Page 57 of Sin Bin Bully

She takes a deep breath, squaring her shoulders. "I'm leaving."

The words hit me like a punch to the gut. "What? No, you can't-"

"I can, and I am," she cuts me off, her brown eyes blazing with determination. "This... whatever this is between us, it's not healthy. It's not right."

I clench my fists, anger and fear warring inside me. "You don't understand. There's something going on, someone's trying to frame me-"

"Stop," Kim says, holding up a hand. "Just stop, Sam. I don't want to hear it. I can't be part of this anymore."

She turns back to her suitcase, grabbing another handful of clothes. The sight of her packing, preparing to walk out of my life, sends a jolt of panic through me.

"You aren't going anywhere," I growl. "I told you, you aremine."

She whirls around, her braids whipping through the air. "Am I? Because you kidnapped me? Because you've kept me here against my will? The way I see it, you are the reason everything with Nathan happened because I wasn't there to stop it!"

I grit my teeth. I don't regret a damn thing I have done. And I will continue to do whatever it takes to keep her here, where she belongs.

"You wouldn't have been safe there! I keep you where you need to be, give you whatever you want-"

"What I want is to leave!" She turns and looks at me. "And you told me I could."

I swallow hard. I did. But that was before I had a taste of her and my obsession has blossomed into something more.

"I'm not letting you," I tell her firmly.

"No." Kim shakes her head, zipping up her suitcase. "I'm done doing this with you. I'm done being your prisoner, your plaything, your little dancer."

She grabs the handle of the suitcase, lifting it off the bed. I move without thinking, my hand shooting out to grab her arm.

"You're not going anywhere," I snarl, my grip tightening.

Kim's eyes narrow, a dangerous glint appearing in them. "Let. Go. Of. Me."

The tension in the room is palpable, crackling like electricity between us. We stand there, locked in a battle of wills, neither willing to back down.

The rage bubbles up inside me, hot and visceral. My vision narrows, focusing solely on Kim and that damn suitcase. She can't leave. She won't leave. I won't let her.

"You're not going anywhere," I growl, tightening my grip on her arm.

Kim's eyes flash dangerously. "Let go of me, Sam. I mean it."

"No." My voice is low, menacing. "You belong here. With me."

She tries to wrench her arm free, but I hold fast. "I don't belong to anyone, least of all you!"

The fire in her eyes only fuels my determination. I yank her closer, our faces inches apart. "Everything out there is a threat. Your brother, the press, whoever's trying to frame me. You're safer here."

"Safe?" Kim scoffs, her breath hot against my face. "You call being held prisoner safe?"

"I call it protection," I snarl. "And you're staying put."

She shoves against my chest, hard. "You can't keep me here!"

"Watch me." I release her arm, only to grab the suitcase. In one fluid motion, I hurl it across the room. It crashes against the wall, clothes spilling out like guts from a carcass.

Kim's eyes widen, a mix of shock and fury. "You're insane!"

"Maybe," I concede, stepping closer. "But I'm also right. You're staying where you belong."

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