Page 151 of Ruthless God

So I slam my knee up. Hard. Right into his crotch. A grunt. A sharp, startled step backward. I don’t stop. I grab a decorative vase from the side table and smash it toward his head. He dodges, but not fast enough.

Glass shatters across his shoulder. His gaze darkens and then he laughs. A low, wicked chuckle.

Like he loves this.

His voice is hoarse, edged with something raw. “God, Cecely, you make me crazy.”

I move again, aiming for his face, but this time, he’s ready. He grabs me. Spins me. And suddenly, I’m pinned. My back slams against the wall. My wrists trapped in his grip, held above my head. His body pressing against mine. Too close. Too warm. Too strong.

I thrash, but he doesn’t let go.

His breath fans against my cheek. His lips tilt into a smirk.

“I should punish you for that.”

I spit in his face. He stills. His tongue swipes the moisture from his lip.

And then he groans.

Like this is just foreplay to him.

I should be terrified. I sure as hell shouldn’t be slightly aroused!

Shaking my head, I focus. Because I’m not giving up. I jerk my knee up again. This time, his body jerks violently. A strangled curse escapes him. His grip slackens and I rip my hands free.

And I run. I don’t stop. Not to think. Not to look back. Because I know.

He will come for me.

I race through the darkened hallways, lungs burning, legs aching. My heartbeat pounds in my ears.

I take a sharp turn and slam right into someone.

Weathered hands grab my shoulders, steadying me. I gasp, jerking back, ready to fight. But then I see her. Agnes.

I clutch her arms, shaking.

“Gabriel,” I rasp. “I was right. He’s been here. He’s been here all along.”

Her face doesn’t change. She doesn’t gasp. She doesn’t even look surprised. Her fingers tighten around my arms, keeping me still.

“I know,” she hisses.

I stiffen.

“What?”

She exhales, glancing over my shoulder. Checking. Listening. Then she leans in, voice urgent, low.

“I’ve known for a long time.”

My breath shudders.

“How long?” I whisper.

She meets my gaze, her expression grim. “Since the day Claudius pushed him from that cliff.”

My world tilts. Because that means she’s known the whole time. The whole damn time.

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