Page 98 of Devilish

“Go to hell.”

He crossed the small space and grabbed my wrists, hauling me in until our noses touched.

“I dare you to say that again.”

I knew what I was about to do was risky—stupid, even, considering I had no family who would be worried if I disappeared. But somewhere in the back of my mind, I kept hearing Lucien’s deep, calming voice reassuring me that I’d always have a safe place with him. That he wanted me and cared about me.

He would be looking for me.

He would notice, and care, if I just disappeared.

But I’d be damned if I did it quietly.

“Go. To.Hell,” I said, punctuating the last word by spitting in Rupert’s face.

He jerked back. “You littlefuck.”

He threw me to the ground, and I landed hard, my knees cracking into the cold marble as he wiped the back of his hand across his cheek where I’d nailed him.

“Take your fucking clothes off or I’m going to call in one of my men to hold you while Istripthem off.”

He would, too. I could tell by the determined set of his jaw. Rupert wouldn’t let me win. Tonight he was all about showing me who was boss. But I would not lie down and roll over.

Never again.

“Fuck you.”

Rupert’s eyes filled with rage as he loomed over me. “Suit yourself. But the only person getting fucked tonight isyou.”

He started toward the bathroom door, about to go and call in his “restraints,” but I wasn’t staying where I was. No way I was going to cower in here and wait for him to come back and do what he wanted with me.

I surged to my feet, despite my aching knees, and, with a single-mindedness I didn’t know I possessed, bolted straight for him. Rupert was just about at the door, and as he went to reach for the handle, I tackled him with as much force as I could, slamming him face-first into the door.

“Fuck.” Blood poured out of his nose with the impact, and I took advantage of his momentary distraction to swing at him. Somehow he was able to block the blow, but my nail still caught him across the face, drawing blood.

It was satisfying to see the red marring his skin, and I almost smiled, proud that I’d hurt him in any way.

“You motherfuckingshit,” he growled, shoving me so hard I fell to the ground, slamming up against the side of the bed.

I barely felt it, too caught up in the sight of the blood gushing down his robe to care.

He pointed a bloody finger at me. “You’re gonna pay for that.”

“It was worth it,” I said, which seemed to piss him off even more.

“We’ll see how you feel about it tomorrow.” Rupert gave me a sadistic smile that would’ve sent tremors of fear through me before. Now, though, I only felt determined. I’d hurt him tonight. I could hurt him again tomorrow. Maybe even escape.

As he slammed the door shut and locked it up, I looked at the smeared fingerprints he’d left on the wall and smiled to myself.

Fuck him. I was going to do whatever it took to get back to Lucien—and make sure Rupert paid.

37

LUCIEN

TURNED OUT I didn’t have to blow past any of my brothers the second the sun went down, because we were already suited up and in separate SUVs by then.

The plan was set, and each of us had been outfitted with our weapons of choice, not to mention we all wore Alessio’s hidden cameras, earpieces, and mics. This was far from our first rodeo, but itwasthe first time we were taking down someone who’d fucked with me personally.

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