Missing Link (The Finders Book 1) by Addison Jane Read Free Book Online Page A

"You will do as you're told, act as you're meant to and never," he squeezed again, my hands pulled at his arm but it didn't budge "EVER, talk back."
    The room was starting to blur as he released me and I gasped for air.
    He pulled me by my hair towards the bed, throwing me face down onto it and using his free hand to rip away my underwear. Tears leaked from my eyes and I wished then that I had passed out or better, that he'd stopped me breathing altogether.

Chapter Six
     
    Charlie adjusted his suit in the mirror as I lay on the bed, covering myself with a sheet. He watched me out of the corner of his eye.
    "I'm leaving for a few days on business." I nodded slightly. He walked towards me and I fought the urge to cower away from him. He ran his hand down my cheek and leaned in, kissing my forehead gently.
    "This wouldn't happen if you would just listen and do as you're told Samantha."
    I nodded again, "I apologise." I whispered softly, my voice was scratchy and it hurt to talk.
    "Good girl." He swept my hair back, eying what I assumed was now worse bruising around my throat. "I'll have Bear make you a Doctor’s appointment to have to have these checked. You tell them sometimes we get to rough when we play."
    The smirk that crossed his lips almost made me shiver in disgust. I forced a small smile instead.
    I crawled out of bed, tucking the sheet delicately around my body as I watched his car leave from the bedroom window. I sighed in relief. It was true that Charlie had hit me, hurt me, and punished me before. It wasn’t a daily, weekly or even monthly occurrence, it also wasn’t uncommon.  But the frequency of abuse was increasing. Small things were causing him to lash out in ways he would have simply laughed off before. I was scared. I knew Charlie, I could read him well. I knew what he liked and what he didn’t like, what would set him off, what would make him happy. This Charlie, was completely unpredictable.
    There was a quiet knock on the door.
    "Come in." I called, still facing the window and pulling the sheet a little tighter around my body. It creaked open.
    "Sam…" Teddy’s voice was soft as common for when Charlie asked him to take me to the doctor. As far as I knew, he had the doctor on his payroll because he never questioned my bruising. "You okay?"
    A breathy laugh escaped my sore throat and I turned to face him. Anger encompassed his face as he eyed my now darkening bruising.
    "Oh yeah," I croaked. "Peachy."
    "He went all out this time huh." He said moving towards me and lifting my chin to study my face and neck.
    "I talked back." I shrugged. He shook his head then whipped it back to the side of the bed when he caught sight of the torn underwear that lay next to it. He growled in his throat and I stepped back.
    "Don't." Was all that came out of my mouth. I wasn't going to explain to him. I don't even think I could if I tried. His features softened and he pulled me suddenly into a tight embrace, wrapping his thick arms around my shoulders and pressing me gently into his squishy stomach. Cuddling Teddy made me think about what it might be like to cuddle Santa Claus; his big belly making it stupidly awkward but strangely comforting. I almost let out a small giggle. He held me tight, kissing the top of my head with his bristled face before sighing heavily and pushing me away, his hands gripping my shoulders.
    "Get dressed and we can go to the doctor, make sure there's no permanent damage." I nodded and walked towards the closet as he stomped out the door, pulling his phone from his pocket angrily. I pulled a shirt with a high neck, the last thing I needed was questions I didn't want to answer. After applying enough makeup to cover some of the bruising on my face but not enough to make me feel like a hooker, I walked out and got in the back seat of the car, with Teddy beside me and Jet in the driver’s seat waiting. They didn't talk, for which I was grateful.
    As per usual, we walked straight through the