Page 64 of The Way You Hurt Me

"So what does that leave us with, hm?" Tilting his head, he thinks out loud. "A simple bullet, or some pain with the knife, first?"

It occurs to me that he's still asking me.

I look around the room at the four men watching me, waiting for my decision.

No one intends to judge me for it. It's entirely up to me.

I know that this man is going to die. Not only because he wanted to hurt me, but because he's hurt other people. This isn't a warning. This is an execution.

But I think back to his hand on my butt, his words in the break room, when he believed me cornered. How many times has he done this? How many women has he hurt?

"The knife."

Andrei tosses a blade to Dimitri, who catches it in the air.

First, it goes into the shoulder. I listen to the first scream, so unlike the sob. Then, the thigh, on the leg that's not already bleeding out from the bullet wound.

"In my father's country, rapists are dealt with in a specific way. Let me show you."

Andrei and Marc-or-Quintin hold the man down, while Dimitri slices his pants open. He passes out before his cock's completely removed, but still, Dimitri stuffs it into his mouth.

And I keep watching. Fascinated. Enthralled.

Never scared.

Never disgusted.

There's something wrong with me, isn't there?

Dimitri then moves to a bathroom, and washes his hands, removing his shirt.

I wait for him at the door, wordlessly, simply watching those strong, wet hands.

I know some of this show was for my benefit.

He only speaks after every speck of blood is gone.

"This is what is going to happen to anyone who tries to hurt you. If they manage, it'll be far worse."

He's telling me, not asking for permission, and certainly not for forgiveness.

I nod. "Good."

31

WILLOW

"You know this is technically kidnapping, right?" I ask, in case anyone was paying attention.

Dimitri kisses the top of my head. "Yes."

By the time we made it back to the city, every single one of my belongings was in his apartment. Apparently, one of his goons handed my notice, along with three months of rent, to Anna and Lucy, both of whom have been blowing up my phone for the past hour.

I bob my head. "Good, at least you're aware of your crimes."

"All right." He crosses his arms. "Say you stay at your apartment with your two friends. In three days, you're on my arm for the city gala, in five, we're flying out for a chat I am not looking forward to with your sister. And in four weeks, I am marrying you. Do you know how many of my enemies are going to close in on you? Do you know what might happen to Anna and Lucy in the meantime? I can't have everyone constantly watched."

"You're marrying me?" I blink. "Since when?"

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