And I? To protect the brother who lied to me, I had suffered broken ribs, a permanent limp, and scars that would never fade.
My throat felt filled with sand. I swallowed hard. "What exactly do you want?"
The leader looked me up and down, a cruel grin spreading across his face. "Sweetheart, I really don't like that stubborn look in your eyes. How about this? There are a dozen of my brothers here. Crawl through our legs, one by one, and bark like a dog three times. Do that, and I'll consider today's debt settled—just for the fun of it."
Jonathan roared in feigned anger, "No! Hazel, you can't do that!"
I forced a numb smile. The last ember of warmth in my chest turned to ice.
"If that's what you want, then we're even."
My words were directed at the thug, yet Jonathan panicked.
He opened his mouth to stop me, but then remembered his promise to Valerie. This was the final punishment.
Just this last lesson, he told himself. As long as she takes it, I'll restore her status as the James heiress.
From then on, he would never let me suffer again.
Convinced by his own delusion, he averted his gaze—and secretly snapped a photo of my degradation to send to Valerie.