Bound by the Past, Locked by the Heart novel Chapter 113

Randal was awakened by the pain.

The wounds on his back seemed to have gotten infected, and a fever left him feeling groggy.

But the moment he opened his eyes, his first instinct was still to reach under his pillow.

No phone.

He braced himself against the edge of the bed and sat up. A dull ache radiated from his ribs, much fiercer than when he had been beaten a few days ago.

Fighting through the discomfort, he stood and walked toward the door, stopping dead in his tracks just as he reached it.

The bedroom door was leaning crookedly against the frame. A gaping hole had been smashed where the lock used to be, and wooden splinters were scattered across the floor.

He stared at the door for several seconds before his clouded mind slowly pieced together the memories of the last few days.

He had been locked in this room for days.

He had smashed the door with a chair after hearing Miles and Alfred arguing downstairs.

Leaning against the wall, he made his way to the top of the stairs and immediately saw the two men locked in a standoff in the living room.

Alfred was blocking Miles's path. "Miles, Robert gave the order. No one is allowed to see Randal today. Please don't make this hard for me."

"I'm just going up for one look, and then I'll leave."

"I really can't let you."

"Why the hell are you locking him up? He's thirty, not three!"

The sound of his footsteps coming down the stairs startled the two men in the living room.

Miles immediately rushed over, grabbing his arm, his emotions spiraling slightly out of control.

"Randal, are you an idiot? You just let your dad beat you like this? You don't know how to dodge?"

Confronted by Miles's questioning, it finally dawned on him.

Right, when your father beats you, you're allowed to dodge.

But the terror carved into his bones from childhood had long since formed a conditioned reflex.

If you dared to dodge, the punishment would only be worse.

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