Page 131 of Madness & Mercy
“But you didn’t kill me,” he murmurs. “Even though keeping me alive meant risking your life.”
His eyes narrow, searching mine.
“That’s either loyalty…” he says slowly, “or insanity.”
He stares at my mouth. I can practically feel him dissecting every word I might say.
“So which is it, Julian? Hm?” His voice softens, but the threat doubles. “Are you mine… or are you stillhis?”
I could lie, but he’d hear it. Healwaysdoes.
“I’m yours,” I whisper, barely breathing it. But it lands like a confession I should’ve made months ago.
He stills for a beat, just long enough for it to hit. Then his hand curls tighter, his thumb brushing my lips.
“Say it again.”
“I’m yours,” I choke out.
He leans in close, his forehead pressed to mine. His voice is low, jagged, and dangerous.
“Don’t say it because you’re afraid. Don’t say it because you’re chained. Say it because it’s the one truth left in your goddamn chest,piccolino.”
And Idomean it. That’s the worst part.
Because he could kill me, he could kiss me… and I don’t know which would ruin me more.
He makes the decision for me.
His hand tangles in my hair. He yanks my head back. And then his mouth is on me in a brutal, claiming kiss made of fire and fury and everything he doesn’t say out loud.
“You don’t get to say that like it means nothing,” he growls. “You’reminenow. No more lies. No more games.”
His teeth scrape down my jaw. His fingers wrap around my throat again, tighter this time.
“Youbelongto me.”
He pulls back just enough to meet my eyes.
“If you betray me again,” he says, “I won’t just kill you, Julian. I’ll fuckingdestroyyou.”
His grip clenches.
“I’ll break you apart piece by piece. You’ll beg for death, and I won’t give it.”
My pulse hammers against his hand.
“But if you stay,” he adds, quieter now, “I’ll make sure no one ever lays a finger on you again. Not Silvio. Not your past. No one.”
It sounds like a threat, but it lands like a vow.
He brushes the corner of my mouth, wiping away the dried blood like he’s either claiming me or cleaning up something he’s not done breaking.
“You think I’d letanyonetouch what’s mine?”
He steps behind me. I hear the softclick—the first cuff released. Then the second…. but he doesn’t let go.
He leans in, his lips grazing the shell of my ear.
