this hurt, and to kill the man who had caused it.
“I hate you!” she screamed into Norman’s face. “I’m not that scared little girl anymore. I’m not perfect, or obedient. I have choices now. And right now, I choose violence.”
She took two steps back, and Trent thought she might run, but then she reared back and slammed the bottom of her foot into his groin with such force, the two men struggled to keep him upright.
He groaned in agony, trying to double over.
Silently, Trent cheered her on. He hadn’t realized just how physically strong she could be. She was a force to be reckoned with.
“I hate you!” She kicked him again. “But you are not even worthy of that.” Her voice quieted. “You are nothing. Nothing.”
Crying softly, she stepped away from him, and Trent wrapped an arm around her shoulders, pulling her in tight. He was so proud of her.
“You’re stronger than any man in this room,” he whispered into her ear.
Her brother held up his razor. “Do you want to finish it?”
Norman raised his head, shaking it desperately. “Please no,” he bawled.
Samantha wiped her tears, and somehow stood a little straighter. “No.”
“Do you want me to?” Allister asked.
She shook her head. “No,” she said again. “And it’s not because he’s begging. Or because I’m weak. It’s because I didn’t get a quick end to my suffering.”
Determination burned in her eyes and hardened her features as she looked into Norman’s face again. “For five years, you sent me to those men, knowing the kinds of horrors they would make me endure. Five years.”
She threw another punch into the man’s stomach before meeting her brother’s eyes once more. “I want him to continue to suffer, as I had to. And if he’s dead, I can’t do this again.”
At her brother’s nod, Samantha fled. Trent caught up to her near the carriage and pulled her into his embrace.
“It’s alright, Samantha. You’re safe. I’m here with you.”
She nodded against his chest, wiping her tears.
“Not that you even need me. You were a warrior in there.” After a few minutes, she looked up at him.
The encroaching dawn had lightened the skies just enough for him to take in every detail of her beauty.
He cradled her cheek in his palm, wiping away the remaining tears with his thumb.
“You were incredible, Samantha. I’ve never seen someone be so strong. ”
She gripped the sides of his face, pulling him down until her lips were pressed against his.
Almost immediately, she pulled back with a gasp. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have—”
Trent slammed his mouth against hers, wrapping his hand around the back of her head, locking her to him. She kissed him back, reciprocating his desperate fervor. It was messy, and frantic, the residue of her tears salty on his tongue.
At the sound of the front door closing, he wrenched himself away from her, his breathing labored. “Are you alright?” he asked her. She managed a nod, but no words.
Her brother didn’t punch him when he approached, so hopefully the semi-darkness had prevented him from seeing them.
He placed a hand on his sister’s shoulder. “You did your brother proud in there.” He wrapped her in a hug.
“Thank you, Simon.” She looked up at him. “Thank you for being my brother.”
He chuckled. “I didn’t get a lot of choice in the matter, but I wouldn’t have wanted anyone else but you for my sister. Now, stay here with Brennan. I need Trent to help me with one small thing before we go.”
Trent’s stomach dropped. He had seen.