Page 63 of Thorns of Lust
“This is me teaching you manners,” I answered before my fist flew into his jaw.
The three sets of eyes popped open wide. Terror radiated from every single one of them.
“W-whatever you think–” One of them stuttered.
My voice was deadly calm when I spoke again. “Your friend here talked to my future wife with disrespect.” They were petrified. All three of them. “Unless you’d like to bear his punishment, I suggest you shut the fuck up and observe. Don’t worry, you won’t be slighted though.” He opened his mouth and I clicked my tongue, narrowing my eyes on him. “But if you say another word, make a fucking sound, I’ll teachyoua lesson first.”
His lips instantly tightened, scared to make a single peep. I grinned savagely, tasting his fear on my tongue.
“We didn’t know it was your wife.” The fucker who dared talk to Tatiana pleaded. Then to my amusement, he pissed himself. “I was joking when I said I’d tear her ass up. I-I’m not into ass fucking. N-nor rape. I-I w-wasn’t gonna rape her.”
I flashed him a ferocious smile while red slowly seeped into my vision. It took all my control to keep my cool. Not to go on a murder spree with these three assholes who hung off my cellar ceiling.
Turning to my left, a table lay with all our tools neatly organized. There might have been a blood stain. Or two. We purposely left those. It worked magic when it came to instilling fear.
I reached for the scalpel and twisted it in my hand as I neared the ringleader. The guy who dared even utter rape when talking about my woman.
“What’s your name?” I asked, letting the savage wash over me.
“T-Tom.”
“Well, Tom. You and I, we’re gonna get acquainted so fucking well.”
He shook his head. “I-I don’t want to get acquainted.”
My eyes darted to Nikita. “Let’s teach the fucker what happens to rapists in my town.”
And I did. For hours and hours. By the time the light in his eyes was extinguished, his buddies hated the idea of non-consensual anything.
“We have to get that chip soon.” Lenosh’s hard voice pulled me out of the past. “The others are tired of waiting.”
I tapped my fingers against the wheel, watching the slim figure wearing all black make her way here and there, as if she was trying to remember something. Her long blonde hair wasn’t matted and messy today. It fell down her back, the stark blonde even lighter against her black Chanel outfit. It seemed to be her signature outfit.
I couldn’t help a soft scoff. At least she wasn’t wearing those hideous sweatpants. It took all my restraint not to rip them off her yesterday. Although it was more attributable to the knowledge that it belonged to her late husband.
“They’ll have to wait for as long as it takes,” I said firmly.
Lenosh thinned his lips but said nothing else. It was why we got along so well. He knew when to object and talk, and when to be quiet. So did Nikita, but he had some urgent business to tend to.
My gaze slid back to the woman who was now on her knees, her hands skimming over the lawn.
“Jesus, what is she doing?” Lenosh muttered.
“Searching would be my guess.” The question was whether she was searching for the chip or something else.
“Maybe she’s drunk and finally lost– “ Upon seeing my thunderous expression, he paused, thinking better of finishing that sentence.
“You can go,” I told him. “I’ll hitch a ride with our little explorer.”
He nodded and I exited the car, slamming the door shut more forcefully than needed. I wanted to make sure Tatiana heard me. And sure enough, her head whipped around, her eyes connecting with mine.
I could practically hear her groan from here as she rolled her eyes and jumped to her feet. Taking my time, I strolled towards her and drank the sight of her in. The dress she was wearing flattened against the curve of her breasts and waist, then flared down to her knees. Her cheeks were flushed red and her full lips so goddamn tempting.
Of course, it didn’t help that memories of the last time both of us were here swarmed my mind.
It was here. In this gazebo.
I stole her innocence that night, but she stole my fucking soul. I was a fool to let Adrian take her, but now she’d be mine. Completely. Figuratively. Literally.
