Billionaire Romance: Spencer's Torment (A Seductive Alpha Billionaire Romance Book 2) by Kaycee Kline

stop. In an odd way, the pain was comforting—something I had grown used to and even somewhat enjoyed . It reminded me that I was alive and that, up until this point, I’d only experienced a fraction of what the world had to offer. I was done playing it safe and this whole experience had taught me that I was stronger than I ever imagined.
    “Woah, there. Be careful, Emily. You’re going to hurt yourself,” Spencer said gently as he untangled himself from my arms.
    As I looked up at him I could see the concern on his face and wondered what he was thinking. That I’d officially gone crazy? Did he feel sorry for me? The thought of him pitying me made my blood boil and I spun on my heel and stomped back to the Escalade.
    I climbed into the passenger seat of the Escalade and slammed the door, then I curled up in a ball and rested my face on the arm rest, the pain felt like a branding iron being placed to my cheek and everything on me ached. I just wanted this all to be over with and for things to be back to normal. But more than anything, I wanted Spencer and I’s relationship to feel like it used to—easy and safe.
    Spencer climbed into the car beside me. He was silent and I could feel the tension hanging in the air between us. I thought for sure he was going to say something, but he didn’t. Instead, he just turned the key in the ignition and pulled away from the shack that I had spent the last twelve-plus hours of my life in. I had survived, but I wasn’t sure to what extent or how much of me was still in tact.
    As I examined the scene we were driving away from, through my swollen and bloodshot eyes, it all felt so surreal. The flashing lights, the police officers, the SWAT team, Calvin, the blood, the torture, the hopelessness. The girl leaving with Spencer wasn’t the same girl that had arrived there and I felt a deep and unexpected sorrow stirring in my soul for the part of me that I was leaving behind.
    “What’s going to happen to Calvin?” I asked, the question taking us both by surprise.
    Spencer stared straight ahead into the darkness as we drove down the long and winding driveway until we came to a stop at an unmarked dirt road. Spencer turned right.
    Everything looked so desolate and dark as I took in the scenery for the first time—a black hole where life didn’t seem to exist and I sat up in my seat to get a better view. I wanted to be able to remember this moment.
    Finally, we reached the interstate and Spencer gunned it out onto the empty freeway, the gas pedal all the way to the floor, the needle on the speedometer pushing 100.
    He never responded to my question. I didn’t know if it was because he didn’t hear me or he simply was ignoring it, but I wasn’t going to push it so we rode in silence, the only noise the hum of the tires on the asphalt.
     
    *****
     
    Finally, after almost two hours of silence, Spencer responded in a tired voice, “I don’t know, Emily. And I don’t really care. He’s dead. That’s all that matters.”
    I turned to look at him, unwilling to mask the shock on my face. “What do you mean you don’t care? He’s your brother, Spencer.”
    “He was my brother, Emily. And I’d really appreciate it if you’d actually take my side for once and act like you give a damn about me . I mean, Jesus Christ , he was going to kill you!”
    “He wasn’t. He just wanted to make you angry, Spencer,” the lie slipped out before I could even register what I was saying. “He just wanted to be close. Like you guys used to be.”
    “Oh, is that what he told you? Because Calvin and I were never close, Emily. He was always fucked in the head and I couldn’t stand being around him. He was a fucking waste of space—totally demented. Did he tell you that he used to torture and kill animals?” he shouted, incredulous.
    I was silent.
    “Well, he did! He used to capture them, restrain them, and beat them until they were black and blue. Until they fucking couldn’t fathom