Page 66 of Cruel God

Ringing burst through my eardrums, and I could see Colton’s mouth open as he screamed, but I didn’t hear a sound. Everything was quiet. Peaceful. Serene. Even as I watched Lily fall to the ground, her wet, see-through chiffon robe suddenly tainted with crimson—I felt nothing but calm.

“Jesus fucking Christ.” Colton fell beside her, covering the gunshot wound in her stomach with his hand. “What the fuck did you do, Hope?”

Rex grabbed the gun from my hand, and all I did was stand there watching Lily bleed on the ground.

“Butterfly, why did you do that?” Rex grabbed my cheeks with his palms. “What did you do?”

“It’s the only way,” I muttered, still watching Colton trying to stop the bleeding. “It’s the only way he’ll let me go.”

“What are you saying? Hope, look at me!” Rex demanded, and I immediately looked up and into his sapphire eyes. “I won’t leave you, master. Never. I’d rather die.” And I meant it. I meant it with every fiber of my being.

“We need to get her to a hospital. Now!” Colton’s voice shook with panic. “Call 911, now!”

As Rex and I stared at each other, something passed between us—his eyes flashing with realization. He knew what I had just done. He figured it out, and there was no mistaking the curve at the edge of his lips, a look of pride settling on his expression. “I love you, Butterfly,” he whispered before touching his lips to mine, sending a wave of warmth throughout my core. “And I promise he will never find us again. Ever.”

“I love you, too. Master.”

Another second passed, my heart swelling inside my chest as I stared into the eyes of the man I loved. It was a moment that could have continued for a lifetime. A moment I could easily have lost myself in. A moment frozen in time.

But Colton’s voice severed the calm as he shouted for help; his hands coated in Lily’s blood. “Hope. Call 911 now!”

Rex brushed a thumb across my lips, and I welcomed the familiar lust and desire that spread through my bones.

He reached for his phone and held it up in the air as he turned to look at my brother, who was desperate to save Lily’s life.

“It seems you have a choice to make, Mr. Riggs. Save Lily’s life and let Hope go. Or force your sister to leave with you and let Lily die.”

Colton looked up, his eyes wide and practically bulging from his skull. “What the fuck?”

Rex slanted his head, his finger hovering over the dial. “I will call one of the doctors on my payroll, and he might be in time to save Lily’s life. But by the time he gets here, Hope and I will be gone.”

“Fuck you!”

“Or you can keep trying to take my Butterfly from me, and in the process, Lily here will lose her life. Which one will it be?”

“You are both fucking insane! Hope, help her. She’s your friend, for God’s sake.”

Inching closer to Rex, I showed him who I was loyal to.

I was loyal to the man who had kept every promise he ever made me.

I was loyal to the man who helped me after X had struck me for protecting a child who cried for her mom.

I was loyal to the man who stopped Victor Cain from selling me.

I was loyal to the man who deceived his own father, choosing to risk it all rather than take me against my will.

I was loyal to the man whose touch didn’t hurt.

I was loyal to the man I loved.

“You have to choose, Colton,” I murmured, still not unaffected by Lily’s gasps and cries of pain. “But even if you choose to let her die, I won’t go with you willingly. And I can promise you that if you take me against my will, I will kill myself the moment I get the chance.” I crouched down so I could look him in the eye. “I will not live without him, Colton. I simply won’t.” I stood up, taking Rex’s hand in mine. “You really only have one option here.”

“Time is ticking, Mr. Riggs,” Rex taunted. I loved it. I loved the power that flowed through my veins. How the adrenaline pumped through my heart as Rex and I teamed up to take control. To make sure that no one would tear us apart.

He had proved his love to me so many years ago. And tonight, I had the chance to prove to him how much I loved him, too.

“Hope,” Colton started, but Rex simply lifted his arm, pretending to look at the time on his wristwatch.

---