Page 9 of Bathed in Blood

Stream

Iavoid Vince's eyes like the plague as he braids my bright red hair down my back, my face looking even more sad and gaunt than usual, though maybe it’s just the deepening bruises. This time, when Anton enters, I pull free from his brother, fleeing whatever new connection Vince thinks formed between us. I don’t fight Anton as he gathers me up in his wide arms, holding me up like a child.

“I’m too tired tonight. Can we please—"

“You know Jax isn’t gonna go for that, baby,” Anton admonishes. “Buyer is already waiting on stream.”

My heart drops further. “A private viewing?”

He nods, eyeing my braid and then his brother with no little amount of disdain. When Vince steps towards my wardrobe, Anton roughly discards me on my bed. “I’m dressing her.”

I can’t stop the hiss of pain when my ass hits the pillowy mattress. My stomach lurches as I roll to my side, fighting the urge to cry out. That need doubles when Vince appears at my side, caressing my back.

“What the fuck has gotten into you, Vince? We fucking share her!”

“Why?” he retorts, his voice quiet, calm, but his hands tighten painfully against my skin.

“What did you just fucking say?”

I’m still on the bed, my eyes darting between the brothers, the tension in the room thick enough to suffocate.

“We can talk about it later.” Vince whispers, leaning down to press a kiss to my temple. “Put her in black.”

“Damn right we’re talking later, and I’ll put her in whatever the fuck I want.” I cringe at the sound of the wire hangers sliding around on the metal bar of my wardrobe. “Better not let Jax see you kissing on her like that.” He half laughs, letting the tension dissipate enough for me to release the breath I was holding. “He already thinks we’re pussy whipped.”

I wince as Vince spreads my cheeks, looking again at the damage there, his dark eyes dipping a shade or two. Out of the blue, he gives a fuck, all because I was a little too responsive. I gave him the validation he’d apparently been waiting for. How long? God, how many signs had I missed?

My teeth dig into my bottom lip as Anton jerks me off the bed, pulling my towel away. He’s not gentle, even by his standards. He’s acting as if this is my fault, like I want his psycho brothers’ affection, like I wanted to fantasize about the man downstairs. No, Jaxhadto make a point. Ihadto help. Hehadto be devastatingly handsome, handsome enough to take the place of my knight in shining armor, and now?

Now, I have to kill him.

This one is different; my family’s safety rides on this performance. Earlier was a mistake, one Lewis and Mom can’t afford. I’ll do my job, and everything will go back to normal. I can go back to ignoring all three of them, and Vince can get that fucking look out of his eyes.

This time, when they lead me down towards the basement, I’m ready. I’m ready long before they hand me the mask.

Christian

Self Destruction by I Prevail

My eyes finally leave the crater sized hole I’m glaring in the back of Jax Sullivan's shaved head as the heavy doors to the chilled room burst open. From where I’mmostlytied down, I can’t see the dark metal, nor can I see her when she walks in, but I know she’s here all the same. My fists tighten in my restraints as the picture of her face pitched in pain floods my mind. I’d never seen her face before today, but I know her well.

The Blood Princess. A legend in the flesh.She’s tiny without that mask, delicate, breakable. I wanted to break her when I let her lead me to her SUV, knowing what was waiting inside. My palms ached with the need to break her. Seems these fucks beat me to it.

Vince Sullivan’s hand is plastered to the small of her back, and I decide to kill him second. Jax first, obviously. The semi sheer mini skirt and corset top she’s wearing molds to her perfectly, fitting her like a glove. Her mask is already in place, but now that I’ve seen underneath the porcelain princess mask, I’ll never forget it. Her amber eyes find me immediately, her chest hitching as I keep her attention. I shouldn’t be able to see her, but oh, I can. I’ll neverstopseeing her. She’s why I’m here, after all. The Sullivan brothers may be old money, but they’re new blood, and there’s no room for new blood in my world, a world my family has dominated for generations.

Snuff.

New blood makes mistakes, like picking up the guy stranded on the side of the road less than an hour from their secluded mansion. New blood doesn’t ask questions, or the new blood would’ve realized the fucking mistake they made. Sure, my car breaking down was an accident, but my being there, so close to their home base, was anything but. What’s the line that curly headed painter used to say?

Happy little accidents.

I test the left restraint, the one that’s clasp I jerked apart, the muscles in my arm shaking from going on four hours of being held up with nothing to support its weight. Another new blood mistake: never keep them up and sober, always check the restraints.

Then check them again.

My heart drums in my chest as my little princess twirls in front of the camera, her mini skirt flipping up to show the light coating of blood between the round globes of her ass. My teeth clack together hard enough to make my jaw ache, and my skin prickles as I feel someone’s eyes on me, regrettably not hers as she plays in front of the camera. Vince Sullivan is leaning on the far wall behind the screen, his dark eyes glaring at me with the same vigor as I glared at his brother, and now him. There’s no real reason to pretend to be scared; I’m already here. What they mistook for my panic earlier is still simmering in my chest, a rage I haven’t felt in years. I couldn’t get free, couldn’t risk it, not when there was so much at stake.

My eyes don’t leave his, something close to bitter malice shining in them, and it almost makes me smirk. Perhaps he’s just as pissed about the way his cocksucker of a brother handled my princess. I bet he even thinks she’s his. The anger in my chest sizzles up my throat, burning, razing my insides until it demands release. Vindication. She’s not his. She hasn’t been since the moment my family decided to take her.

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