Page 2 of You're Mine Now

But they weren’t.

They were his twisted fantasies.

As the months passed, the letters became darker and more obsessive. He described everything he wanted to do to me in vivid, horrifying detail—graphic acts that made my skin crawl. He promised that one day I’d be his, and there was nothing I could do to stop it.

Even after he left for college, they didn’t stop. He mailed his notes instead, describing disgusting, explicit acts in words I couldn’t unsee.

And yet, I kept reading. Rereading them, sometimes even looking up the things he described, feeling terrified, yet transfixed. Against all reason, those words awakened something in me—something raw and primal.

And now, after five years of silence, here he was. Larger than life and looking far more dangerous than I’d remembered.

He pummeled into the bag, each strike landing with enough force to make the chain rattle. His veins throbbed as he drove his fists into the bag, tattoos rippling with every movement. Sweat glistened on his tanned skin, catching the light.

The rhythmic thud echoed through the gym, each impact reverberating in my chest.

Why is he so angry?

The thought lingered as I took a cautious step back, hoping to escape before he noticed me. But my foot caught the edge of the rack, and I stumbled, crashing to the floor. Laughter rippled through the gym.

No, no, no, no.

I scrambled onto my hands and knees, frantically clutching for my bag, desperate to get the hell out before he noticed. But when I glanced up, Adrian had already turned. His gaze locked onto mine, and that cruel, sick smile—the one that haunted my nightmares—spread across his face. He’d seen me—caught me.

The slight tilt of his head, the faint flex of his arms as he took me in told me everything I needed to know. I was in trouble.

He peeled off his gloves and started toward me, each step feeling like the tick of a countdown.Run. The word screamed in my head as my heart pounded in my chest like a fist on a locked door.But where?The gym was crowded—surely he couldn’t do anything here.

I didn’t even have time to stand before he reached me. Towering above me, his sheer presence was enough to unnerve me, even without our history. My breath caught as I glanced up, knees trembling, my body forgetting how to move.

Stand,you idiot.

I had to meet his eye. Had to prove I wasn’t afraid, even if it wasn’t true.

“We meet again,” he said, his voice low and rough, a growl more than words. “Still spying on me, I see.”

I pushed myself up, standing too quickly, my movements stiff, and crossed my arms against my chest in a weak imitation of defiance.

“Don’t get up on my account,” he mocked, his smirk deepening. “I always wanted to see you on your knees.” He let the words hang, thick with dominance. “Don’t you remember my warning?” he added.

How could I forget? His words were burned into my brain—a core memory that pulsed with renewed intensity now that he was standing before me.

My throat was dry as sandpaper, and I swallowed hard, forcing myself to speak. “I… I heard you went to jail. I was just looking to see if it was really you.” The words tumbled out, shaky and unsteady.

He laughed, a low, dark chuckle that sent a chill down my spine. “You’re a terrible liar, Scarlett.” He hissed my name,dragging it out like he could taste it. “Perfect name for you—your face matches when you lie through your teeth.”

Heat crawled up my neck, my body betraying me as always. Of course, he’d hone in on my blush—something I despised about myself. The way I wore my emotions on my skin. I should leave now, before this spiraled further.

I forced my chin higher, though my voice barely held steady.

“Goodbye, Adrian.”

Without waiting for his response, I turned on my heel, each step an act of will to keep from breaking into a run.

But he lunged, his hand shooting out, his fingers wrapping around my wrist. The grip wasn’t tight enough to draw attention, but the message was unmistakable.

He was in control.

“Don’t walk away when I’m talking to you,” he said, his voice low and sharp. He leaned in close, bringing his mouth close to my ear. “We’ve got unfinished business.”

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