Page 161 of Scars Run Deep

That lightheadedness surged violently and I staggered back, smacking into the wall between Aurora and the table, gasping for breath.

He bolted forward and yanked on my hair, tearing strands from my scalp.

He swept his fucking boot into my side, connecting with my ribs and making me choke all the more, then he followed through as I doubled over, using his hold in my hair to smash my face straight down into the floor.

I wheezed and spat out blood all over the cold concrete.

I heard pained whines sounding from Aurora through that awful gag.

“Now, as I was saying, son, all your disrespectful attitude and goading is doing is inviting me to live up to that twisted image you have of me. I can’t disappoint my blood now, can I? I have an example to set.”

As I fought to get up, he thrust his boot into my ribs.

Once. Twice.

It shoved me onto my back, sputtering and choking.

“Stay down,” he spat.

I blinked hard as that fucking sedative spread, making my limbs heavier, willing me to succumb and lose consciousness.

I watched him walk to the bench and pick up the gagging dildo.

He spun it in his hand as he strode toward Aurora. “You thought you had what it took to come at me?” he yelled, the furor of his voice bouncing off the walls like an auditory assault. “All kings fall eventually… was that your reasoning? You thought you could dethrone me?”

“Don’t… want your… power,” I rasped.

He stilled and swung his head toward me. “No? What could have possibly been worth it to embark on such a risky initiative as coming at the likes of me? What was your endgame?”

I spat out another mouthful of blood. “To. End. You.”

I witnessed an utter rarity then.

Shock.

It was all over him, and it took him a few moments to recover.

It had hit down deep.

Good.

I’d gotten under his skin.

“Hmm… end me,” he mused aloud, that dangerous tone registering all too well with me. “Well, that’s something else entirely, isn’t it?”

In a burst, he was there, fisting his hands in my suit jacket and jerking me to him. His eyes flashed and he bellowed, “You don’t have the means to end me! I’m your father! Your fucking maker! I made you everything you are, you insolent shit! And you thought you could best me! Come at me!” He shook me violently, making my swimming head loll back and forth. “You can’t fucking well destroy me!”

He released me roughly and stormed up to Aurora and walked behind her chair.

He stroked her hair with fake softness.

I knew it well. I’d suffered through it before. I was all too aware of what came next.

“Don’t,” I rasped.

“You allowed her to become a part of your mission. You don’t trust easily, yet you let her in. That tells me everything, Asher.” His fingers trailed down her cheek, across to her lips. She tried to buck away as he slid a thumb and forefinger over her tongue, but he grasped her throat and pinned her head to the chair. “She means a great deal to you. You love her, yes?”

I glared back at him, fighting up onto one knee.

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