Page 46 of Sins of Autumn

“Let’s even things out a bit more,” Lucian suggested. He fisted Jason’s hair, yanking it back much like KJ had done to Liza. His knife flashed, the motion quick and clean, as he slit his throat. More blood sprayed, joining the small puddle accumulating on the table, soaking the front of his shirt as his body slumped forward.

Daniella wailed incoherently in the corner and Romeo murmured something to her about Jason’s dick not being that big to weep over. I kept my eyes on Autumn, her gagged sobs muffled but audible. Her eyes locked onto Jason’s body, then flicked to me, filled with rage and despair. I didn’t need to say anything; I just held her gaze.

I raised my hand and made a come-hither motion. Romeo stepped forward, dragging Daniella by the arm. She fought him, twisting and kicking, but he was stronger. He forced her down onto the bloody table, pinning her there with one hand as she thrashed beneath him.

Autumn’s scream was muffled. She struggled against her restraints, her panic palpable. My gloved hand cupped her face, forcing her to look at me as her muffled cries filled the room. “It’s almost over.”

Romeo adjusted his grip on Daniella, his knife gleaming as he leaned over her.

Autumn’s skin was flushed with rage, all of her gagged screams raw. I couldn’t have her break yet. Not until she understood. I’d piece her together later, make her exactly the same knowing she was a permanent fixture in our lives.

Hunter moved forward, grabbing one of Daniella’s arms. Atlas sighed dramatically, like this was all an inconvenience to him, and tossed Amber’s head aside. He grabbed Daniella’s other arm, pulling her forward until her midsection bent over the table, her body splayed helplessly. Her muffled cries barely made it past Romeo’s laugh.

He clapped his gloved hands together, rubbing them like he was about to start a game. "Now, Daniella, let me explain something. I can’t go all the way with this. No offense, but you’re just not my type and you fucked another man less than twenty-four hours ago. I’ve also taken a vow of celibacy.”

Thorne barked out a laugh. “A vow of celibacy? Give me a break.”

Lucian tilted his head, his cold amusement slipping through his mask. “You, of all people, took a vow of celibacy?”

Romeo shrugged. “What? Like you haven’t? I did it for my future Juliet. And don’t throw me off track.” He leaned closer to Daniella, his voice dropping to a darker pitch. “I can still make your dreams come true. Don’t worry. When I’m done, you’ll have trouble moving your legs, just like you wanted.”

She went still, probably wondering how he knew about that. It was thanks to the device on Cherish’s car. The same one on hers and Mint’s. I had the foresight to make sure each of them was covered in case Mint was with them.

Romeo reached into his suit jacket and pulled out a sleek switchblade, its edge gleaming in the dim light. He flicked it open with an exaggerated motion.

Autumn thrashed, nearly tipping her chair, her muffled screams now filled with pure, unfiltered rage. She still didn’t get it yet. This was a necessary path to be paved for our future.

I reached out and stroked her face, unable to stop myself from touching her any chance I could. “We’re almost done,” I promised, my voice low enough that only she could hear. “You’ll see soon that this is for the best. I give you my word.”

Her wide, tear-filled eyes met mine. She didn’t believe me—how could she? We hadn’t gotten to the main event yet and we couldn’t sit down and have our heart-to-heart until we got back home.

Romeo dragged the blade lightly over Daniella’s exposed arm, letting the cold steel make her flinch. “Let’s get started, shall we?”

He sliced through Daniella's bra. With another quick motion, her underwear followed, leaving her completely vulnerable and naked.

She fought every step of the way, her body twisting in vain against Hunter and Atlas’s unrelenting grips. Her cries turned frantic, but they weren’t going to help her. She was powerless, and everyone in the room knew it.

Atlas ran a gloved hand through her hair, his tone almost thoughtful. “It’s softer than Hughes’s,” he mused.

Hunter chuckled. “Amber’s was extensions.”

“Ah,” Atlas said, nodding as if that explained everything. “No wonder half of it came out so easily.”

Romeo didn’t even glance at them. He was focused, toying with the blade as if weighing its next purpose. With an almost playful toss, he let it spin in the air before catching it effortlessly. Then, without a word, he slid the blade straight into her pussy, almost gently at first, using it in place of himself.

Daniella screamed in agony, her body jerking violently, but it only earned a firmer grip from Hunter and Atlas.

Romeo placed a hand on her lower back to keep her still as he thrust the blade in and out, watching her reaction with a predatory calm, like an artist admiring his latest creation.

Cherish had a front-row seat to whatever damage the blade was doing. She gagged loudly, her face puffy and slick with tears. Lucian patted the top of her head in a rare show of comfort. Ryan joined in with the pointless outrage and grief. Tears streamed down his face too, a pitiful sight. He thrashed against his bindings, and I knew his broken bones had to be slighting.

“Shut him up,” Lucian said, his voice as cool and unaffected as ever.

Thorne stepped forward, delivering a swift punch to Ryan’s head. The impact knocked the wind out of him, and his cries turned into a strangled gasp.

He sagged in his chair, coughing and wheezing. Romeo looked over his shoulder, his masked face aimed in Ryan’s direction. “You should be thanking us,” he said casually, turning back to Daniella as though this were just another day. “We’re doing her a favor. She wouldn’t have lasted a second in our world.”

He increased his thrusting, blood spurting from between Daniella’s legs, her body still aside from the involuntary spasms. I watched Autumn closely. Her breathing was erratic, her chest rising and falling in quick bursts. She was barely holding it together. I was eager to get her ass out of that place and to our home.

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