Page 19 of Blood and Thorns (Twisted Ever After #1)

Arabella

I couldn’t breathe. Shoving through the crowd, I was crushed as I struggled to pass through. Their roars and cheers, it was all too much.

An elbow jabbed into my side, followed by a cutting glare before I managed to break through and run toward the black doors. They opened without assistance, but then I found the noise of the nightclub was worse, the music vibrating through my legs as I gasped.

My lungs felt like they were made of cement, my hands shaking when I made them into fists.

I needed air, space to breathe.

My feet were moving, and I crossed the floor without even thinking. Mia looked up from serving her customer, her frown concerning.

“Hey, are you…”

Her voice was lost as I shoved myself into the staff room, and then through the emergency exit and out into the open night. I gasped, the wind whipping across my skin, anchoring me to reality.

My chest was still tight, but I could breathe now that everything was quiet, and heat didn’t prickle my skin. Clawing at my throat, I tugged at the choker. But it wouldn’t come off. I couldn’t even feel the fastening.

“There she is,” a familiar voice called out, and I immediately straightened to find Lennon standing a few feet away, flanked by two other men I didn’t recognise. “I’d never in a million years think you’d whore yourself out, Bella .”

“Lennon?” My voice came out scratchy.

“So you turn down Gabriel but shag Sebastian fucking Devereaux?” He closed the distance faster than I could react, his hand snapping out to grab my wrist. He was only a few inches taller than me, but his grip was like iron.

“What are you doing here?” I asked, failing to pull away.

Lennon smirked, watching me with unblinking clarity. “I’m here to give you Gabriel’s offer.” There was a predatory gleam in his eyes, one that always twisted my stomach.

Gabriel could be cruel, but Lennon was always a step further. He didn’t seem to just enjoy the misfortune of others; he revelled in it. I always thought he became a police officer not for the justice, but for the domination. It was as if the law gave him permission to be spiteful.

Yanking me harshly, he pulled me against his chest. The other two men moved closer, circling like wolves waiting for the kill.

“Don’t,” I warned, only for Lennon to smirk.

“Don’t what?” Pulling out a blade, he pressed it beneath my choker.

It snapped, falling to the ground before he pressed the flat of the knife against my cheek.

“Now, Gabe’s ready to forgive you, but only if you beg.

He’ll settle your father’s debt with the Beast, and then you’ll crawl back to him like the pathetic whore you are. ”

“And you needed two babysitters to help deliver that message?” I hissed. “How can Gabriel find that sort of money? ”

Lennon’s eyes darkened, the knife pressing firmer against my skin.

“Careful, I wouldn’t want to cut up this face before I take you back.

I never really understood the appeal, if I’m honest.” His voice dropped to a mocking whisper.

“You must really have a magic pussy, because I’ve always said you were nothing but a charity case with daddy issues. ”

“Fuck you,” I sneered at him, only for him to grip me tighter.

“Is that what you’re doing with Sebastian? Spreading your legs for money?”

Hands on my dress lifted the fabric until a breeze was against my skin. One of the men pawed at me with a groan. “Fucking bitch isn’t even wearing underwear.”

“Get off me!” I snarled over my shoulder before Lennon turned the knife and threatened to cut. I stilled, those hands pressing into my thighs and wanting me to spread my legs.

Lennon sneered, “Stop fighting. We both know how you like it rough. Gabe’s even invited me to join…”

I threw my head back, jerking my entire weight to the side at the same time.

The press of the blade was instant, but I managed to punch the guy on the left, blood erupting beneath my fist. He howled in pain, my elbow hitting the other in his stomach before Lennon managed to kick me to the floor.

My palms and knees scraped against stone, the sting quick before I was pulled back to my feet by my hair.

Lennon snarled, rage tightening his expression. “You really shouldn’t have fucking done that.”

Sebastian

Reaper fought with an arrogance that made him sloppy. His footwork was slacking, and he preferred to entertain the crowd rather than concentrate his attention on me. Either he’d won his titles through pure luck, or he truly believed he was a superior fighter.

I didn’t even bother blocking his hits after a while, wanting the pain and the resulting afterburn.

My punch landed with a crack on Reaper’s jaw, so hard his head snapped to the side.

Blood splattered from his parted lips, his eyes glazing for a moment before he regained his composure and snarled.

I didn’t dodge his jab, which barely grazed my cheek, but the move left him open for my fist to land straight on his ribs.

With a puff of air, Reaper sucked in a rattled breath. But he stayed standing. Even after another right hook, his legs kept him upright.

I craved the blood that smeared across both our bodies. It was so fucking satisfying, the ache of my knuckles and the fresh bruise on my chest. It fed my monster, calming the restless buzz that was a constant beneath my skin.

