Page 72 of Breaker

“Fuck you,” I say, pushing him off and heading toward the door.

As I reach for the handle, my head snaps back by my hair so violently that I stumble backward, my hands reaching for his fist clutching the curls. Zane yanks me back so hard, I feel strands of my hair ripping from my scalp as I hit his chest.

“Be a good little fiancé,” Zane hisses, craning my head back. His masked face looms over me, mouth curled into a sneer. My insides twist as his free hand snakes up my belly, dipping under the fabric covering my breasts. Fingers dig into my flesh, groping me greedily. Bile rises in my throat, the feeling of his skin against mine a silent threat. I attempt to kick back, but he avoids my heel by widening his stance. My hands snake up his arms, nails digging into the flesh on the back of his hands, but he grips me tighter, ripping a cry from my throat, fear knocking the air from my lungs.

“Let me go,” I say, my voice wavering, “If you touch me, Clyde’s going to—“

His grip tightens. “What Cora? You’re my fuckingwife.”

“I swear to god, Zane, if you don’t get your hands off me, I’ll tell everyone—“ My words get cut off because the door opens, and Rune steps in.

“Papa,” I say, the word rushing from me with relief, but it fades as he marches forward, stopping before me.

He doesn’t tell Zane to get his hands off me.

He doesn’t order Zane to let go of my hair.

His eyes land on my face. Flicker to Zane’s hand under my dress.

Anger makes him snarl, “Why do you constantly have to make things difficult?” Rune asks me. Fear skitters down my spine. A breath catches in my throat as Rune’s fingers dig into my cheeks, forcing me to look at him.

“My fiancé is not cooperating,” Zane says, hand moving further south, stretching the dress so he can brush his fingers over my panties. My scream of disgust gets cut short, and he yanks my hair again. “You told me she’d fucking listen.”

“She will.” Rune grips my cheeks tighter. Meaner. Blue eyes, just like my Delly’s, moving to my mouth. There’s nokindness in the stark color like her. Just a thirst for power. Even if it’s over me. “On your knees.”

My heart stutters like my words. “Wh-what?”

“You know I don’t like repeating myself,” Runes hisses. “On your knees.”

His words slip over me like hot, black tar as the reality of what he’s asking sinks in. No, not asking. Rune doesn’t ask. He forces.

“Papa,” I whisper, my eyes burning. Is he seriously telling me to drop to my knees right here, at this party, with Zane in the room? “No.” I shove at his chest, trying to get him away from me, hurt and disbelief making me brave. “Fuck, no.”

The harsh graps on my cheeks leaves but then Rune grabs my throat, pulling me forward, glaring me at me with so much hatred, I don’t know how I ever fooled myself into believing he cared about me. Zane’s fingers’ in my hair grab and the pain of his tight grasp fades.

“Listen to me, girl.” He lets my throat go, using my shoulders to turn me to face Zane. “You took four dicks in that room in my club, I think you can handle one.”

Cut. That’s what he did. Rune just cut me off at the knees. I stand stock still, chin trembling, staring at Zane in front of me.

This isn’t happening.

“On your knees,” Runes says from behind me. “Get on your fucking knees and open your mouth.”

My mother was right. I am a stupid, stupid girl because this horrible pain tearing through my chest feels a lot like betrayal.

My teeth grate together, pain snarling up with rage. I step toward Zane, heart too broken to pound with fear. The slap to his face stuns him enough giving me time to say, “You’re so pathetically weak you can’t even force a woman to suck your dick without help,” before the sharp pain of his hand meeting mycheek has my head snapping to the side. I press my fingers to the stinging skin, my hair falling away as I turn my head back to look at Zane. I blink, sucking in air, but the shock of the intensity of his hit doesn’t leave.

Do you really think I’d let you go? You’re mine, Baby Girl.

My hands shake, but I can’t seem to move because there’s something simmering under my skin, making it feel too hot, making my limbs feel like they’re on fire.

Rage, I’m boiling over with rage. Rage at everything they’ve done, and now I’m here, fighting for my fucking life and rights before men who refuse to acknowledge I’m human.

“I prefer my women cooperative,” Zane says voice monotone. Emotionless. “And ones who know their place.”

“Remind me again, where exactly that is?” I snarl before I can think.

This time, when his hand meets my cheek, my mask scrapes over my cheek as it’s knocked off. I stumble back into Rune’s chest, eyes watering, nose stinging with pain. Warmth hits my lip. I swipe under my nose, feeling the warm trickle of blood.

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