Page 85 of Breaking Ophelia

Disappointment.

Failure.

Loser.

We walk down the stairs and back towards the Feral Boys wing, but before we get there Caius lets go of my hand, only to turn and face me. His eyes are wild, alive in a way I’ve never seen. He’s shaking. So am I.

“What now?” I ask, voice small and raw.

He gives a smile that’s all teeth and trouble.

“Now we make our own fucking rules.”

I laugh, or maybe sob. I don’t know anymore.

We walk down the empty hall, every footstep a declaration, every breath a rebellion.

Just before we turn the corner, I look back.

No one follows.

I lean into Caius, the warmth of his body grounding me. My injuries throb with every beat of my heart, but I don’t mind.

“I thought you were going to do it.” I release a shaky breath.

He pauses, looking down at me. “I wasn’t sure what I would do, to be honest, but the moment I envisioned our future, you round with my child and then handing them over tothose people, I knew I could never be what they wanted me to be. I knew that all I ever want to be is the man who protects you, body, mind and soul. And nothing in my fucking life had ever been more clear. Losing them means nothing to me… losing you would shatter me.”

I look up at him, my heart filling with all the words I want to say, the words that I don’t even have to describe the feelings this man invokes in me. So instead, I step on my tip toes and plant a kiss on his cheek, earning a small smirk.

He meets my gaze, steady as ever.

“You just declared war,” I say.

“Now that is something Iamprepared for.”

Chapter 18: Caius

Theyhitthesuitebefore sunrise. Four men in black, one for O and three for me. Ophelia’s up in an instant, teeth bared, hair tangled from the pillow, but she doesn’t make it far. By the time she’s pulled off the bed and sat on the chair in the corner, they’ve got my arms pinned and my legs kicked out. One has a hand clamped around my throat, not squeezing, just keeping me down.

Motherfucker. My father’s men.

She screams my name, tries to launch herself at them, a wild punch smoking the guy standing behind her in the head. She runs forward, aiming for the guy sitting on my chest. The nearest swings her off with a forearm, the force slamming her againstthe wall. She’s feral, but there’s no point in fighting. The guy she punched pulls her up by the hair and she gets a backhand for the trouble, then a warning hiss.

I’m going to kill every one of these fuckers.

“Shut the fuck up, sweetheart. You want him alive, stay put.”

She doesn’t stop. She doesn’t know how.

“CAIUS!”

Her voice rips through me sharper than their grip, but I don’t waste energy fighting. These aren’t Board stooges or schoolyard bullies. These are Vicious Kings, specifically the ones my father hires for protection. They’ve been waiting for this.

They drag me out in boxers and a t-shirt. No shoes, no time to dress. I hear her, still screaming, still promising hell, even as they shut her inside. Last thing I see is her bare feet on the tile, as one of them tie her to the chair. Last thing I feel is the shame of leaving her.

The hallway’s empty, echoing with our footfalls and her shriek, growing ragged, desperate, as they march me to the service elevator.

The ride down is silent, one guard’s fist in my hair to keep my face at an angle. I focus on the numbers dropping, counting the seconds, rehearsing the move where I snap his wrist and cavehis nose. But I don’t. I could, but it would only get me tased, or worse. If I die, she’s alone. If I cooperate, I might buy time.