Page 72 of Hearts Held
Finally, she speaks. “No.” She readjusts her body as her emerald eyes peer up at mine. “I should have left when you told me to. I shouldn’t have been there.” Raising her hand, she wipes a tear off her cheek. “Thinking it was a lavish party, I wanted to…to impress you, for hell’s sake.”
An angry sob escapes at her admission.
“I’m such a fucking idiot,” she mumbles into her hands, sitting up between my legs. The murky crimson bathwater sloshes out the side of the tub.
Reaching out, I slowly rest my palm on her back. “Brielle, what may I do? I’ll give you whatever money you’d like, purchase you a one-way ticket to a new city, anything to get you safely out of this town. I know no amount of apologies may scrub this nightmare from your skin.”
She abruptly turns to her side, grasping both edges of the tub.
“No,” she hisses between her teeth. “I’m not going anywhere.”
Knitting my brows together, I state, “Brielle, if you stay, your life will be in far more danger. I don’t want to loseyou.”
“And me leaving would still causeyouto loseme, so you do not make any sense,” she argues back, and then swiftly changes the subject. “What happened to him?” Her eyes narrow, and I understand the question is regarding Giorgio.
I clear my throat. “He is restrained. I will deal with him in the morning.”
She sits up, a void look flashing across her eyes. Then there’s a look of violent restraint, one I have recognized within myself.
“Do you want to deal with him?” I try to calm the sinister smile that wants to stretch across my face.
Slowly she turns her body fully toward me. Her knees rest between my legs, hands still grasping the sides of the tub. Her eyes have darkened, the hint of violence still dancing within them.
She wants revenge. She wants her own chaos.
“Would you like him to pay for what he did to you?” I slowly state between us. “Would you like to deliver justice? To deliver pain?”
She nods her beautiful head in agreement graciously.
I crack a smile. “You aren’t always a graceful dove. No, my gorgeous girl,” I whisper, leaning in closely, watching her skin prickle. “Lying dormant within you is a reaper, a beautiful raven of death. It sits in the depths of your soul, waiting for you to let it out. That hunger for malice. I know, for I have it, and I canfeelitwithin you.”
She gives an audible swallow, turning sideways within the murky water. She peers down and states, “I’d like to get out of the tub now.”
The back of my two fingers gently slide along her arm. “All right, I’ll call for Mrs. Foster. She will assist y—”
But my instruction is cut off by Brielle’s small voice stating “No.” She abruptly turns toward me, her eyes dancing with something unreadable. “You tell me to order you. Demand fromyou.” Panic and unease flutters in her eyes as she finds her next words. “I want you to cut this dress from me.” She slowly stands from the tub and I stand beside her. I exit the tub first, then outstretch my hands so she may follow my movements.
As the water crashes upon the floor, her hands grasp mine. Her nails slowly dig into my skin.
“Cut it off of me,” she demands, her emerald eyes staring at me with such intent.
Leaning toward her, I lower my voice. The last of my restraint is being challenged by her words. “You need to understand that your soul must be fully invested in this decision. For I’m not just cutting that dress off you, darling. I’m going tokillyou, Brielle.” Her eyes widen as I step closer to her, sliding my hand to rest upon herchest. Her breath hitches as concern and confusion etch across her beautiful face. “I will rip out your heart, and as it ceases to beat within my palm, I shall resurrectyouinto the woman you weremeant to be.” I lean in so our foreheads touch.
I inhale slowly, closing my eyes, choosing the words carefully, so she may understand.
“You will no longer bethisversion of yourself.” I caress one hand gently up and down her side. “You will take what you want from others. From life. Fromme.” I move closer, my lips hovering over hers. The back of my finger gently travels upward to caress her shoulder. “Do you understand? This docile creature you’ve become shall no longer exist.”
Her eyes glaze over in fear, but a spark of determination spreads across her features as she exhales out, “I trust you.”
Then we collide.
Our collective calm ceases as we become two storms merging, comparable to the waves of a storm crashing upon the Saltdean cliffs. She raises to the tips of her toes as her lips meet mine. The caress of her hand upon my jaw, her soft and sweet lips, drive me toabsolute madness. It causes a chain reaction of movements, from sucking in her bottom lip, grabbing her round ass and pulling her tight, leaving no room for space.
Reaching for my blade, I cock my head to the side and give a smug grin. “You trust me?” my husky voice rasps out.
She nods in anticipation, drawing her bottom lip into her mouth.Fuck.
With a firm hand I grasp the strap of her dress. Pulling it taut, I gently swipe my knife down the center of the fabric. The blade cuts through with ease as the beads of the dress clatter to the floor.
