Page 132 of Brutal Obsession

“What are you doing?” I scoot backward, until I’m as upright as I can be. My back bumps the wall, and I tilt my head back to get a better look at what’s binding my hands. It looks like he’s used shoestring. I rotate my hands, trying to see if there’s a way for it to come off, but I don’t get far.

Greyson stops in front of me.

I pause and look up at him.

“You’re not getting free.” He nudges my bare foot.

I wince. I move it, bending my knees to draw my legs in close, and a streak of blood follows.

Stepped on something.

My head hurts. My throat, too, when I swallow. Like I’ve got blades in my vocal cords.

When he gets down on my level, right between my legs, it occurs to me that this isn’t a game anymore. I don’t know who crossed the line first, but we’ve blown past it.

I don’t bother asking him to stop, to let me go. I know he won’t.

So I tip my head back again, letting it rest against the wall.

He narrows his eyes. “You’ve lost your fear.”

“Pointless, isn’t it?”

“Yes.” He slides his hand up my right leg, starting at my ankle. “Let’s get something out of the way. You’re not here for pleasure.”

My mouth is dry.

“You’re here because you took something from me.”

It didn’t take him long to notice. That’s satisfying.

I chose correctly. My assessment of him proved to be accurate.

I lean forward as far as I can. My arms stretch backward, my shoulders straining. I’m flexible, but even this is pushing it.

“Okay.” My voice is pitched low. “I know what this is about.”

He swallows, and his gaze drops from my eyes to my lips. He seems caught, for a moment, when I bite my lower lip.

“Tell me where it is.” He’s swaying closer.

It’s just going to make him angrier.

He leans in, stopping shy of my lips. I’ve been staring at his, too, and now I meet his gaze. He’s frigid. Cold enough to freeze straight through.

“You’ll never fucking find it,” I say. “Because I burned it to ashes.”

He stops. Even his chest stops rising and falling. And then he laughs. Hard. He rocks back on his heels and throws his head back, the noise unleashing from him like he’s gone mad. He swipes at tears in his eyes and finally exhales, his chuckles subsiding.

Greyson reaches for me, and I’ve got nowhere to go. I’m not surprised when his hand closes around my throat.

He shoves me against the wall and follows, keeping his face in mine. His breath is hot on my fevered skin, and he smirks. “You’re not a good liar, sweetheart.”

My heart drops. “I had you for a moment.”

“And for a moment, I considered strangling you and leaving your body here.”

More lies. Right?

---