Page 61 of King of Depravity

Which is ridiculous. I just ran from his home without a word of explanation, and now I want him here… I’m such a chick. But the story about Preston…

The reporter had said it was an accident. But I can’t help but recall that night over and over. Killian tucking me in bed, telling me he had business to attend, and then leaving my apartment.

My steps slow. What frightens me about the idea of him killing Preston? Do I feel safer in a world where Preston doesn’t exist? I do.

If Alexander were dead, I know I’d feel better.

But it’s what I don’t know about Killian that frightens me. How violent is he? And would that violence ever turn on me? I can’t ever be in that position again. At the mercy of a strong man who has the power to break me.

I take a steadying breath. What do I know about Killian?

I know that he feels a deep connection with me, one that I share. I also know that he feels isolated from the world. Different.

I absolutely know that when I ask him about his feelings or his needs, he always answers with a stark honesty that many wouldn’t like, but I appreciate. Adore even.

I asked him,Would you hurt me?And he answered. Can I trust his answer? My hands leave my waist and relax around my sides for the first time since I left his place. I think I could.

He tells me the truth. And what he doesn’t tell me, is also for my protection. I’m sure of that.

Drawing in a deep breath, I straighten my shoulders, starting toward the back door. I’m going to quit and then I’m going to return to Killian’s. I don’t need to know his family’s business, or even what he did or didn’t do to Preston. I just want to understand his nature.

But a low moan from the shadows makes me stop again.

Peering into the darkness, I see the crumpled shape of a man. Stepping closer, he moans again, moving just enough that I catch the puddle of blood by his head.

I let out a scream, the shock catching me off guard.

But that’s when a hand clamps down over my mouth, an arm locking about my arms and ribs. “If it isn’t my favorite waitress.”

It takes me a few beats to realize who has his hand over my face. Alexander.

My heart, which was beating loudly in my ears, freezes. I try to unlock my muscles to run, to fight, but I can barely get them to work.

He pushes me toward the body, toward the outer wall of the bar. That, at least, brings some life back into my limbs as I start to struggle, trying to twist from his grasp.

His fingertips dig into the skin of my face and my arm as he sidesteps the pool of blood and pushes my front against the wall.

The puddle is only an inch from my feet as my chest and face are crushed into the brick. A sob fills my mouth, but Alexander’s hand is too tight for the sound to escape. With his body pinning mine to the wall, he works his arm down my torso, catching my leggings and ripping them down my hip.

“Ahh,” I manage a small moan between his fingers even as he pushes me harder with his chest so that he can loosen his belt and undo his pants.

“You’ve been tempting me for far too long, Printcessa,” he spits in my ear as he tugs at his pants.

I look down at the crumpled man near our feet. Did Alexander kill him? Is that what he’s going to do to me?

I try to fight again, but his hips press into me, his cock straining against my ass as he inserts a knee between my legs. I let out another half moan half cry struggling uselessly. I know it’s going to happen.

He’s going to rape me and then what…will he kill me? I look down at the body, crying through the stench of Alexander’s hand.

A gurgling cry fills my ears, and for a moment I think that the man at my feet is still alive. I’m going to listen to him die, my death moans joining his.

But then, Alexander’s body is just gone…

I spin, my brain trying to catch up as night air hits my exposed skin.

But my back collapses against the wall as I just stare. Killian stands just behind Alexander with his hands around the Russian’s throat.

My eyes are wide, my breath coming out in short gasps, but Killian doesn’t look at me. He looks at Alexander, his teeth grit, his lips tight over them. “How dare you touch her like that.”

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