Page 12 of Sacrifice

I can’t help but gawk at the sight. Mossimo shifts uncomfortably as Aribella sniffles and looks up at him with, what I can imagine, are pleading eyes. Interestingly enough, I think he may have a soft spot for women who cry.

“You move from this door, this instant. I want Espresso!”

Aribella could have tried fleeing from the house once she was out of her bedroom. Instead, she’s here, trying to get her pet. If I were a nicer guy, I’d let her have Espresso.

“No,” I reply to Mossimo. “He isn’t going to move.”

Her whole demeanor changes when she hears my voice and I watch her sink into herself.

“I believe I locked your door,mi reina.”

She turns around as I come to stand right behind her. Although she has tears in her eyes, I see the defiance in them.

“And I know how to pick a lock, so sue me,” she huffs and puts her hands on her hips. “Give me, Espresso. That’s all I want.” Her lower lip trembles and even though she’s acting brave, I can see the cracks in her. Her cat means the world to her, so it seems.One day I will be her whole world, my inner thoughts roar. Shit, I’m jealous of the fucking cat. Great.

Sighing, I run my hand along her face as I look over her head at Mossimo. “I see a lesson is in order.”

His eyes shoot to his hairline for a moment, but he schools his features. Slowly moving my hand through her hair, I pull her against my chest.

Aribella jerks against me. “No. Just my sweet baby. I promise to behave once Espresso is in my arms.”

Gripping her hair harshly, I yank her down until she falls to her knees.

“What are you doing?”

I can hear the panic in her voice, but it won’t stop me. Keeping her head exactly where I want it, I use my free hand to put it over her mouth.

“Unfortunately, you won’t be getting Espresso. You’re lucky he’s still alive.”

Hot air hits my hand from her mouth and I smile to myself. That got her attention. “Every time you do something bad or displease me, Mossimo is going to hurt your precious fucking cat.”

I’m lying my teeth off. The damn cat is being spoiled rotten. Mossimo and Miss Terrington bought every damn toy known to the animal world for Espresso. But Aribella doesn’t need to know that. Not until she obeys me, dammit.

Chapter Six

“Don’t you dare touch Espresso!” My words are muffled against Vincent’s hand as Mossimo leaves. Not that anyone who might hear me would bother to help. It seems like everyone around here is loyal to Vincent. He still has his hand over my mouth. Yanking and hitting him on the legs is doing nothing but wearing me down.

“If you don’t calm your ass down, I will give you a sedative.” He releases me, only to take my hand and practically drag me toward the stairs. His grip is tight, but before we reach the stairs, I yank hard enough for it to loosen.

“Goddamn it,mi reina! Stop fucking making everything so damn difficult.” His words are low and they scare me. I’mpushing him, which isn’t smart. If he sedates me, he can do anything he wants to me.

“Make it easy?” I laugh and realize I have a death wish it seems. “You aren’t going to do anything to me.” I can’t seem to stop antagonizing my captor, no matter how bad of an idea I know it is.

Standing my ground, I lift my chin in a bratty fashion. Yup, I’m definitely playing with fire.

Vincent picks me up, tosses me up on his shoulder, and takes me up the stairs. “Aribella, now would be a good time for you to behave and to not test my patience any further.”

I’m too wired to listen, though, and I hit his back with everything I've got left. “If you’d just give me Espresso!”

The door he opens squeaks and as we cross the threshold, it slams back shut. He throws me off of him and I go flying through the air. I yelp with surprise as I bounce on the bed and roll to the far side of the room.

Unfortunately, I don’t make it far enough off the bed. Vincent grabs my ankle and pulls me back to him. Lashing out with my free leg, I kick and flail. Even though I get him in the middle of his chest, it doesn’t phase him.

Not wanting to give in, I try to kick him again, but he swats my foot away and grabs my leg by the calf.

“I see you are choosing the hard way,” he growls at me, and squeezes both his hands around my legs until I scream in pain.

“Mmm. Keep screaming,mi reina.” His hand on my calf tugs me toward him as the other one tightens around my ankle.

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