Page 87 of Pain and Possession

I turn again heading for another door, I have no clue where it leads. Where he's going. Where Noè went with Camilla. All I know is I can't let this fail. I can't let Noè or anyone else be hurt by this family. I won't. I hold my breath as I open the door exposing a dark hallway. Hock will probably realize something has gone wrong before too long when I don't show up. I pause by the door I slip off my heels shoving them behind a large leafy plant. I don't break stride as I quickly shove the skirt of my dress out of my way jerking the holster clasp until the handle of the heavy blade pops free. The sound of a door pulling shut just a little ways ahead nearly makes me jump out of my fucking skin. Just another reminder how dangerously out of my league I am. A newborn pup going after wolves who have thrived in this environment for longer than I've been alive. I take a deep breath gripping the handle tightly the way Noè taught me as I turn the handle. I barely open the door when a large hand spills from the darkness, gripping me tightly by the throat. I can feel the grasp tearing open the wound on my neck as I try not to scream.

Mr. Riviera's face is barely visible in the dark room but the rage in his eyes is apparent. But that's not what scares me. It's the other thing I see there…the heat. The desire that has tears springing to my eyes.

"Noè sending is little girlfriend to do his fucking dirty work huh? A new low for the family."

I shake my head as his grip tightens making it hard to draw breath. The rusted and molding smell of that dark and dirty room filter through. The feeling of being trapped there. The way I struggled to breathe, the press of the knife at my throat. His hot breath on my face snaps me back to reality.

"You're going to fucking die. Rest assured that won't happen until I've had my fill. Little girls think they can taunt men like me and get away with it."

No.

The heavy feeling in my hand reminds me of something I had forgotten in my panic. I'm the fucking spider. I bring the blade up jabbing him in the gut, only it doesn't go in far enough. I gasp as he drops me, my tailbone meeting the marble floor as I scramble up tripping on my dress.

"You fucking bitch." He slams his weight into me, I turn just in time to keep my stomach from taking the brunt of his blow. I kick hard, making him tip off balance before I bring the dagger up again slicing at him frantically. Everything Noè taught me evaporating into thin air as a garbled whine leaves my throat. Blind stabs and panicked whimpering are my only defense. The blade finally connects to something meaty, the dark room suddenly going very still. I can't see what I hit but as his weight drops the blade is ripped from my hand falling along with him. I'm panting as I scramble around for the light finally finding the switch on the far wall, squeezing my eyes tightly shut. Halfway wishing I didn't have to see what I've done.

I force them open as I turn to his large, crumpled body, the dagger embedded to the hilt in his eye socket. I stare for a moment taking in all the slashes littering his face, neck and hands. Each varying in depth. I wait for the disgust, for the bile to rise in the back of my throat but it never comes. I can feel the wet tacky droplets of blood covering me. I know I can't reenter the party like this. Maybe not even get out, the only option left is finding Hock or Noè.

I bend ignoring the throbbing pain in my throat as my blood drips down my neck. The fabric of the choker slowly becoming saturated. It drips onto his face mixing with his blood and rolling into his open mouth leaving trace evidence fucking everywhere as I try to jerk my only weapon free from his face. It doesn't even budge just pulls up his head making it thud back to the floor loudly. I wipe the sweat and blood from my hands before using the bottom of my dress to wipe the handle clean. The wound gushes and squelches as I wiggle the blade back and forth with no luck.

Holy fuck this is hard.

I grimace as I place my bare foot on his face using it as leverage to jerk the dagger free. It comes out with a sickening sound as I flop back onto my already bruising ass, "Shit."

Chapter twenty-two

Cathartic

The Red by Chevelle

Astheroomfallssilent, I can almost hear faint voices coming through the walls. The room is empty save for a table and chair, it seems out of place, pointless even. I get to my knees crawling towards the wall as a snarky, cynical laugh filters through the wall making my heart stop in my chest. I press my ear to it tightly, waiting for something else. When a gravelly voice responds my heart starts again, kicking into overdrive as I frantically run my hands along the white embossed damask wallpaper. Looking for a crease.

Anything.

There were no doors beside this one on this side of the hall. It was to be-

Here!

I fight the urge to cry out as I find what I'm looking for. A part of the wall that has more give than the other panels around it. I push on it, my stomach dropping when nothing happens. I try it again harder this time, cringing when it pops open with a loud click. I stop breathing, too scared to move as the voices grow louder. Too caught up in their argument to hear anything.

Thank fuck.

I should be rushing in. I should move but I don't. As my heart pounds, I stay there with my feet glued to the spot. The words pouring out from the room making my chest burn with anger… with Jealousy.

"You think this is about you using me as your dirty little fuck toy before ending our engagement? Please Noè, it's about far more than that." Camilla's words stab into me, the revolting images of his hands on her flashing through my mind, shoving me dangerously close to the edge.

"Then explain it to me. Explain to me why you'd go through all these lengths to make my life hell! Huh? Did I embarrass poor little Camilla? All those years you spend throwing yourself at me. Following me around like a fucking mutt, that's why you did it!" I clench my fist to my chest desperately trying to control my breathing.

"I did it for my fucking father! You killed my father!" She screams making me flinch as silence fills the room.

"You hated that bastard, and I did you a favor by putting a bullet in his head. You are just a pathetic, lonely girl that got her heart broken by a man that never cared for you."

"Don't take a step closer Noè. I swear I'll fucking hit send. I'll hit send and it'll all be over for you and your new little whore!" The sound of shuffling is followed by breaking glass forcing me inside the door. Lightly walking along a short walkway between the walls, only a lip keeping me out of sight. Cursing inwardly I head back down the way I came pressing the door shut behind me obscuring the light filtering through.

I can't breathe.

"Careful." He warns, the malicious tone in his voice making my skin break out in goosebumps.

"Try to hurt me again and I'll press send. You aren't in control here Noè." She laughs, "You think we weren't ready for you? That I didn't catch on to that little display you put on with her? My uncle is probably taking care of that little toy of yours right now."

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