Silent Scars (Surviving #4) Read Free

live, that I would return home. But my home was finally here to take me so in the desert my life would end, and peace would claim me. The nightmares would stop, the pain would fade, and I would finally have silence.
    Death would be my salvation. My scars would heal.
    I had never feared death I welcomed it. But fear welled within my heart as memories of my family filled my mind. I clenched my fingers into a fist, grabbing only at sand. I refused to allow fear to be my final thought. But like a typhoon it swelled and swirled, growing and fighting for attention. Voices echoed around me as I coughed and clawed at that peaceful elation. But it slipped away, eluded me.
    “Sergeant – “
    I gripped at the fine grains of sand, but they slid through my fingers, and the more I clutched to them, the less I had to hold until finally all I had was air in my hands.
    “Ryan – “
    The voices grew louder, calling me from the peaceful depths. I coughed as pressure on my chest and light in my eyes assaulted me. The numb serenity faded and chaotic light invaded me.
    I had stayed in hell.
     
     

 
    I was sitting at the breakfast bar, sulking like a little brat. At twenty-six it was immensely embarrassing to have your own bloody parents ground you.
    “Aloura, don’t frown it will give you premature wrinkles,” my jailer grumbled as he filled his cup.
    “You’re treating me like a child. I may as well act like one,” I snapped, breaking off the crust from my dried toast and throwing it down for Hercules, my trusted companion. He gobbled it up and wagged his tail.
    “Please don’t feed the dog from the table.”
    “Dad, seriously, house arrest is really not necessary,” I pleaded. Okay, so I was being dramatic. He had simply insisted I move into the main house and leave my cosy home situated at the bottom of the grounds in the converted stables.
    “He’s been watching you.” Dad placed his drink down and pinched the bridge of his nose. “Some lunatic has been watching your every move. He’s described in sick detail what he wants to do to you. He was in your home, Aloura. I refuse to take any chances with that.”
    The pain and desperation in my dad’s voice killed me. It wasn’t his fault some nut had decided to take offence at the practises at my dad’s firm. I opened my mouth to apologise, and he silenced me by holding up his hand. He pulled back his shoulders, lifted his coffee to his mouth, taking a sip before a mischievous grin lit his face.
    “There are two security men coming to introduce themselves today. Ryan Dermont and Will Senior. In fact they should be here anytime soon.”
    “I don’t need this.”
    “I hate having to keep saying this, but someone threatened you. They are targeting you because of me . Make an old man happy and let this man stick with you.”
    I huffed my irritation and threw more toast to Hercules.
    “They’re both American, and from what Will explained your bodyguard has recently left the U.S. Marines.” Dad wiggled his eyebrows.
    I simply shook my head and rolled my eyes. I was being an irritable, immature cow.
    “If he’s anything like Will, he’ll be bloody gorgeous. The arse on that man.”
    “Dad, seriously!”
    “What I’m old, not dead from the waist down, kiddo”
    “Urgh! Children need therapy for much less than hearing that.”
    “I don’t know whether I want to bite his arse or beg him to spank mine,” he mused dreamily.
    I was about to be reacquainted with my digested breakfast. I groaned and buried my head in my hands.
    “Honey, men like him are few and far between. He’s tall, commanding, and just delicious.”
    “Stop! You have to stop before I throw up my cornflakes. I’m of a generation where we like to think we invented sex and our parents don’t have any rude bits.” I waved my hands at him. “So shush.”
    Dad threw his head back and laughed. “You remind me so much of your mother when you sass me like that.”
    “At least she doesn’t regale me