Chapter 79. Penitentiary

Aaron POV

I left the hospital once Joan had fallen asleep. There weren’t enough words to describe how I felt when I walked into that room and those green eyes turned to me. I wanted to fall to my knees, but the mild confusion in them kept me standing. The last thing I wanted was to startle her.

I headed down to the basement, Louis and another guy trailing behind me. The air was thick with the damp, metallic scent of the underground space. I barely spared a glance at the figure tied to the chair—blindfolded, gagged, and completely helpless.

“I want to believe none of you touched her,” I said, my voice even but laced with a warning. They both gave a curt nod. I was in for a lot of things, but rape wasn’t one of them. Women were a rarity here, and I had made it clear—no one was to lay a finger on them. I gave the orders, and that was one line I refused to let anyone cross.

She jerked against the restraints, wrists rubbing raw against the coarse rope. I wa