Page 91 of Always A Villain

“You’re lying!” I choke on my fury, the memory searing. “I remember you. You were there that night! My father wouldn’t have killed her!”

He reaches out, touching my cheek again. I recoil, vomit rising to the back of my throat.

“Victoria, you’re my blood. But you’re an idiot if you think Conrad Valentine is truly your father.” His gaze hardens, and he leans in, voice dropping to a hiss. “My brother, Marco, was a foolish man. He let his emotions cloud his judgment. He should have ended things with your mother long ago. He had an empire to run—not waste time on a worthless woman and the child she chose to hide.”

“You’re lying,” I whisper, but the twisted pieces start to fall into place. All the painful years of my father’s coldness, rejection, the way he sent me away like something he could barely tolerate, it’s all starting to make sense.

“Believe what you want, but the truth is, I’m the only family you have left. You belong with the Dolore.”

“Go to hell,” I shoot back, trying to wriggle free from his grip.

“I’ll let the drugs wear off, then we’re going to have a nice, long chat,” he replies, standing up. The door swings open, and my stomach drops as more men strut in. One of them is Creed. My blood boils at the sight of him—memoriesflooding my mind.

“I need to check her for a tracker. The psycho probably placed one on her,” Creed grits out.

“Fuck you,” I snarl, glaring him down.

“Strip her down,” Antonio commands.

Creed kneels beside me, his hands ripping at my clothes. A predatory grin stretches across his face. I kick at him, but he easily overpowers me, his hands rough against my skin. My scream claws its way out of my throat.

“Enough,” Antonio snaps, and Creed reluctantly pulls back, rising to his feet. “Now, we can do this the easy way or the hard way.” He draws a gun and aims it at my head. “Stand up.”

I don’t budge.

“I said, stand up.”

I try to roll onto my side, but my limbs feel heavy and unresponsive. “I can’t,” I croak.

He gestures to Creed, who retrieves a knife from his belt and seizes my shoulder, dragging me across the floor. Pain radiates through me as he yanks me to my feet and then cuts the ties of my wrists and ankles.

“Now, be a good girl and cooperate.” The chill of the room wraps around my naked body.

“Fuck you,” I hiss, and his eyes trail over me. There’s a sickening hunger in his gaze as his hand slides down to my ass.

“Get the hell off me.” I shove him away with all the force I can muster. He just laughs, his grip returning.

“Damn, you’ve got some nice tits,” he jeers, his breath hot and vile against my ear.

“Axe is going to fucking kill you.”

He presses the knife against my neck, brushing aside my hair.

“I’d love to see him try,” he taunts.

“Stop fucking around and search her,” Antonio barks, impatience seeping into his voice. Creed pulls me against him, his hands exploring my body. I fight the urge to slam my head back into his stupid face.

“Look at these pretty marks.” His fingers dig into my throat as he traces Axe’s bite marks and hickeys. He leans in, breathing hot against my ear. “A little slut like you probably likes it rough, huh? What else are you into, love?”

His fingers slip between my thighs, and I jerk away, but he holds me tightly. His thumb brushes against my pussy, and I can feel the smirk twisting his lips.

“Don’t even fucking think about it,” I snap, rage surging within me.

“How else am I supposed to check if he planted a tracker in that pretty tight cunt of yours?”

“Creed.” Antonio’s warning is sharp.

Creed huffs, sounding almost disappointed as he steps back. “She’s clean.”