His large boots stayed glued to the floor as I panted and coughed and slowly dragged enough oxygen into my bloodstream to halt the screech of death.
Keeping my head down, I muttered brokenly, “What you believe … it’s not the truth—just lies you fed yourself over and over.” Rubbing at the blazing pain in my throat, I wheezed, “I loved you. You scared me and I always felt as if I disappointed you, but you were the father of the boy I loved. I wanted your blessing. I wanted to be a part of your family as much as mine.” Every word bruised my larynx but if I could somehow get him to believe me … perhaps I stood a chance at getting free without more pain.
A few endless seconds ticked past.
With each one, I tried not to let my hope run out of control.
I stood on shaky legs, praying that he would see sense.
But just like every time, he believed lies over truth.
Rubix’s face shaded with hate and disdain. Disdain that I’d somehow stripped him of his righteous anger by fighting him not with loathing but with love.
A love he didn’t deserve.
A love that finally died completely inside me.
He was no longer my uncle. No longer a father figure from my childhood. He was a monster and deserved to die.
His arm came up.
I twisted to avoid him, but he was faster.
His fingers wrapped in my hair, yanking me close. “Enough of these games.” His eyes flickered to my lips. “Are you ready?”
My heartbeat exploded. “Ready for what?”
Rubix smirked. “Ready for your penance, of course.”
His hair was longer, tied up with twine at the base of his skull. His leather jacket had streaks of rusty red from blood of his countless victims. It was strange to think as a child I looked up to him. I believed he would be there to protect me always … now I knew better. I was no longer blinded by young na?veté.
Every inch of me wanted to spit in his face. “I have nothing to repent for.”
Rubix chuckled. “Always were argumentative, even as a little girl.”
“Stop it!” Having him talk about our shared past infuriated me. I didn’t want to fight memories of happiness when I wanted to embrace the coldheartedness of murder. I was done with this production.
I snarled, “You’ve lost the right to talk to me. You’re dead to me, and soon you’ll be nothing more than a rotting corpse.”
For the first time in my life, I surprised the ruthless biker.
His fingers loosened in my hair, a sharp inhale on his lips.
My eyes darted behind him, down the dingy corridor to the small slice of sunlight bouncing into the lounge. If I could get past him, I could sprint to the boundary and escape.
I’d done it before while burned and bleeding.
I could do it again.
Rubix lost his shock, fisting his hand deeper into my hair. My scalp burned but my anger overrode any pain. “You really didn’t change, did you? You still have the same runaway fucking tongue as you did when you were ten.”
“You don’t scare me anymore.” I dragged my nails down the back of his hand holding my hair. The lie came out brutal and fierce—sounding truthful rather than a fib.
Rubix smiled, not flinching in the slightest from my scratches. “You should be afraid, pretty Cleo. Because unfortunately for you, your life just became a goddamn nightmare.” His breath reeked of stale coffee as he pressed a rancid kiss against my mouth. His fingers wrapped harder in my hair like an awful cage. “Don’t panic, little princess. Nothing will happen that you can’t handle.” He added under his breath, “After all, I want you alive.”
Chills darted down my spine.
My heart stopped.
Fear tangled with fury and I wanted to carve out his eyeballs and flush them down his disgusting toilet.
“Let me go!” Struggling in his hold, I kicked his leg. Hard. Extremely hard.
My toes screamed and I hoped to God I hadn’t broken them, but the pain was worth it because his fingers unlocked just enough for me to throw myself into escape.
I shoved him backward.
He stumbled.
A gap opened up between him and the doorway.
I was free.
Run!
I leaped past him and pushed myself as fast as I could.
Run, run, run.
I skidded into the lounge, tasting the breathy relief of freedom.
But it all came crashing down.
I didn’t get far.
A few steps, that was all.
Rubix launched himself at me; his heavy leathered bulk knocked me off balance and sent me sprawling to the sickening carpet below.
I cried out as my arm bent painfully; air shot from my lungs.
Rubix breathed hard in my ear, his body crushing mine to the floor. “You try that again and the outcome won’t just be a few fucking bruises.” He kissed my cheek, then climbed to his feet. With a savage jerk, he yanked me upright. Capturing my chin, he snapped my head back to glare into my eyes. “The result will be a lot worse. Understand?”
His green gaze glinted, sending me whirling into a sudden flashback.
“We have to kill him, Thorn. There’s no other way.”