Page 51 of Brutal Crown

Several moments later, I find myself in the library. I couldn’t sleep, Elio’s words repeating over and over again in his head.

What did he mean by everything he said? They kept me alive for a purpose? What purpose? Is this all some game I’m not in on? A challenge between brothers?

What is going on?

I pull some strands of my hair, a sound of frustration escaping my lips.

I glance around the room, and the memories of that night hit me harder than ever. I didn’t mean to come here. My feet carried me here on their own accord. Maybe because I didn’t want to be alone with my thoughts in my room. Maybe because I wanted to distract myself with a book.

Or maybe because an angry, yet shameless, part of me hoped I’d bump into Francesco.

I sink into one of the leather chairs in the corner and pull a book off the shelf just to have something to look at.

Just then, the door creaks open.

I tense as my eyes dart up.

Marco.

He steps inside quietly and closes the door behind him with a soft click. He doesn’t speak right away. He just watches me from across the room.

There’s something dark in his eyes as he starts walking toward me in slow and careful steps.

When he’s only a breath away, he speaks.

“I know.”

My heart stops. It can’t be…

“I know you fucked him.”

The words hit like a slap. My throat goes dry.

He chuckles harshly to himself when I don’t say anything. “I could tell. You reeked of him for two days.” His eyes graze over my body. “And I know my brother, he’s not exactly gentle.”

I flinch. My cheeks heat up at his implication.

He doesn’t stop walking until he gets to me, then he lowers down to his haunches in front of me. “I don’t care.”

A gasp leaves my lips as his hands slide around my waist. His movement is bold and confident, like he already knows I’ll let him. And that annoys me because he somehow believes he has such power over me.

His mouth hovers near mine. “Whatever happened between you two, it doesn’t change a thing. I know you’ll still end up with me.”

I can’t look at him. I don’t want to feel what he’s making me feel. My body is betraying me, but I won’t let him win.Not after Francesco.

I shift uncomfortably in the chair, the desire curling in my chest. His hand slides along my side, but I push him away gently.

“I can’t. We can’t.”

He grunts and pulls my legs apart to kneel between them. I bury my hands in his hair, trying to pull him off me, but his body holds me down against the seat. His hands caress my thigh, and I close my eyes, trying to imagine myself anywhere else but in this moment.

All I can picture is Francesco pinning me against the bookshelf and slamming repeatedly into me.

Marco’s fingers feel foreign against my body, and when they slip under my blouse, I can’t help but jolt back like I’ve been shocked.

“This is… insane.” I stand on shaky feet, moving away from him. “I don’t feel that way about you, Marco.”

He stands up, frustration evident in the sharp rise and fall of his chest. His face is flushed with desire, but there’s something else there too—something darker, more possessive.