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“That would only buy you a night. You strike me as a woman who would rather die untouched than sell her body to live a little longer.”
When it came to survival, I was willing to do anything. “When you have me, once won’t be enough. You’ll want me more and more…and you’ll never stop wanting me.” It wasn’t a reflection of my capabilities in bed. I was just desperate to save my life. I would say anything to make this stop.
He stood still, like he was thinking about what I said.
And then he turned on the camera.
No.
He opened a suitcase and pulled out a long knife.
Oh god.
This was happening.
It wasn’t some horrible nightmare.
This was real. I was about to be murdered, and there was nothing I could do to stop it.
The only thing in my control was me.
I refused to go out crying. I refused to beg. I would remain the strong woman that I’d always been. I took a deep breath and controlled my expression, doing my best to seem unafraid. My parents would watch this. I wanted them to be proud of my bravery, even if I was naked and helpless.
Bones walked behind me, holding the blade at his side. He grabbed a fistful of hair and jerked my head back to expose my neck. Then he pressed the blade right against my skin. “Anything you want to say to your family?”
My pulse was strong in my neck. I could feel it vibrate with my panic. This was the last thing I would ever say in this life. I wanted to make it count. “Mama, Father…I know you’re going to want to avenge me and hunt down this man for what he did. But please don’t. Let this war die with me. Live out your lives in peace and honor my memory over a glass of wine in the evenings. I fought him the whole way, and even now, as he takes my life, he doesn’t have me. Please do nothing. The last thing I want is for any more Barsettis to die because of this war. He wants you to come for him. Don’t give him what he wants. Please. I love all of you. Goodbye.” I closed my eyes and waited for him to slit my throat. I didn’t want to know when it was coming.
But it never came. The blade remained against my neck but didn’t dig deeper.
I continued to wait.
His hand started to shake.
I opened my eyes, looking at the red light on the camera. I wasn’t sure if I felt his hesitation or if he was just enjoying this surge of power.
“Fuck.” He pulled his hand away, taking the knife with it. He cut my cable ties then walked to the camera. Instead of turning it off, he smashed it to the ground then stabbed it with the knife. In a violent rampage, he destroyed everything around him.
I was too surprised by what happened to cover myself. I watched him smash apart the camera, stabbing it over and over with the knife. I watched his anger destroy everything in his path. His biceps bulged with rage, and his corded neck became more strained than usual. He finally threw the knife across the room, planting it five inches deep into the wall.
Then he turned around and stared at me.
Furiously.
The vein in his forehead was pounding.
The vein in his neck was throbbing too.
All his muscles flexed and loosened over and over. A full minute passed as this stare down continued. He dropped the knife, but now it seemed like he was going to murder me with his fists.
I didn’t know if I should be relieved or afraid.
Then he rushed me, just the way he rushed me after I shot him. He moved me to my back on the plastic then dug his hand into my hair. His lips crushed against mine, and he kissed me harder than last time.
I kissed him back, my naked body underneath his. I didn’t know what was going on, but now that the knife wasn’t pressed to my throat, I was high on survival. I wouldn’t die today. Maybe he would kill me later, but for right now, I was safe.
So, I kissed him back. I was grateful when I shouldn’t be. I felt safe when he was the one who put me in danger. I didn’t know what changed his mind, but now that he smothered me with kisses, it didn’t matter.
I pulled his shirt over his head, revealing his ripped physique. If the only reason he didn’t kill me was because he wanted me, I would let him have me. It’d give me enough time to figure out my next move.
Then my thoughts faded away as he kissed me harder, giving me his tongue. He breathed into my mouth and moaned directly into my lungs. His hand dug into my hair, fisting it as he gathered more hair into his grasp.
