AllFreeNovel
Share Us
His loathsome grin is full of promise. “Wouldn’t I, goldilocks? I have ways of making things look like an accident. People on my payroll that will take the fall instead of me.” His loud, vile laugh makes my stomach churn with nausea. “That’s why I pay them so well.”
I swallow hard, bile rising in my throat. I don’t know what to do to get out of this.
How can I keep Vanessa safe and prevent William from telling Max his version of events that awful night?
My legs shake and I just want to flee, but William’s hands grip me too tightly, his body pressing me into the tree. Nausea wells when his features change, softening with lust. His nose moves to my neck, and he inhales deeply. Sweat trickles down my spine as I turn my head away, closing my eyes. His expensive cologne fills my nostrils, reminding me of how he smelled that night… bile rises in my throat, and I swallow hard, pushing it down.
I open my eyes, trying to keep the memories from overwhelming me. Paralyzing me.
“God, I’ve missed you.” His lilting voice sounds by my ear. His knuckles graze my cheek reverently. “You’ve only grown more beautiful over the years.”
Tears streak down my face. “William, pleasestop.” I let out a whimper and without thinking, I say, “Oh God, Max, I wish you were here.”
My gaze flits to William’s as soon as those words leave my lips, my eyes wide, fear lancing through my spine.
William’s hand freezes and his jaw clenches. “You fucking mentionhim?” His hand moves to my throat, wrapping around it threateningly, but not squeezing. At least, not yet.
A bitter laugh escapes him as he observes the tears falling down my cheeks. “Clearly, he can’t protect you. Not from me, anyway.” His lips curl up in a malicious smirk, his eyes hard and cold.
My breaths fall out of my lungs, knowing that what William is saying is true. I should have listened to Max and not gone for a run by myself. Instead, here I am, trapped by the monster in front of me.
I squeeze my eyes shut, my lips trembling.Why didn’t I listen to Max?I’ve put myself at risk by my own stupidity.
William pulls back a little further, his penetrating gaze analyzing me. Averting my eyes from his, my gaze searches for any sign of anyone that I could signal for help.
His hand grabs my jaw, yanking my face to his. A malicious sneer pulls his lips up. “Maybe I should have a talk with hero and tell him whatreallyhappened between us in high school.”
“Your version of the truth is far different from reality.” My tone is scathing, anger flashing in my eyes.
“Oh, Irelynn, do you really want to take the chance?” His stare is intense, fevered, his lips stretched in a snarl. He makes a tsking sound. “I don’t think you’d come out of this story in a good light.” His voice lowers. “I don’t think he’d like knowing you wereminebefore you were his.”
I’m unable to prevent the gasp that leaves my lips. “I was neveryours,” I spit out, fury burning through my veins.
“Weren’t you?” He raises his brow, cocking his head. “I remember things quite differently than… oh wait, you don’t remember everything, do you?” Though he sneers at me, beneath the hostility, there is a flash of pain that goes through his eyes.
And it hits me—he’s furious that I don’t remember. “Who would want to remember being with you?” My voice drips with my disdain as I glare hatefully at him.
His hand tightens around my neck, cutting off my air. My hands push against his arms, trying to get him to release his grip.
“I’d be really fucking careful what you say right now, Irelynn.” His face is mottled with rage, his limbs trembling from it.
Finally, he relaxes his grip on my throat, but his body still pins me against the tree.
I suck in air greedily. When I can finally speak, I glare at him. “Why are you here? What do you want?” My hands clench into fists, hating that I’m asking the King of Hell anything.
He gives me a sly grin as he crosses his arms over his chest. “Simple. To see you.”
I stare at him defiantly, not in the mood for his fucking games. “Specifically, right now, William. What is it that you want?”
His eyes glitter with something sinister as he gives me a vile smirk. “Tell you what, Goldilocks, I’ll make you a deal. You leave the authorities out of this, and don’t run to them with claims of ‘stalking’ and I won’t tell them or yourboywhat happened that night between us. And I’ll also leave your bratty friend, Vanessa, alone. Deal?”
A cold shiver trails down my spine at the thought of him telling Max anything, making it sound much more sordid than it is, especially since William is fluent in deception and manipulation.
And Vanessa, God only knows what he’d do to her.
Tears of frustration well in my eyes. I have no choice.
Swallowing hard, I nod, sealing my deal with the devil.