I circled, my eyes immediately drawn to the crowd until they landed on Arabella. Even through the glare of the lights I found her, and I watched as she ran at what she saw on my face.

A hit landed on my jaw, my teeth knocking together from the impact. I returned my attention to Reaper as I spat blood. He should’ve made that move ten minutes ago, creating a more interesting fight for me. But now I was bored, especially compared to the idea of chasing my new pretty toy.

I was going to find her while adrenaline still pulsed through my veins, and then make her fucking beg for defying an order yet again.

My cock twitched at the thought.

I didn’t hold back my next hit, my right hook landing with such force that Reaper collapsed.

Not bothering to check whether he stayed down, I jumped over the ropes to land in a slight crouch.

The crowd scrambled to get out of my way, climbing over one another as I stormed towards the black doors that separated the clubs.

Caden appeared at my side, but I ignored him as I stalked forward. The door almost crumbled beneath my shove, and it wasn’t long before I was scanning every fucking person for familiar brunette hair.

Mia caught my eye, her chin gesturing towards the staff room with a slight guilty expression. She’d be dealt with later.

The back door was open, and stepping outside I froze as the wind whipped at my sweat-coated skin. Her voice called out, the cadence panicked, but also full of resilience as I turned the corner of the alley, and found her struggling with not one, but three men.

Blood seeped down her cheek, her skirt lifted to show off far too much skin while the man in front pressed a forearm against her throat. Her teeth were gritted, the men straining to keep her pressed against the wall as she fought.

I didn’t think, simply reacting to the rage that burned through me at the scene.

How dare they touch what was fucking mine.

Arabella’s eyes landed on me over his shoulder, her gasp a siren’s call as I reached the man on her left–the one with his fingers on her thighs–and promptly smashed his skull against the brick beside her.

His head split from the impact, and if he wasn’t dead already, I made sure to slam my foot down on his throat just to be sure.

Arabella screamed, recoiling while also trying to fight against the other hands holding her down. A blade swiped across my chest, my bare skin unable to resist the sharp edge.

I sucked in a hiss, ignoring the burn as I reached the second man.

Another blade, this time slicing across my arm.

They weren’t deep, more like panicked swipes rather than lunges.

I grabbed the second guy by the throat, his neck breaking so easily beneath my strength.

The crack echoed around us, as did the sound of his body dropping like deadweight at my feet.

The last man faced me with the knife, the end tipped red. He wasn’t much bigger than Arabella, his arm shaking as he faced me.

Fucking pathetic.

He was the one who had his forearm pressed against her, and my rage darkened into something worse. It was like a haze, my instincts calling for me not only to kill but to maim. Destroy. The other two had died far too quickly to sate my cruelty, which had left me unsatisfied.

Another swipe of the knife, and rather than backing away I stepped into it, allowing my skin to split.

For the sharp pain to register before embracing the heat of my blood against my cool skin.

The man gasped, and I smirked, allowing my expression to take a more feral edge.

His arm continued to shake, and as swift as a viper I snapped his wrist, catching the knife as it fell.

He screeched, cradling his arm to his chest while his wails echoed around us. I could easily finish this, but I wanted to drag it out a little longer. For him to fucking suffer.

“Stop!” A soft voice caused me to pause.

I looked over at Arabella, my breathing coming in pants.

“Please don’t,” she whispered, her fingers nervously tugging at the hem of her ruined dress.

“You care so much about him?” I asked, my tone so dark she flinched.

The man whimpered, and before he could run, I grabbed him, sinking his own blade straight into the centre of his chest. I didn’t take my eyes off Arabella, her face so open with her expressions that I drowned in her emotions, the fear, shock, and then the horror at what I’d done.

I pulled at the knife, blood raining across us both in a splash of red. I wanted to paint with it, smear my canvas with the colour.

Dropping the body, I stepped over him and closed the distance between us.

She never looked away, which made that twisted fascination inside me burn hotter. As if she was unknowingly fanning the flames to my new fucking obsession.

Where others would’ve cowered, she watched me as if I was a wild animal. It was what fascinated me in the first place, when I had her father on his knees begging for his life. She was terrified, but she refused to look away. Refused to submit.

She was either stupid, or she didn’t think much of her own mortality.

“Take care of this,” I said, and it took her a moment to realise I’d spoken to Caden, who’d followed on my heel and waited on the side while I’d dealt with the situation.

Her eyes darted to my cousin until I reached up and gripped her chin, forcing her attention back to me. She shook, her face pale, made paler by the blood that dripped like an invitation down her cheek. Reaching out, I brushed it away with my thumb. She flinched but didn’t attempt to break my grip.

“You really shouldn’t have run from me, belle.”