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I’d be doing everything to get to that mansion and finish what that bastard started.
“Carnage is only the beginning,” she whispers, stealing my attention once more. “Blood that’s shed to cause a commotion. One that leads to havoc.”
She has me now as I seek refuge in her intense gaze, doing my best to tame my breathing and wild heartbeat.
“Let everything be chaotic until they’re obsessed. An obsession they can no longer ignore because every move hits home. Hits every target and leaves no trace of warning or regret.”
She dares to smile now, and how sinister it looks as her eyes darken tremendously.
“Vengeance. That’s what I want. What I need… for closure… but I can’t do it alone. I’ve never been able to.”
“And you no longer have to,” I whisper and kiss her forehead.
“I’ve tried, though.” It’s as if she’s fighting the whispers in her head. “I tried really hard. Making distance and watching from afar. I did a lot to get stronger. To be a fighter and not… a fragile girl. I can fight. I can kill. I could have killed them all that night at the dining table. I wanted to slice their throats. Make everyone bleed…”
Now, I feel absolutely horrible.
Letting her sit there with the man who dared touch her.Abused her. That night, he was mocking her right in her face. Reminding her how helpless she is, even being surrounded by us, her Ruthless Kings.
We allowed her to be in an unsafe environment. To revisit haunting memories, I’m sure she buried deep within. Then the fucking guard touched her.Hurting her.Then fucking Domino forced her to suck his cock.
“Fuck,” I curse when it all hits me. “Dammit, Verena. Why didn’t you…” I want to try to blame her secrecy, but then again, who the fuck was I? My allegiance was with Domino. I wouldn’t have defended her.
I wouldn’t have given a fuck if she told me she was raped…
“I was a nobody.”
When I stare into her eyes now, I can feel her heartbreak. Sense the harbored loneliness inside her. It’s so easy to read her now, and maybe I’ve been a fool all along.
Blinded by my lustful desire for her as an object versus seeing her as another being who could flourish with power. I categorized her without even realizing it, and that’s why the truth is hitting me harder than I’d like.
Zander softened to her because he saw her as a person. A woman with feelings other than lust and desire. Saw her past an object and began to accept she could be more valuable than what she brings to the table of signed contracts.
I was just too blind to see until betrayal hit me in the face.
Without thought, I take her hand in mine and pull her away with me until I’m next to my main desk, a few steps away. With my hands on the sides of her waist, I easily lift and place her onto the marble surface, not caring about the stacks of documents that topple over.
She’s confused by my actions, but she can tell from my expression that I’m not going to pounce on her.
This isn’t the time for sexual endeavors. She needs to witness what I can do, but first…
“When?”
When did it first begin?
She doesn’t answer at first, but she looks deep in thought. It’s as though she’s trying to dig through those dark memories and acquire when it really started.
When she could comprehend something wrong was being done.
“Little bit after I was sold? I guess… if you count uncomfortable touching.” She acts as though she’s shrugging, but I can tell a quiver runs through her.
“Prescott never knew?”
“He was barely around,” she admits. “Can’t know about something if it’s hidden so well. Besides, I’m not the favorite child, remember?” she says with a sad smirk.
“Doesn’t mean you should have slipped through the cracks.” I don’t mean to yell, and I’m thankful it doesn’t frighten her with my raised voice, but that hits me harder than I’d ever admit.
Being a shadow of your elder sibling’s footsteps…
