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He pulls out a blade and glides the dull side over Tristan’s neck, enticing a panic response from the cold metal.

“I think you know what happens when we touch something that isn’t ours.”

He walks around to the front of Tristan. He pinches the skin of his hand and slices a piece off, throwing it on the floor in between them. Tristan is shaking uncontrollably in his chair. He has snot running down his face. I hold down the bile that creeps back up my throat. My stomach turns from the sounds escaping behind his gag.He deserves this.

“I’m going to skin you alive for that. Then I’m going to leave you here to bleed out until you die.”

I feel fear crawl up my spine as he walks over to the bartender. I want to look away, but it’s like a car accident. You know you shouldn’t look, but you always do.

“You’re a piece of shit.” He spits in the bartender’s face. He then removes the gag from his mouth.

“P-please. I was just told to slip her the drugs. I didn’t know she belonged to you. I swear I didn’t know.” He speaks through his sob.

“Save it,” Dante says while he takes the knife and cuts the corners of the man’s mouth. Leaving him unable to speak correctly. Blood starts pooling and dripping down onto his chest. The sobbing grows louder. I squeeze my eyes shut and cover my ears, unable to take the gruesome acts.If he hurts them, he can hurt you.

“LOOK AT ME, EVELYN!”

I open my eyes. I can barely see through the tears that continue to pour out of me. I shake my head slowly. I can’t look at him. He’s a fucking murderer.

“Let me ask you something, Evelyn. Do you care about these men?”

I shake my head no quickly, not wanting to end up being next on his hit list.

“Did these men touch you or hurt you?”

I nod my head slowly, trembling as I wrap my hands around myself. The cold room is making me shiver.

“Then they deserve nothing less than death. You need to see what happens when someone touches what’s mine, princess.”

He walks over to the last man, and he stares at him. I don’t dare take my eyes off Dante. He moves with ease, as if he has done this a million times before.He probably has.

“You know what happens when we turn a blind eye?”

The man starts shaking his head no as fast as he can.

“We lose them.” Dante proceeds to carve out the man’s eyes from his head. The man convulses in his chair. Muffled screams can be heard from all three men. The room feels like Hell, and Dante is the Devil. I continue to shake, sobbing beneath my gag, wondering how the Hell I ended up here.

“I think I have a better plan for all of you.”

“I am going to remove all of your skin. Piece by Piece. Then I am going to bring in the dogs.”

“Don’t worry. They like to take their time when they eat,” he flashes an evil smile at Lucien, who nods back, approving of his decision.

* * *

Dante

My little princess didn’t know how cruel I could be until now. I glance over at her occasionally as I continue skinning these men alive. Pathetic. They didn’t have but three security guards, all of whom took one shot to kill. I could have let them suffer, but I needed to ensure she was safe. Lucien always supports my decisions because he knows if he doesn’t, I’ll do the same to him.

I watch her as she tries to hold back vomit. She is still trembling. I didn’t want her to have to watch this entire process, but I think it’s the only way to make my point clear. I own her. She is mine, now and forever. If anyone touches her, they will suffer the same fate at my hand.

I don’t think she feels bad for the assholes I killed. I think she has a weak stomach when it comes to violent acts, which surprises me. She reads enough thriller books, so I thought she might be curious about what those murders look like in real life.

The life I live is dangerous, but not for me, just for anyone who gets in my way.

* * *

Evelyn