Page 101 of Cruel Devil

He tilts his head. “I’m giving you what you so obviously want, Nyx.” He snatches up my hand, and for a moment as we touch, there’s a flicker of fire in his eyes, a heat he douses as soon as it sparks.

“Your freedom.”

I wince when he rips the wedding ring off my finger, then curl my hand into a fist and tug it out of his grasp.

“Coward,” I breathe, holding my hand against my chest like it’s burning. It feels that way, the skin still raw where he dragged the snug ring free.

His eyes narrow, but that’s his only response.

“You should have left me there at the restaurant.” My voice is getting louder. Bella drops the ball and sits on her butt, watching our exchange with a gaping mouth as she slowly pants in the day’s building heat. “None of this would have happened. I wouldn’t even be a fucking blip on Sullivan’s radar.”

“You know that decision wasn’t mine to make. If I had my way, you’d be dead.”

A part of me dies then, because I know it’s true. I can see it in his eyes, the way he studies me like he’s picturing me as a corpse, and how much relief that would bring him.

No more broken noses.

No more drama.

Not another word about rescuing the Gray sisters.

Sweet. Fucking. Peace.

“Then do it.” My voice shakes as I step up to him, lifting my chin, staring at him over my nose even though he’s a foot taller than me. “I’ve been a nuisance since day one, so just get rid of me already.”

“I can’t.” He sounds deeply regretful about it.

“Why? Does your poor delusional daddy still think I’m the guy who saved him? Or does your uncle want to keep me around so he can fuck me whenever he wants?”

Jesus, what the hell happened to Savage? He should be trying to punch me, not staring at me like we’re discussing the weather.

Is this it? It’s over?

I didn’t even realize we were in round three, and he’s gone and knocked me out already.

But it can’t be over.

“I need you,” I whisper.

And then, because it’s fucking true and telling the truth hurts like a bitch, my eyes well up with tears. I hurriedly look down, glowing with shame at being so fucking weak in front of Caesar.

“Eyes on me, Nyx.” Savage grabs my chin, wrenching my head up to face him.

I do so reluctantly, knowing just moving my eyes would spill those gathered tears. He stares at them as they race down my cheeks, as they curve to the edges of my mouth and disappear inside.

“I never said I wasn’t going to find them.” His eyes search mine, like he’s trying to dig up some clue to who I really am.

Good fucking luck. I’ve been on this earth more than two decades, and I still don’t even know.

“But?” I snap, tugging my chin free. “Come on, I know there’s a fucking clause you’re going to throw in there, so just do it.” I shove my hands into my armpits as I glare at him.

“A life for a life,” he says.

“How much longer do you want to drag this out?” I frown at him as I blow out a breath. “You’re worse than O’Brien. Just tell me what the fuck you want.”

It’s like I flipped a switch.

Fury swirls in his black eyes. He grabs me around the waist with one hand, the other latching on to the back of my neck.

---