Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 56760 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 284(@200wpm)___ 227(@250wpm)___ 189(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 56760 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 284(@200wpm)___ 227(@250wpm)___ 189(@300wpm)
He doesn’t let anyone near me until the doctor arrives. Luckily for me, she’s a woman, so he doesn’t put up too much of a fight when it’s time for the exam. Still, he sits in the corner of the room, sulking silently when the doctor tells him she needs some space. She asks me some questions, checking my ankle for pain and wrapping up my shoulder. She said it won’t need stitches.
It makes me wonder just how bloodthirsty Heath is... All it took was a scrape for him to kill a man over me. Who does that? He’s obsessed, or maybe so addicted he can’t tell when his violence is excessive anymore.
But that doesn’t make me feel better. His control over himself is waning. He can’t stop his own actions, and that makes me terrified.
“It’s a light sprain. The shoulder should heal within three weeks.”
The doctor smiles at Heath.
“She’ll be fine. Just make sure she rests a lot during this time.”
“Of course, Doc,” Heath nods solemnly before pointing her to the hallway. “Thank you. Door’s right over there.”
She seems amused by his eagerness to be alone with me, winking at me. I’m too terrified to return the gesture, waiting on pins and needles until the doors close behind her.
“You ran from me,” Heath tells me in his dark voice. “Are you afraid of me?”
I swallow thickly, shaking my head as I mutter, “No.”
“Why did you run then?”
“I don’t want to be a captive anymore.”
“But you’re with me.”
“So?” I hiss, rubbing my temples with an exasperated gasp. “You make my head hurt, Heath. I just want to be free for once in my life.”
“But you can’t be free,” he laughs incredulously, like I’ve just told a joke.
“Why not? Why does everyone but me get to make their own decisions?”
“You know why.”
“No, I don’t. Tell me.”
He sits on the bed next to me, trying to take my non-injured arm in his, but I pull back. His jaw tics with annoyance.
“You’re a Castellamare girl.”
“I’m not the only one.”
“You’re the most valuable one.”
“Why?” I demand. “Because of some old superstition?”
“You know it’s not just that.”
“That’s exactly what it is,” I mutter. “The reason both you and Xavier think you can own me like I’m a piece of property. Just because of the village I was born in. You think your place of birth makes you a slave, Heath?”
His expression darkens, and he shakes his head, saying, “Of course not.”
“Then don’t treat me like one.” I try to get up, but forget about my ankle.
Groaning with pain, I fall back onto the soft, down pillows.
“And I don’t want to be in your bedroom, either.”
“That’s not your call to make.”
“Fine,” I grit out. “Treat me like your prisoner, then. That’s what I am, right? A *toy* for you to train.”
“That’s not it,” he snarls in return. “You’re more than that, and you know it. I took you to the hangout...”
“Wow,” I say mockingly. “A night with your best friends, all of whom see me as some sort of sex object. Score.”
“Watch that mouth,” he says, his gaze carrying enough of a warning to send a shiver down my spine. “Don’t make me punish you when you’re already broken.”
“I’m broken because of you.”
“You’re broken because that piece of shit guard-“
“Whom you killed without reason!”
“Without reason?”
He looks about ready to explode, his eyes wild as he gets in my face, scaring me.
“I killed him because he fucking hurt you, Rain. And did you hear his little speech at the end? Repulsive.”
“Neither of those are valid reasons to *kill someone*, Heath!”
I groan, ready to give up.
“Just... forget it. Forget everything.”
“No, I won’t.”
“I’m tired of fighting with you. I want to rest.”
“No.”
“No?” I laugh bitterly. “You’re just going to ignore what the doctor told you?”
“I’m going to show you how much you mean to me.”
“How? By killing somebody else?” I smirk, unable to stop myself from going on. “Liberato, maybe? He looked at me tonight, Heath. I think he liked my dress. You going to kill him, too?”
I know I’ve gone too far. This time, Heath will make me pay.
His charcoal eyes go numb as he reaches into his nightstand. My heart is pounding, awaiting the punishment I’ve certainly deserved by now.
But instead of the paddle or cane I expected, Heath pulls out a small vial of transparent liquid. He loads it into a medical syringe and plunges it into his veins.
The sight sends me sprawling across the bed in fear. My ankle is throbbing, but he pays it no mind as he reaches for me, roughly pulling me back.
“Don’t hurt me.”
“It’s a bit too late for that, don’t you think, Sunshine?”
I cry out as he rips through my dress as if it’s nothing. The next moment, I’m shivering in front of him in nothing but a pearl thong.
“I like that,” he mutters, pointing to my pussy. “So pretty.”