Page 84 of Hunted By Valentine

“Get up,” I say, my tone leaving no room for argument. “There’s something you need to do.”

“What’s going on?” she asks, her voice soft and unsure.

“Come with me.” I turn, not waiting for her response, and she follows, her bare feet padding softly against the floor. We enter the living room, and I gesture for her to sit in the chair by the window.

She hesitates, her unease palpable, but she complies, lowering herself into the seat with slow, deliberate movements. I note every flicker of emotion, each one dancing across her face fueling the dark hunger inside me.

“Do you trust me, Pet?” I ask, sitting down on the coffee table, my body shielding the gun from her view.

“Of course,” she answers without hesitation. Her green eyes are filled with the trust she just confirmed she foolishly has for me. “Why are you asking me that?”

“Would you prove it to me if I asked you to?” I ask, softening my tone.

“Yes, I’ll do anything for you,” she confirms. Her brow furrows then. “But how?”

I smile, though there’s no warmth in it. Pulling the revolver into view, I say, “Russian Roulette.” Opening the chamber, I show her the single bullet nestled inside. Her breath hitches, her eyes widening.

“What the hell? Russian Roulette? Why?” Ruby’s voice cracks. The weight of what I’m asking her to do crashes into her, but instead of panic, there’s steel in her green eyes.

Ignoring her questions, I fiddle with the metal before making a show of spinning it. “One bullet, six chambers.”

“Tell me why.” Whatever she sees on my face makes her soften her tone. “Talk to me, Valentine. What happened between the time we got back and now?”

I lean closer, watching her carefully. “You said you’d do anything for me, Pet,” I reply softly, running a finger along the cold metal of the gun. “And I need you to prove it.”

She shakes her head back and forth, biting her lip. There’s a battle waging inside her, and it’s beautiful to watch.

“You trust me, don’t you?” I ask, my voice dangerously smooth. “You trust that I won’t let you die.”

Her eyes flick to mine, and I hold her gaze.

After a long, agonizing pause, she nods. “You really need this?” she asks, her tone puzzled. “There’s no other way?”

I smile, satisfied, and hold out the revolver. “None.”

Ruby’s hand hovers over the gun, her fingers trembling as they inch closer to the handle. Her reluctance is palpable, but eventually, she takes it, the weight of the revolver heavy in her hand. I carefully watch the way her fingers wrap around the cold metal, the way her chest rises and falls in uneven breaths.

“Good Pet,” I croon, leaning back slightly, watching her with a predator’s gaze. “Now, point it at yourself.”

Slowly, she lifts the revolver, pressing the barrel to her temple. Her knuckles are white from how tightly she grips the gun.

My own pulse quickens at the sight. There’s a power in this moment, a raw, primal intensity that feeds something deep inside me. The trust she’s placing in me, the way she’s teetering on the edge of life and death—all of it is intoxicating.

“Pull the trigger,” I command, my voice a soft whisper in the silence.

I’m surprised when she rolls her eyes and hisses, “You really are fucked up.”

Not giving me the chance to respond, she tightens her finger around the trigger.

Click!

Chapter 33

The Prey

The click echoes sharply in the silence.

Of course, nothing happens, just as I thought it wouldn’t. I wasn’t lying when I said I trust him, so I figured he wouldn’t hurt me. Still, my entire body jerks in response to the sound.

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