Page 48 of Marek

What the hell am I going to do now?

12

Ahand over my mouth startles me awake, and it takes me a moment to realize that I’m not alone in this dark room. Squirming, I wake up quickly, my body struggling to come to life as I untangle my hands from the blankets to try and push whoever it is away. The moment I catch the scent of cologne, I know who it is. I would know that smell anywhere.

“Did you think I wouldn’t find you, Ellie Mae?”

My god.

How did he track me down? Worse, how did he get in here?

I shove his hand away from my mouth, pushing him back as I sit up, my eyes blurry. I can’t see anything in the dark room, but I know he’s right there.

“Why are you so fucking obsessed with me?” I whisper hiss. “There are a million other girls out there you can get to dance for you. Just let me go.”

“You made a deal with me,” he growls, low, “and I’ve given you everything you want. I have given every request you’ve made. You do not run. You do not have that right.”

I grind my teeth together. “There are other girls, I’m sure you’re fully aware of that because you’ve likely fucked every one of them. Go get one of them.”

My tone is snippy, and I’m ashamed by how I’m behaving.

Jealousy looks ugly on me.

“Jealousy doesn’t become you, Ellie Mae,” Marek murmurs, his voice filled slightly with ... humor?

How dare he laugh at my expense.

“Fuck you, Marek. I couldn’t care less what you do.”

“Let me guess, Acacia told you that I used to fuck her? She’s right—” he leans in close, his breath tickling my ear “—I did. I fucked her and she loved it.”

I swallow the rage in my throat as I shove him back. “Leave.”

“Not without you.”

“I’m not coming with you.”

“Oh, but you are. If you don’t, I can go into the room where your precious Carter is sleeping and slit his throat. It’ll take less than a second, and don’t worry, Ellie Mae, I’ll make sure your fingerprints are left on the murder weapon.”

I gasp. “You fucking evil ...”

“Yes, yes, we’ve heard it all before. Get up, we’re leaving.”

Shaking my head, even though he can’t see it, I cross my arms. “No.”

“Very well.”

He stands, and fear lodges in my throat.

Anyone else I would say was bluffing.

But not Marek.

“Okay,” I hiss. “I’m coming.”

He doesn’t say a word as I get out of the bed and flick the lamp on. He stands in the doorway, shadowy and dangerous, his long hair pulled up in a messy bun on his head. He looks so fucking good; my obsession with him will only grow the longer I stay. It’s this desperate need to change something in him, or maybe to get him to fall for me. I don’t know, but I do know it’s dangerous and I’ll only walk away heartbroken.

“Move,” he orders.

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