Chapter 43
Elena
Burying my fingers into the back of his shirt, I grip the fabric like it’s a life raft, hoping that whatever he has planned for me is going to be quick and painless.RêAd lat𝙚St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only
Ha, wishful thinking.
Julian doesn’t stop or even talk as he walks through the house, and I think that’s the scariest part of all. His silence. It’s the calm before the storm because I know what happens next.
He punishes me, or maybe even kills me?
Reaching the bedroom door, I feel myself start to shake. He pushes the door open with his foot and strides into the room, depositing me on the mattress. As soon as my back hits the sheets, I scurry backward.
Julian isn’t having it though and grabs me by the ankle, tugging me back to him. I kick and lash out the best I can, but I’m easily subdued by his strength.
Leaning into my face, I can see the betrayal in his eyes. The dark, bleak orbs burn with barely restrained rage.
“Did you really think you could make it off this property without me finding you? Huh? How did you get out of the room? Who helped you? Marie? Did she give you a key?”
Immediately, a different kind of fear fills me. If he hurts her, I don’t know what I’ll do.
“What? No! No, Marie did nothing, I swear!”
“Who then?”
“My father. He sent a woman to the bathroom at the auction. She gave me a key, I put it in my bra and hid it…”
His stormy blue eyes hold mine, a thousand emotions swirling deep in their depths.
“Why… Why would you try and escape? To go back to him, a man that sold you to me?” His legs hold me in place, and his fingers dig into my arms with bruising force. He looks like he is teetering on the edge of insanity, ready to nosedive into unknown waters. I don’t want to know what he has planned for me, but at that moment, I can’t think rationally.
Anger and sadness blend together, becoming one, and I snap. “You made him! You forced him to sell me! And what’s it matter? Why would I want to stay here with you? How are you any better?”
“You’re so naïve-such a stupid girl. Your father doesn’t care what happens to you. He would sell you to anyone, the highest bidder, no matter how cruel they were to you.”
“You’re lying! My father loves me. He wants me back! He said so himself.”
“Your father doesn’t want you back. He put a hit out on me, promising ten million and you as a prize to whoever kills me first. He doesn’t care where you are or what happens to you as long as you are not with me.”
Shaking my head, I squeeze my eyes shut and try to make sense of what he is telling me, but it doesn’t add up. “Why? Nothing you say makes sense.”
“He doesn’t want me to have you out of spite, he hates me, that’s all.”
“Is that why you want to kill us? You hate each other so much that death is the only answer?”
“Oh, sweet Elena. Who said I want you dead? I have much better plans for you. I only care about killing your father, but not before I make him watch us get married, making you mine completely. He can’t stand seeing me with you, not because he loves you, but because I took something from him. I took you, and now you are mine, and I think it’s about time you get that into your head.”
He moves off me, but retains his hold, pressing me deeper into the mattress. His hands work fast as he undresses me, ripping off my shirt and bra with one hand while holding me down with the other. I can feel the fabric giving away, the cool air against my skin, and for a moment, I’m frozen, then like someone snapped their fingers in front of my face, the cold releases its grip on me. My heart thunders in my chest, each beat rattling me to the core.
“What are you doing?” I croak, fear consuming me.
“You wanted me to fuck you a few hours ago, right? Or was that all a show? Did you think sex would throw me off? Did you think you could use it against me?” He studies me for a moment and continues, “I’m just giving you what you asked for.”
“Not like this,” I whimper, struggling against his grasps, which becomes tighter the more I thrash around.
“Too bad, you lost my mercy, and my patience when you betrayed me.”
“I’m sorry,” I sob, shoving at his chest, but he’s like trying to move a mountain, and I just don’t have the strength in me. Even with me struggling, he still manages to pull my jeans down with ease and rips off my panties like they are made out of paper.
Looking down at my now naked body, he smiles. The look in his eyes chills me to the bone, and I know whatever happens next will change us forever.
“You’re not sorry, but you will be by the end of the night.”
Fury burns through me with the heat of a thousand suns. “I hate you! I hate you so much! I knew you would do this. I knew you would hurt me, no matter what.”
“I haven’t hurt you yet, have I? I wasn’t going to hurt you at all–”