Page 49 of Vicious Hearts

“Welcome to your new accommodations,Ms. O’Conor,” he growls from behind me, startling me. I whirl, shivering as he smiles icily. I flinch when he reaches for me, sure he’s going to strike. But he only uses a finger to snag the gag still in my mouth and yank it free.

I sputter, gasping for clean air as I tremble. When my eyes focus on his hand, I flush.

The gag is a pair ofmy panties—the blue ones, with the black palm trees. The pair I thought the dryer had eaten, or that Bones had hidden under the bed or something.

If they’re in Cillian’s hand, it can only mean one thing.

He’s been in my apartment.

I swallow as my eyes drag up to his, and a shiver ripples down my spine.

“What do you want with me?”

Cillian laughs coldly. “What do Iwantwith you? With the little psycho who tried to kill me not once but twice?”

I gasp as he lunges forward into my face, his smile dissolving into a harsh, vicious look of vengeance.

“I. Fucking. Wonder.”

Naked fear shivers through me.

“I…” I stammer. “I didn’t, I mean I wasn’t—”

“I know you’ve only been taking orders from someone on those burner phones. Someone who’s smart enough to use them only once, and to tell you to break them in half when you’re done with them.”

I can’t tear my eyes away from his.

“What Iwant with you, Una, is to know who that fucking personis.”

It’s an easy choice to make. If I tell Cillian about Apostle, Finn is as good as dead. If I don’t, Cillian may kill me, but it may save Finn. I mean what would be the point in killing Finn if I’m already dead?

My stomach knots.

Or maybe Apostle stillwouldkill my brother. But that’s only a maybe. It’s a definite yes if I tell Cillian anything. It’s that simple. I stay silent as I stare right back at him.

His brow lifts, dark amusement creeping over his chiseled face and into his piercing emerald eyes.

“Well?”

I purse my lips, staring right back at him, still saying nothing. Cillian’s brow furrows deeply and he sighs.

“We can help each other out, Una. Or do I really need to trot out the easy-way, hard-way pep talk again? Because I’m fairly sure you know which option I willalwaysprefer in that scenario.”

“Why would I help you?” I spit.

He smiles grimly. “Because you know who I am. And you know what I’m capable of.” I shiver as he moves even closer to me. “And you might even know how much Ienjoydoing what I’m capable of.”

I glare levelly at him.

“You’re a monster.”

I gasp as he surges into me, one hand wrapping around my throat. His mouth drops to my neck, and his teeth drag over my tender skin.

And my body traitorously and shamefullyreactsto it.

“Am I…?” he rasps thickly into my ear. His hand tightens, and a throb of heat sizzles through my core.

Which is exactly when his hand dropsright between my legs. My eyes bulge from my head as he boldly lifts my dress and cups my pussy though my panties. And before I can do or eventryto do a thing, he suddenly drags a thick finger up my fucking seam.

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