Page 26 of Their Dark Rose

“Of course it will.” We’re nose to nose. My eyes stare straight at him, my ego refusing to let him see the damage his words have done yet again. “You’ll be rid of me, then.”

Falk doesn’t even blink before saying, “What’s one of the things I really, truly hate, Briar?”

I almost say me. Instead, I choose the answer he’s clearly after. “Repeating yourself.”

“Correct.” He expands his chest, nostrils flaring. “So, this is the last time I’ll say this. Getting rid of you is the last thing I want. And believe me, I tried to want it. Badly.”

His admission pains and elevates me. Sears and freezes me from the inside.

“Thanks for the backhanded compliment,” I spit back, my mask of unaffectedness staying firm in place. “I have things to do, and none of them involve assholes.”

“I thought you were tired.” Wickedness flashes across his features.

Busted.

“I am, but…”

He uses my momentary confusion, prying my fist open. My crumpled poem is snatched from my hand, my throat released.

To my complete and utter humiliation, Falk holds it up to his face, reading it.

“On your knees, princess,” he orders without sparing a glance in my direction.

First snatching what’s mine, then bossing me around. Fucking rude.

You’ve been dreaming of this moment.

Dammit. I have. Except never when I’m in such a vulnerable position.

He holds my heart in his careless hand. He won’t have my submission this easily.

“What does me getting on my knees have to do with anything?”

“You’ve been acting like a brat. Ever since this morning.” As Falk lowers my palm from his face, I see a devious smirk straining his lips. “Which is why you’ll get on your knees. Consider this your punishment for talking back.”

“I’ll be eighteen tomorrow,” I remind him for the hundredth time, blinking furiously. “You can’t punish me.”

“Oh, but we definitely can.” His fingers choke, choke, choke me. “Wouldn’t you say so, Mason? Finn?”

CHAPTER SEVEN

They were my protectors only a few weeks ago. Today they aren’t. Today’s unlike any other before this one.

This morning they didn’t keep a safe distance from me. They touched me. They moved in on me. They made sure I felt them, that they were hard for me instead of their reaction to violence.

And this moment? My blood tingles. My soul shivers.

I’m trapped.

Caught like a little, inconsequential bug in a spider’s web.

Falk remains seated at my side as his brothers crowd me. Finn perches himself on the edge of the desk on my other side, and Mason hovers next to us.

Surrounding me in a semicircle. My desk blocking any escape route I might’ve had.

“Little rose?” Finn taunts.

“What?” I feign impatience with everything in me, huffing for added effect.

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