Page 48 of Deadly Don's Savage Vows

I stare at him without saying a word. I know that no answer will be the right answer. I can say anything, and it will give him reason to hit me.

I shift away from him, crawling backwards on the floor.

He kicks me, his boot connecting with my thigh.

I scream in agony.

He laughs again.

“I asked you a question.” He snarls.

“I don’t know.” I reply, squeezing my eyes shut and fighting the pain.

He leans down and grabs a handful of my hair, lifting me back to my feet as pain shoots through my scalp. I scream again, not wanting to, because he loves the sound of my pain - but it’s been a year since I had to deal with this -

“I love this place because it’s sound proof.”

His eyes are piercing into me like daggers.

“Sound proof - “ I stammer.

Marcus wraps his hand around my throat and pulls me close to his face.

“You will accept your punishment. When I break your jaw, and cut you open, understand that it’s just a lesson, poppet. It’s a lesson telling you that you should never,ever,have left me.”

“You don’t have to do this Marcus. I will do whatever you say.”

“You will. Because I am going to make sure you do. Right now though - I can see the fight in your eyes. I can see the defiance. A year away from me has made you believe you are strong enough to survive without me. You should know better. You are like a wild horse now - you’ve tasted the freedom. But I’ll break you again. I’ll make sure you know your place - at my side.”

He swings his arm and backhands me across the face.

I feel my lips split open on impact. Then I taste the blood. If his hand was not locked around my throat, I would have been flung across the room. But now, all I’m doing is hanging limp and dizzy in his grip.

“Marcus - “ I whisper, my lips wet with blood.

“What is it, poppet?” he says, stroking his fingers over my cheek which is already swelling from the hit.

“I’m not the same person I was when you had me.”

“What the fuck does that mean?” his eyes grow dark.

“It means you will bruise me and make me bleed - but you will never, ever, break me again.”

I know it was a stupid thing to say, but it’s the truth.

For years he made me believe he was the most powerful person on the planet. He made me believe I could never survive in the world without him. As though I should be grateful that he was bothering to be with me. He made me believe no one else would ever want me.

He took away every bit of myself worth - my inner strength. He broke me. In the past he shattered me. My spirit. My will. My heart.

But no matter what he does to me now - I will never let that happen again.

Physical pain - I will face that, it’s coming. I know what he is capable of. But I have strength now that I never had before.

I refuse to let him flood me with fear. I refuse to let him have that power over me. He is not a god. He is not immortal or untouchable. He is a man.

A sadistic, monster of a man - but just a man.

“You stupid, pathetic, worthless bitch.” He snarls against my mouth. Then he kisses me, my blood spreading across his face. And when he pulls away, he looks like a demon, straight from the depth of hell.

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