Page 109 of Lies like Rubies, Part Two (Savage Jewels)

I’d never spoken truer words in my life. My heart shattered into a thousand pieces as I realized how deeply I’d fallen in love with these three men.

I took a deep, shuddering breath, wrapping my broken heart in the bleeding remains of my soul, and shoving the shards down into that pit where I hid all my other trauma. They would never know how much I loved them, how much today’s betrayal would break me. But Lizzie would be safe from Sergio. That’s all that mattered.

“That’s right, Sofia,” Dante purred. He dragged the tip of his knife across the curve of my breast, leaving a fine white line in his wake. What was he doing? Knife play was not on my list of kinks, and this did not feel sexy at all.

“I’m going to mark you, so there’s no question in your mind, or anyone else’s, who you belong to.”

No. Wait. What?

He pulled the knife down over my nipple, terrifying me as its sharp blade slid over my skin without breaking it, then continued down my torso to my pelvis. He ran his thumb over my hip bone before his eyes inexplicably softened.

“Do you need something to bite down on, kitten?”

I drew in a shuddering breath. “Dante, no.”

“Kitten, who do you belong to?”

“You.”

“And who owns your body?”

“You,” I whispered.

“Then don’t you ever tell me I can’t do something again. Do you need to use your safeword?”

Nick took my hand in his, stroking his fingers over my knuckles. “Do you?”

I shook my head and whispered my denial.

“Use your words, Sofia,” Nick said firmly.

“I don’t need my safeword,” I gasped, as Dante cut into my skin with the sharp blade, right above my tattoo.

“Look at me, love,” Lorenzo said tenderly, taking my other hand. “Squeeze tight if you need to.”

I stared into his eyes, seeing nothing but love, an outpouring of affection and reassurance. I held back a whimper, staring into Lorenzo’s golden eyes, clutching at the hands that held me, the pain igniting need deep inside me.

Words of love and affirmation threatened to pour out of me, and I bit my lip as much to hold them in as to hide my heartbreak.

Dante handed the knife to Lorenzo.

“Et tu, Brutus?” I asked Lorenzo, a tear leaking down my cheek. Lorenzo bent down to kiss it.

“This isn’t a betrayal, Sofia. This is making sure there’s no question of who you belong to,” Lorenzo murmured against my skin.

They knew. They fucking knew I was going to do this on my own. And they wanted Sergio to know I wasn’t his.Shit.What if I were making the biggest mistake of my life? What if—No. I might love them, but time and time again,I’d seen that the only person who could keep Lizzie safe was me.

I closed my eyes, unable to meet Lorenzo’s and face the love he showed me as he took the knife and carved his ownership into my skin. When Nick did the same, Dante kissed my palm. “Ours, Sofia. Never forget it.”

I nodded frantically, the pain somehow more intense because it was so emotionally fraught.

When Nick finished, he walked around to the side of the bed to kiss me deeply, his tongue sliding against mine, his lips claiming me as much as the cuts did.

“Who do you belong to, baby?” Nick asked against my mouth.

“You,” I answered. “All three of you.”

He offered me a hand, and I stared at the angry wounds and the rivulets of blood that dripped down my hip. They’d fucking carved their initials into me.

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