Page 70 of Colton
Leaning casually against the far wall, his eyes lock onto me with that same predatory glint.
“I think I know why you were here, Luella.” A soft chuckle leaves his vile lips, and I bite my lip so hard I taste blood. “You wanted revenge for Sophia, didn’t you?” His voice is smooth, deranged satisfaction dripping into every syllable. “She was mine, you know. Bought and paid for.”
My blood turns to acid. Every twisted word seeps into my bones, feeding my rage. I want to lunge at him again, tear his throat out, but the ropes…
Damn these fucking ropes!
They’repressing tighter against my skin with every failed attempt at movement.
I’m going to gut this mother fucker. Even if I die trying.
Xavier’s eyes glint as if he can feel my fury through the thick air between us. “Oh, don’t look at me like that, Luella.” He steps closer again, his polished shoes slicing through the silence with ominous weight.
“Such a pretty name,” he mocks, his lips curling around it like a snake coiling to strike. “So delicate. It’s a shame about what happened to Sophia, really. She had her uses. But you?” His eyes narrow with a sudden venom. “You’re more trouble than you’re worth.”
“You murdered my sister, you son of a bitch,” I snarl, spitting on the ground.
He strides over, his eyes darkening, and he backhands me across the face. The force of the blow snaps my head to the side, pain exploding across my cheek. I taste blood, but I don’t give him the satisfaction of seeing me crumble. Instead, I glare up at him, hatred burning in my eyes.
“Feisty,” he remarks, a cruel smile playing on his lips. “Just like Sophia. She fought too, at first. But eventually, she broke. You all do.”
He circles me, his voice echoing off the cold walls of the basement. “You thought you could outsmart me, didn’t you? Thought you could infiltrate my home, get close to me, and what? Kill me in my sleep?” The sound of his laughter is like nails on a chalkboard.
I bare my teeth, and he hits me again, my head whipping to the side. “You’re going to regret that,” I whisper, my voice steady despite the pain radiating from my cheek. I can feel the warmth of my blood as it trickles down my face, but I don’t falter. I won’t give him the pleasure of seeing me react.
Xavier scoffs, his eyes never leaving mine. “Regret? Darling, Ineverregret. I take what I want, when I want it. And right now, I want you to suffer.” He runs a finger along my jaw, tracing the line of blood, and I jerk my head away, disgusted by his touch.He chuckles, stepping back. “But first, I want answers. Who helped you?”
I stay silent, my eyes locked onto his. I love that he thinks I needed help, that an innocent girl wouldn’t be able to end his fucking reign of depravity.
Chauvinistic pig.
His eyes narrow, anger flashing across his face. “Fine. We’ll do this the hard way.” He pulls out a small knife from his pocket, the blade glinting menacingly in the faint light. “You’re going to talk, Luella. One way or another.”
I brace myself, steeling my body against the inevitable pain. I have to be stronger than him, stronger than the fear gripping my heart. I eye the blade, imagining how it would feel to sink it into his eyeball.
He takes a step closer, the knife poised in his hand. But before he can touch me, a sudden noise echoes from upstairs. Footsteps. Heavy and urgent. Xavier freezes, his gaze flicking towards the door.
“Sir?” a voice calls out, tense and hurried. “We have a situation.”
Chapter 32
Luella
My body sags with relief as Xavier leaves the room, but it’s only brief. He’s going to come back, and he’s going to hurt me; I know this man almost as well as I know myself, and depravity is his favorite hobby.
Breathe.
It doesn’t matter how many times I tell myself to fucking breathe, it won’t get me out of this situation. Whatever has distracted Xavier won’t last long, and I have to try and get out of these ropes. But it’s impossible, my wrists are slick with blood and sweat, the ropes biting deeper with every futile attempt to loosen them. The pain is almost blinding, but I can’t give up. I can’t let him win. A sob threatens to escape my lips, but it’s one of frustration, not fear or sadness.
No.
I need to think logically. So, I can’t get out of the ropes. There are no weapons anywhere, and I’m starting to feel like I am well and truly fucked.
But maybe...
I wiggle my toes, relief coursing through me when they respond immediately.
Good.
