Chapter Colin Adams
COLIN ADAMS
I screamed in pain again. Over and over.
“What the fuck is the code?”
I said nothing—just closed my eyes.
“Guess you like being tortured.”
Marcos left the room, but a few minutes later he came back holding a small blowtorch.
“What I’m about to do is gonna hurt, Colin. More than you can imagine.”
“You don’t have to do this,” I rasped. I barely had the strength to move my mouth.
“You know, I’ve heard that when people are burned in certain spots, the pain’s so intense they just give up. Never tried it myself, but I don’t see another choice. So tell me—are you gonna let me into that room, or do you wanna make this hard?”
I wasn’t going to give Isabelle and the kids away. He could kill me here and now, but at least I knew they were safe in my study. After hearing his guy say they’d managed to get inside, I was sure of it.
He could do whatever he wanted to me. As long as they were safe, I’d die at peace.
“Yeah… looks like you want the hard way. Somebody’s about to scream like a little girl.”
What followed was pure horror. I’d never felt pain like that in my life.
But Marcos wasn’t satisfied. He kept hitting me with his fists too.
He burned me near my fingers, my toes. My stomach, my shoulders, my back...
I’d reached my limit. Then everything went dark.
Maddison and I were having tea with her dolls. I’d actually gotten used to it.
“Daddy, did you know I want to be an astronaut?”
“An astronaut?”
“Yeah. I want to visit the sun.”
I laughed at her innocence.
“It’s way too hot there, sweetheart. No one could ever make it that far.”
“Really?”
“Really.”
“Then I want to go to the moon.” She pouted, and I couldn’t help but laugh again.
“That’s a little easier,” I said thoughtfully.
“But what if the rocket explodes when I’m up there? I’m scared, Daddy. I don’t want to die.”
I took her tiny hands in mine and kissed her forehead.
“I’ll protect you. You don’t have to worry.”
“But what if I die, Daddy?”
“Sweetheart… you’re gonna live a long, long life. Don’t worry about that.”
“You sure?”
“I’m sure.”
“Promise?”
“I promise. I’ll protect you forever.”
I pulled her into a tight hug. My kids are everything to me, and I’d do anything for them—anything.
I felt cold water hit my face, but I could barely see anything. I knew my eyes were a wreck, my face bleeding profusely—and still, the beating didn’t stop.
I was going to die. They were going to beat me to death.
I hadn’t been a good man, not after what happened to my family. I knew what I’d become—someone despicable, a man who could barely stand to look at the people around him—and maybe I deserved this.
The hatred I’d carried in my heart for so long had poisoned even those closest to me, and I knew how deeply I’d failed them. How deeply I kept failing.
Then somehow, by some miracle, I learned I could still feel something good. After I met Hanna and Isabelle, something shifted inside me. I tried to ignore it, tried to keep them away—but I couldn’t. Especially not the little one.
I don’t know what it is about that girl, but I can’t stand being away from her. As clumsy as I am most days, I loved when she worried about a man like me. If she knew who I really was, that would change. Thankfully, she’s still an innocent child.
With Isabelle, it was different—harder. She broke through my walls little by little.
At first, she hated me—I know that—but as the days went on, I realized it wasn’t just hate she felt.
The more she tried to help me, the more drawn I became to her.
I don’t even know when it started, but the moment I admitted to myself that I was falling for her, I let it happen. And that feeling only grew stronger.
“I’ll tell you a secret. You know Isabelle’s little boyfriend?
He’s dead now! He didn’t pay me—didn’t even have money when I found him.
That’s what led me to you…” He paused, smirking.
“What makes you think you’re any different, huh?
Tell me!” He burst out laughing. “You’re one tough bastard.
Let’s see if this next part finally gets you talking. ”
I didn’t say anything—not that I could. After the beating I’d taken, I could barely make a sound. The truth was, I couldn’t take much more. I was at my limit.
I didn’t know if I was dreaming, but then I heard a loud noise echo through the mansion—a blaring sound that reminded me of an alarm going off…