Page 90 of Condemned By Betrayal
“Where are my clothes?” he asks, turning around.
I clench my jaw, draw a slow breath, and remind myself I hate this man. Then I answer in the coldest tone I can summon. “I burned them.”
Before he can speak, before he can even react, I hurl my question at him. “What the hell are you doing here?”
He raises a brow. “Can’t I come into my own room?”
Anger surges through my bloodstream. “This is my room. Get the fuck out before I call Salvario.”
He takes a step toward me. “Since I’m legally married to you, this is my room too.”
I retreat three steps toward the door. “We won’t stay married once my father has you back in his prison.”
He chuckles, the way a monster would, utterly devoid of mirth, warmth, or any human feeling. “Don’t worry. Before that happens, I’ll have your father and brother buried ten feet underground.”
His words settle over me with a bitter realization. He’s no longer the man who was ready to give up everything for me. Now, he only wants to take. And I’m afraid I won’t be able to stop him. Still, I try. “I’ll hate you for the rest of my life if you touch them.”
He laughs. “What makes you think I give a fuck about your hatred? It’s not like you were ever going to love me.” He moves closer. This time, I don’t retreat, I stay rooted against the open closet door. He lifts his hand and taps a single finger against my chest. “Now I want to see just how much this sunshine heart of yours can hate.”
“You weren’t like this in the cabin.”
He snarls, rage flashing in his eyes like lightning through a thunderhead. “Because back then, I was foolish enough to hope I could earn your love. You burned that hope the second you let that motherfucker put his hands on you.”
I shove at his chest. He doesn’t budge. Once again, I let him get too close. Once again, he believes he has the right to stay where he isn’t wanted. I was wrong to think—even for a second—that this man ever wanted only to give. He was always here to take. Using whatever method he could, whether manipulation or force.And he took everything so thoroughly there’s nothing left. My fury kindles, stoked by hatred for him. I refuse to accept that some of this hatred burns just as fiercely for myself.
“You fucking ruined me for him.” I force the words through the lump in my throat.Don’t cry. Don’t cry in front of this bastard.“You fucking ruined me so thoroughly I can’t even stand the touch of the man I love.” I don’t raise my voice. Why do I still care whether Salvario finds out? Whether he kills him? He should kill him—should free me from him.
His anger fades. The thunderhead of rage ebbs in a second. “What did you say?” He asks slowly, putting equal emphasis on each word, like he didn’t hear me and desperately needs me to say it again. But I know he did.
“I said I hate you, you bastard. Just fucking leave me.” I don’t know what I’m saying anymore. All the denial strips away, leaving me bare to my own ugly reality.
I pound at his chest, claw at his shirt. The maddening rage—at him, at myself—comes pouring out in its raw, ugly form. I tear at him like a woman possessed. The fabric tears, along with some of his skin. This is exactly how I’ve wanted to tear him out of my head. But I’m a fucking failure at that, so I unleash the demon on the monster who created it.
“Fucking get out of my head,” I cry out.
He lets me claw at him until I’m breathless. Then he grips my numb arms tightly and pulls me against him, forcing me onto my tiptoes. His eyes bore into mine, his fingers branding my arms beneath their hold.
“You think it’s that easy? Do you know how deep you’ve etched yourself into me? You could bleed me dry, hollow me to the bone, and when every last trace of me is gone, you’d still remain.” He releases me. I stumble backward, my back hitting the doorframe behind me. “If even a single ounce of this obsession lives in you, you will never be rid of me. Not in this life.”
I scrub my tears away. “If dying is what it takes to be free of you, then so be it.”
The thunderhead reforms, more vicious than before. I step out of the closet, never breaking eye contact with the beast. He follows me into the room. I keep backing away until he decides it’s enough, then he lunges and seizes my wrist. He yanks me back to him by the wrist. I twist, trying to break free, but he doesn’t let go. He locks his other arm around my waist, cinching me in a bruising hold.
He lowers his face, his blazing gaze spearing into mine. “Do it, and I’ll hunt you down in the afterlife. But before that, I’ll send every person you love ahead of you.”
“How long are you going to threaten me with the deaths of innocent people? Don’t you have any other threat?”
He loosens his grip on my wrist, his thumb grazing the sore flesh. “Blame that soft heart of yours. It’s so weak anyone can use it against you.”
I wrench my wrist free.
“Never say that again. I mean it, Elowen. If you try to take your own life, it will end with the deaths of many." He seizes my face between his thumb and fingers, forcing my lips into a pout. “You are not allowed to die.”
He releases my face, turns, and walks away. Like a fool, I think he’s heading for the balcony, the way he must have come in.
He does no such thing. Instead, he turns toward the bed, lies down on his back, kicks off his shoes, and laces his hands behind his head.
Chapter 35
