Page 18 of The Heart of a Villain

Talk?

My laughter echoes in the space, chilling and sinister, probably sending fear through her as sanity slowly slips from me, leaving only the possessive monster living within me.

And he wants nothing else but to punish the beautiful creature who dared to go against my orders, endangering what belongs to me.

Without uttering anything else, I push her inside the car and lock it before jogging to my side and then driving off.

Aileen managed to do what no one in my past—not even her father—accomplished.

She has shaken my iron-clad control, snapping the chains keeping the beast at bay and setting him free.

And what does a beast do when he’s hungry and free?

He hunts. He catches. He claims.

By the time the night ends, Aileen will be begging me for mercy, and unfortunately for her, I have none.

Aileen

The wind slaps me on my cheek as the car moves speedily toward the iron gates, while Rush’s grip on the steering wheel tightens, his muscles flexing when he takes a turn to the right. I lean on the door, my heart flipping inside my chest while the silence hovers over me like an axe ready to chop off my head.

After he forcefully put me inside his car, he hasn’t uttered a single word on the way here, and yet I can taste his fury, his whole body vibrating with it, while panic swirls inside me the closer we get to the mansion.

Because there, the beast won’t have to hide his anger, and God knows how he will retaliate for what I’ve done to him.

He came after me, but that was expected, right? It’s not like he could have abandoned me there, considering he wants my father.

My hands clasp together while I exhale a heavy breath, playing back the conversation right before we went outside to meet Rush.

Emmaline hugs me close, her rose-and-chocolate scent penetrating my nostrils while she rocks me in her arms. “I’m so sorry for this, Aileen.” She leans back and searches my face. “I tried to call Dad and inform him about you, but the bastard cut off all my communication, and his staff members listens to him like robots!” She frowns, groaning in anger. “I hate that you have to go back to Rush.”

“It’s okay.” Maybe if I find the diary, I will free both of us from this mess, although she seems stuck for life. Rafael doesn’t strike me as a man who easily lets go of what he considers his, and the way he treats her leaves very little doubt where his emotions are concerned. “I’m sorry too.”

“For what?”

“I kissed your husband. I think.” Does it really count as a kiss? But still, my mouth brushed his. “I thought he was Rush.”

Her brows shoot up at this, and she blinks. “His twin? The one who’s holding you captive? Girl.” She rubs her forehead, clearly thinking I have lost my mind. “I don’t really care about the kiss.”

“You don’t?” I ask in confusion.

“No. He can touch whoever he wants. I hate him and cannot wait to divorce his ass.” I step back at the sheer determination in her voice. “Trust me. His downfall will be spectacular to watch.”

Yeah, well, she’s a King. They usually get whatever they want, but then again, I don’t think they’ve ever faced anyone of such caliber.

After the power exchange earlier between the twins, I’ve noticed their strengths and tactics are right about the same. So as polished as Rafael seems… he must have seen some shit too, but he chose not to use this against his brother.

Which raises the question of why he avoided bringing any harm to him too, his punches not as hard nor targeted.

I rub my forehead, wincing at the throbbing ache in my head, and exhale heavily once again, fogging the glass while I tighten the jacket around me. I welcome the freezing air breaking goose bumps on my skin because at least for a moment in time I can focus on something else besides the impending doom.

Finally, we fly through the gates, and he gets us to the main door in record time, my insides squeezing when he stops the car and hops out, leaving his door open.

George and William stop behind us. “Aileen, let’s get you to your room. You must be cold,” the latter says cheerfully through Rush’s door while panic crosses his face, and his husband just frowns in displeasure. “And your feet are bare. Once again,” he jokes, and a hollow chuckle escapes me.

“Yeah, I guess my conditions don’t change when Wright family kidnaps me.”

He lowers his gaze in shame while George gives me a stern look, but I don’t care.

---