Chapter 40 Stay With Me

Chapter 40 Stay With Me
Selena’s P.O.V.

I'm trapped, feeling helpless. My wrists burn with the pain of tight ropes as I’m tied to the bed. I struggle, yanking against my restraints, but they only dig deeper into my skin, causing me pain. 

I'm so fucking scared, praying that God will send James to save me. My eyes well up with tears, but I squeeze them shut, picturing his face. The thought of him gives me strength. I won’t let the tears fall. Not in front of these sick bastards.

Two monsters are torturing me like hell, but I am not weak. I’ll fight them until my last breath, even though I’m scared. No matter how much it hurts or how terrified I am, I won’t submit to them.

Luther climbs on top of me, his dark eyes are filled with hunger, lust, and cruelty. My heart pounds in terror. 

His lips curl into an evil smile as he touches my cheek. I draw back in disgust, turning my head away, and struggling harder against the restraints. I tremble in panic as I realise what he is about to do.

No! God, please save me. James, please come! Please save me from this monster. 

I have to be strong for myself until James comes for me.

“Fucking asshole, leave me!” I spit, hiding how horrified I am from inside. 

As he slaps me so hard, pain explodes across my cheek and my head snaps to the side. I taste blood from the corner of my lips. My eyes become moist, but I blink back the tears. I won’t break in front and inflate their ego. I will not give him the satisfaction. They’ll never get to know the fear I'm feeling right now. 

“Shut your fucking mouth, bitch.” He grabs my hair and yanks my head back, making me cry out in pain. 

As he rips my top roughly, my body trembles with fear and panic. He’s going to rape me.

No! Please, James, come. Save your little miss.

He reaches for my bra. His filthy hands are about to strip away my last shred of dignity.

I scream, helpless. “No! Get away from me! Don’t you dare—”

At that moment only, the door bursts open and slams against the wall with a loud crash.

I freeze, but as soon as I see James standing in the doorway, I feel like I get my breath back. James is here. I can’t believe it. I feel so relieved. Fresh tears fill my eyes, and despite the pain, I smile.

Finally. My man is here. Thank God! 

Behind him, my father follows, but my gaze stays locked on James.

He stands there, his chest heaving, eyes blazing with pure rage. I have never seen him like this before—his face dark, contorted with fury, his muscles coiled tight. It seems he is ready to destroy everything in his path.

“Get your filthy hands off her!” He roars in his dangerous and deadly tone.

Before Luther can react, James walks over to us and shoves him to the ground. My father joins in, beating the shit out of him.

James turns to me, his eyes filled with unshed tears, his face etched with pain. “Selena...”

I break down, sobbing. Hearing his voice, seeing him standing here—it is overwhelming. Deep down, I always knew he would come. And he did. My hope wasn’t in vain.

He rushes to me, and his hands work quickly to untie the ropes around my wrists. The moment I am free, he pulls me into his arms, holding me so tightly I can barely breathe.

“I was so scared, James,” I cried, clutching him as if he is the only thing keeping me together.

“I’m here... I’ve got you... you’re safe now, baby.” He kisses my hair, caressing me reassuringly. 

In his arms, I feel safe. 

I know no one can touch me now.

When he pulls away, his eyes widen in pain at my half-naked state. Without a second thought, he shrugs off his coat and wraps it around me, shielding me. His scent surrounds me. It’s familiar and comforting.

He presses his lips to my forehead. “I’m so sorry... I’m so fucking sorry... I should have been here sooner...” His voice is filled with guilt and pain, and I hate it. I can’t see my man in guilt. It isn’t his fault. 

I shake my head, gripping his shirt tightly. “You... you saved me... you came...”

He looks at me, his eyes wet, red-rimmed. He cups my face and brushes away the tears. “I’ll always come for you, little miss. Always.”

A cry catches our attention. My dad is beating Luther brutally and blood stains his fists. He punches him relentlessly nonstop in rage.

“You touched my daughter... you dared to hurt her... I’ll kill you!”

I feel so damn relieved as I watch my father fight for me. For the first time, I see his protective side, his care. It gives me deep satisfaction like fate wanted me to witness this moment.

Luther struggles, his bruised and bloody face contorted with pain. He lifts his hand, about to strike my father, but before he can, James rushes toward them and grabs his wrist. With one swift motion, he throws him down and unleashes his own fury, landing blow after blow.

“How dare you touch her?” James roars, his voice filled with outrage. He doesn’t stop, not until Luther collapses and blood pools around him.

But it’s not enough.

I can’t lie helplessly any longer. The memory of his touch, his cruelty, fuels my rage. Clutching James’s coat tightly around me, I step forward and kick him hard—right where it will hurt the most. He howls in agony, curling into himself.

“You deserve this, you asshole,” I spit, my voice shaking with fury.

James glances at me, his lips twitching, a flicker of pride sparking in his eyes. “That’s my girl.”

But before I can breathe, before I can think anything, my eyes land on the door.

Max.

He stands there, his face cold, his eyes gleaming with pure hatred. A gun is in his hand, aimed straight at my father.

And my dad doesn’t see him.

Time slows.

The world blurs.

“No…” The scream rips from my throat. 

Before I can think, before fear can stop me, I run towards my father to save him. 

A bang shatters the air and the bullet slams into my chest as come in front of my father, shielding him from the shot. I feel a searing pain, like a fire burning through my skin, and my vision begins to blur.

As my knees buckle, I see James's horrified face, and my father's shocked expression.

Strong arms catch me before I hit the ground, holding me tight.

James.

As he cradles me, his body trembles. I can’t feel anything except the warmth of my own blood spreading across my skin.

“Selena! No... no, no, no...” He cries, holding me tightly. His hands press down on my chest, trying to stop the bleeding. Now his hands are covered in my blood.

I look up at him. His face is pale, his eyes wide with sheer terror. His lips move, pleading, but I can’t hear him anymore. There’s only a loud ringing in my ears, drowning everything else out.

I smile weakly. My trembling fingers move up to touch his cheek and leave streaks of red on his skin. My vision getting blur but I don’t want to close my eyes.

I want to keep looking at him. Maybe it’s the last time. 

No. I don’t want our story to end like this. I want to live more. 

His tears fall, landing on my skin. He cups my face and his hands shake as he cries.“Stay with me, Selena... don’t you dare leave me... please... I can’t lose you...”

I try to speak, to tell him I’m not going anywhere, that I’ll fight, that I’ll stay with him. But my body betrays me.

My hand slips from his cheek.

And everything goes black.