Page 12 of The Depraved Prince
I nod and climb into it. I’m trusting this stranger with my life. Trembling, I try to click my seatbelt on. After three jittery attempts, I succeed. Hayden sits next to me. As soon as he closes the door, the driver presses on the gas hard and hauls out of there fast with screeching tires.
5
MILLIE
I holdmy wrist like it’s my new safety blanket. I’m trying to protect it from getting more damaged. It’s throbbing, aching, burning, and there’s nothing I can do to relieve the pain. The driver speeds, and every time we hit a bump, I whimper—pure agony.
I need a damn doctor.
I don’t know what the fuck is going on. Where I am or who I’m with. I don’t have my pepper spray on me—nothing to defend myself with. I’m kidnapped just to get kidnapped again by a man they callDrago. My heart thumps with adrenaline and fear. I can feel it in the base of my throat with each thud, and my chest tightens.
I’m on the verge of a panic attack. My dad is probably worried sick out of his mind. He always waits for me to get home to go to sleep.
Where is Hayden Drago taking me? Is he going to kill me? Thoughts begin to swirl about not seeing my family again. I don’t want to die just yet. There’s so much more I want to do. I never got to travel to Europe.Alaska…
I never thought I would be kidnapped. Hell, I never believed vampires existed. What I saw in that room when Hayden burstthrough those doors were things that wouldn’t even appear in my worst nightmares. The way they snarled at each other’s throats. The sound of blood splattered across the walls and floor when they were fighting. I can confirm that these horrors of trauma are engraved into me for the rest of my life.
There’s no way I can sleep again, knowing these monsters exist in this world. The way their eyes turned from ordinary to vibrant colors when their vicious, sharp teeth would flash outside their mouths like rabid creatures. I tap my leg up and down and fidget with my fingers.
I’m shaking uncontrollably, my breathing shifts into deep, fast breaths, and tears flow down my cheeks. I look out the window, trying to hide my face from the strangers in the vehicle. I’m breaking down.
“Let me go home. I’m not supposed to be here. Please,” I beg, watching the night sky through the tinted window.
Hayden chuckles. I turn towards him and glare. He throws his head back, still laughing. His mouth opens, entertained by my cries and pain. His teeth are displayed, and I can’t help but notice how perfectly white and straight they are—his Adam’s apple bobs with each husky laugh. The street lights shine against the giant ring on his middle finger. There’s a snake wrapped around a bat engraved into it with words below, but I can’t tell what they are.
What’s so damn funny? How can my situation make him smile? As impatience and anger riddle my blood, my emotions get the best of me. I clench my one hand that isn’t broken into a fist and narrow my brown eyes at his dashing face.
“You’re sick. You’re just like them, aren’t you?” I seethe with venom, hoping he catches my off-putting tone. I’m going to die, but I might as well go out the way I want to. I’m still unafraid to speak my mind.
Hayden slowly stops laughing; he tilts his chin toward me, opens his eyes, and changes his face. Time stands still for a moment. His eyes are dark red again; the beautiful, mesmerizing sky blue is gone. Disdain in his iris, and it feels like he’s burning a hole straight through me with just that look.
Before I can blink, his hand grabs my broken wrist tight enough to make me scream. What the hell? A few minutes ago, it felt like he was on my team, and now it’s like I’m his victim. With my other hand, I claw at his skin, digging my nails to try to loosen his hand, but to no avail.
“Watch your words, Bambi. You’re still alive because I’m allowing it,” his deep voice growls. A sharp sob escapes me as I try to make him stop, but nothing works.
“Or I’ll shut you up with my cock. By the time I’m done using you, your throat will be so bruised from my fucking…you won’t be able to say the wordpleaseever again,” he dares as he smirks like he’s already picturing his dick in my mouth. The image crosses my mind, and I don’t know how to feel.
Finally, he lets go.
I have no words. I hold my broken wrist to my chest and let my hair fall over my face, using it as a way to mask my humiliation.He really is a fucking monster. I can still feel him staring at me as I concentrate on the seat before me. The only thing I can hear is the car engine and the air conditioning with blood that rushes to my ears. I want to tell him off once more, but I decide against it.
“And Bambi, you’ll be begging me to shut you up again and again after you get a taste of me.”
Finally, he wins. I give him a blank gaze as I lick my lips nervously. Hatred is an understatement with the way I breathe. All I see is his smug grin and red eyes. I hate that as I look at him with such rage, I can’t help but notice how ridiculous and stupidly beautiful he is.
I hate myself for noticing. I stop sobbing and start to pray silently. I need to get out of this situation.
Street light after street light whips by like blurs of bokeh. My eyes fall heavy as I lose myself in my head. I’m exhausted from the pain, the running, and everything I’ve gone through these past few hours.
What time is it anyway? It has to be well into the night. My best guess is that it’s around two or three in the morning.
We sit in silence for what feels like hours. A book occupies Hayden. Thoughts of my original kidnapper flood my mind.
What happened to the blonde man?
“Did-did you—” I’m stuttering. Fuck, why does he make the air so thick with uncertainty? Just looking at Hayden is so intense and intimidating that I can’t handle it. I fear him.
“Did I what, Bambi? Spit it out,” Hayden snaps calmly, still staring at his book. I flinch at his demeanor. He’s unpredictable.
