Page 143 of Vicious Little Princess

I’d never been in a dangerous or life-threatening situation where I’d had to worry about somebody else before until that night I’d woken up kidnapped in that garage. I’d had my men to worry about, how they’d be if the worst had befallen me, if I hadn’t been able to make it out of that shitshow. That had definitely raised the stakes for me.

But this… knowing an innocent little thing was counting on me… it was so far beyond even that.

It had a deeply protective intensity rushing to the surface that had a powerful triggering effect on that twisted side of me.

A growl escaped me and I dislocated my thumbs with a grunt, using the pain as fuel as I slipped my hands through the cuffs.

The fear of being in this place and all the crippling sensations it tried to evoke were buried beneath the ire that surged white-hot through my veins.

I brought my hands in front of me, then snapped my thumbs back into place with a snarl.

But that animalistic sound wasn’t in response to the biting pain.

It was the thought of what I was going to do to my captors.

What I was prepared to do to protect my child and to spare my men from the pain and grief of losing us both.

Just how far I was prepared to take it.

And as the door opened, and I clasped my hands behind my back as a figure came into view, I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that there was no fucking limit whatsoever.

That slicked back blond hair filled my vision and thenhestood in the doorway with his tan wool coat. A nasty grin spread over his face as he took in the sight of me seemingly bound to the chair and shuddering.

That shuddering was far from being fear now and it was barely even a result of the cold either.

It was a massive influx of adrenaline and rage, an extremely powerful cocktail that he was going to become a victim of all too soon.

Wipe that cocky grin off his face, the sadistic bastard.

As he stepped forward, the door was thrown open all the way and two of the guys from earlier who’d attacked me and obviously brought me here too came into view. They were down to just beige t-shirts and black pants now. Both their faces were expressionless as they stood there with their arms folded across their broad chests and stared at me.

“Putting me in this room was such a pedestrian tactic, Father.”

“It’s just the beginning.” He approached my chair. “Did you really think you could come atme?”

“You knew I could. It’s what’s had you so incredibly terrified this entire time.”

He sneered. “Foolish girl. You’re nothing but a fucking traitor.”

“Hmm, I believe your little pet uses the phrasetraitorous cunt.”

His eyes narrowed. “Your obstinance isn’t doing you any favors.”

“What does it matter? You brought me here to kill me.”

“You’ve left me no choice where that’s concerned. You’ve challenged me, you’ve hurt the Family.”

I scoffed. “Family?That’s a despicable claim coming from the likes of you.”

He slapped me across the face, making me hiss as his rings cut into my skin and blood sprayed.

He did it again and again until my cheeks were burning and I was clenching my fists behind my back.

Not yet. Not yet. Hold. Fucking hold.

His lip curled in satisfaction when he stepped back and took me in, obviously happy with the bruising and cuts I could feel marring my skin.

I spat out a mouthful of blood right at his feet, some of it spraying on his shoes.

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