Page 58 of Split

Six feet deep and rectangular, there’s no mistaking what this is. The dirt walls around me feel like they’re closing in, the pain in my body instantly forgotten as adrenaline overtakes me again. I rush forward to claw at the loose dirt, desperately searching for a handhold I can use to climb up and out.

My heart stutters in my chest at the sound of scuffling footsteps from above, a shadow falling over me as Roman approaches the edge of the grave.

“When we said ‘til death do us part, I didn’t know you’d take it so literally,” he chuckles, the toes of his expensive shoes hanging over the edge as he peers down at me through the inky darkness.

My hands tremble as I raise them in the air, slowly backing away. “Roman, please,” I croak.

He crouches down, cocking his head to the side. “Pleasewhat, pet?”

“Please don’t kill me,” I whisper.

A smirk pulls at the corner of his lips, forest green eyes twinkling with amusement as he arches a brow. “Now why would I do that?”

He’s just toying with me now, batting my emotions around like a cat with a mouse.

“I’m sorry, okay?” I choke out, tears springing to my eyes. “You win. I’m yours. I promise I won’t try to leave, I promise I’ll be a good wife for you.Please…”

Roman swings his weight forward, gripping onto the edge of the grass as he hops down into the grave with me. I flinch when the soles of his feet hit the ground with a soft thud, the man landing as gracefully as a panther before brushing his palms together and straightening to his full height. “You want to be good for me, pet?” he asks with a lift of his chin, his predatory stare burning into me.

“Yes,” I breathe, head bobbing up and down frantically.

“Yeswhat?”

“Yes, Sir.”

His lips curve in a satisfied grin. “Good girl.”

Roman’s praise washes over me like an aphrodisiac, heat licking up my spine from the potency of those two simple words.

He lifts a hand, crooking a finger to beckon me. “Come here.”

My feet shuffle against the dirt on their own accord, carrying me toward my damnation. I tilt my head back to maintain eye contact as I draw closer, not coming to a stop until we’re toe to toe.

My husband gazes down at me with a sinister promise in his eyes, reaching out to brush a stray strand of hair away from myface. “Who do you belong to, Eliza?” he asks, the low, velvety rumble of his voice sending a fresh rush of heat surging through me.

“You,” I whisper.

He gives me a single nod, dragging the backs of his knuckles gently over my cheek. “Take your clothes off.”

Without a second’s hesitation, I reach for the hem of my dress, pulling it off over my head. Then I bring my hands behind my back to unfasten my bra, shrugging it down my arms and dropping it to the ground in front of me, followed by my panties. A shiver runs through me as I straighten to my full height, the cold air biting at my bare skin as I meet Roman’s penetrating stare once more.

“Now lie down,” he directs, tipping his head.

I suck in a breath as I step backwards, slowly lowering myself down to the cold dirt. Suppressing another shiver, I ease back, stretching my legs out in front of me and resting my head back against the ground, blinking up at my husband in quiet resignation.

“Play dead,” Roman commands.

A fresh spike of fear ricochets through me as I close my eyes, praying to a god I don’t believe in that I’ll live past this night. Despite it all, I somehow manage to quiet my mind, focusing on making my breaths as shallow as possible and not moving a muscle. I hear the clink of Roman’s belt, the rustle of his clothes.

“You make such a pretty corpse, pet,” he drawls, the earth beneath me gently vibrating with his footsteps as he circles my body. “You’re not any good to me dead though, are you?”

Am I supposed to answer, or keep playing dead?

After a few beats of silence, I cautiously blink my eyes open, startling when I find Roman crouched down beside me, his face hovering right above mine. I suck in a sharp gasp, a heady mix of terror and arousal flooding my bloodstream.

Jesus, some part of me is just as fucked up as he is. We both get off on my fear.

“No,” I answer, the word falling from my lips on a shaky breath.

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