Page 45 of Leave Me (Touch of Death 2)
“You can’t just kill her. She’s the head of the family.” My mind frantically searches for words and excuses, anything. “Someone else will just replace her, and then it’ll be war. Please, just think about this.”
“Yes, someone will replace her.” A slow smile pulls at his lips. “The next in line—you.”
“What?” I choke. “No, I’m not. I can’t…”
He closes the distance between us and turns until my back is to Gabi, as though he wants his next words to be private, between us. He strokes his fingertips over my cheek in that disconcerting way. “Don’t worry, principessa.” Fingers wrap around my jaw, holding me in place as he leans in close. Lips brush across my cheek before gliding to my bleeding ear. “Your husband will help you.” His tongue flicks out, licking the cut before he chuckles and pulls back.
I suddenly see it all so clearly, every move he’s mapped out to perfection. This has been years in the planning, and I just walked right into his arms, handing him everything he ever wanted. He’s going to kill my sister because he can. Because he has me. I am the key to my father’s kingdom, and he has them. I gave them to him and signed my sister’s death warrant. My lungs seize, and pain tears through my chest as it feels like my heart physically cracks in my chest. Stupid. How could I be so stupid?
I wrap my fingers around his wrist and try to tug his hand from my face. At first, his fingers only dig in harder, but he finally lets go. He stares down at me as though I’m some stray dog in his presence.
“Please, let her go. For me. She won’t be a problem again. I promise.”
He throws his head back on a laugh, and the action makes him seem almost maniacal. “Ah, Adelina.” He tilts his head, those dark eyes tracing over my face. “Our marriage will cement our families in an unbreakable alliance. That was the vison our fathers once had for us. Your sister has made it abundantly clear that we can’t rely on her loyalty. Why would I do you or her any favors?”
“Because I came here to avoid this!” Panic creeps up my throat, and desperation eats away at me. “Gabi made a mistake. A misguided mistake out of loyalty to me.”
“Tsk, tsk, and why would she need to do that? You’re here willingly, aren’t you?” His eyes slide over my shoulder, and I know he’s aiming that twisted smirk right at Gabi, mocking her.
“I know, but… She doesn’t believe me,” I say in a rush. “Please. Just let her—”
“Show her.” That smile shifts to me and whatever words were on the tip of my tongue evaporate.
“What?”
“Show her how willing you are, principessa. And maybe I’ll let her go.”
My heart pumps harder, and my breaths rattle in my ears as my palms suddenly become clammy.
“Show…her,” I whisper. The words reverberate around my skull like the ringing of a bell.
His eyes darken, and he looks at me like a piece of meat he’s about to take a bite out of.
I know exactly what he wants, and the thought has bile creeping up my throat. “Okay,” I breathe, more to myself than anyone else. I sense Gabi’s eyes on my back, and I hate it. Shame washes over me, but I’m running out of options here. There’s nothing I won’t do to save her from Enrique’s demonic clutches.
Placing my palms on his shoulders, I push up on tiptoes and place my lips against his. I feel cold and rigid as I attempt to move my mouth over his. He doesn’t react for several seconds, and then his hands slide over my waist, grabbing my ass and yanking me tightly against him. I can feel the hard bulge pressing against my lower stomach, and it repulses everything in me. His teeth sink into my bottom lip, biting down so hard that blood explodes over my tongue. I tug away from him, forcing space between us.
“You’ll have to do better than that, principessa.”
I don’t know what more he wants from me. I lean forward again, swallowing the metallic saltiness of the blood in my mouth.
“No.” He presses a finger over my lips. “A queen should kneel for her king.”
My mind grapples with the words. He makes no move to touch me or force me, but I wish he would. He wants me to do this willingly. Without force. In front of my sister. This is all part of his sick little manipulations. Cold sweat prickles over my skin, and I close my eyes, inhaling a cleansing breath. I can do this. For Gabi. I allow my knees to buckle, and I drop like dead weight, my kneecaps meeting the floor with a crack. Enrique stares down at me, our eyes meeting. I reach out with trembling hands and tug at his belt, then the button of his pants and the zipper. He makes no effort to help me at all, and I know it’s deliberate. Tugging his pants and boxers down, I feel physically sick when his dick springs free. It’s just…there and pointing at me. I can’t do this. I can’t do this.
