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“Or what? You’ll kill me? Wouldn’t be the first time.”

As she squirms beneath me, her body arches up. Her core grinds against my cock that gets instantly hard—not caring at all that she betrayed me. She’s not even doing it on purpose. Luciana just wants to free herself. It’s impossible. I fucking love to assert my dominance, showing her the irrefutable fact that she can’t escape me.

She huffs, but calms down. I force myself off her, pushing the small key to her collar into my pocket.

Inhaling deeply, anger and desire tear me in two different directions—ripping me apart.

When I get myself under control, I stare back at her. She lies perfectly still, eyeing me intently.

“Don’t move,” I command, my voice betraying my frayed control.

Approaching her, she doesn’t even flinch, remainingperfectly still. So sure I will not hurt her when around her neck is the proof I would. Knowing her, she won’t withstand temptation. It’s in her nature to taunt and tantalize me.

I only need to press my thumb and forefinger together to send a current shocking her. I will inflict pain on her—that is an undeniable fact. Sooner rather than later, she’ll warrant the punishment. Her life lies at the tip of my fingers, literally.

I pluck the other key from my left pocket and go to her side.

The cuffs around her ankles unlock, and she lets out a small sound of satisfaction. I move to her wrists next. Those silver eyes of hers—precious like platinum and lethal as a bullet—analyze my every move.

I won’t let my brain give me more hell for giving in so quickly. This is the compromise I came up with. In our world, freedom is a loose term. We are bound by different principles. I have one code. Do not betray me or death will await you. I am not making an exception for her. I just want to snub any remaining feelings for her and then I’ll do it. When my broken heart has had enough, she’ll die.

I unlock her wrists, and she pulls her hands to her chest, rubbing at them gently.

Plucking the small tube of ointment from my back pocket, I throw it at her side. That will help soothe the angry red lines marring her skin.

As she applies the soothing gel, she glances at me, not hiding her smile.

Fuck you, weakness.

“Now what?” she asks, as if she has a modicum of a say.

I’ll show her she lost that privilege. She was the exception in my life, but I won’t make the same mistake twice.

“Now, you’ll serve. Me.”

She has the audacity to roll her eyes as her finger grazes along the collar, the symbolism not lost on either of us. A single diamond for her to see her one singular mistake—the kill she made, but whatever it was, divine intervention or some other shit, she failed.

“As what?”

“As whatever I want,” I say, my voice cold and harsh.

There’s no room for negotiations. In her case, just like with the city I rule, I am the judge and the executioner.

She tugs at the collar, but she won’t break it, and a smile curls the corners of my mouth. Her curiosity brought her to fall.

“I am not your fucking pet,” she says, brushing a wayward strand of hair off her face and gathers it all in a low ponytail at her back. She’s unwashed, unkempt, with blood caked on her left side, yet she is still beautiful.

“Getting in my bed is a fucking privilege. One you lost as well.”

She lets out a sound that rings of fake indignation. For a theatrical effect, she pats her chest as if she’s hurt. “I bet your cock disagrees. I bet you still think of me when you lie in bed, wanting me there. We could never lie to each other, Enzo. This stupid connection won’t disappear, regardless of what either of us does.”

The vein in my neck throbs, threatening to burst at her audacity. “It saved your life once, but it won’t happen again.”

She rolls her eyes at me. “Sure. Tell yourself that. I will allow you to continue believing your delusion.”

I have her trapped with no way of escaping and she gives me attitude—her self-preservation instinct is nonexistent.

Lifting my hand in front of her, she tilts her head, eyeing my movement. I snap my fingers, pressing down. Instantly, she bends over, recoiling with the jolt of electricity that goes through her, rocking her for a few seconds, before I part them.