Page 18 of Cruel Betrayal

She swallows hard, her throat moving beneath my touch. “I’m going to get out of these, and I’m going to kill you.”

My fingers tighten on either side of her throat, pressing against her airways. “Do you really believe that’s possible?”

“I’m going to make it hurt, too, you sick bastard.”

“Come now, love. That’s not the way to talk to someone who adores you, now is it?” I put more pressure on my minx’s throat, enjoying the way she gasps for breaths. “I think we’re going to play a game. You’re going to beg, and maybe I’ll let you breathe a bit better.”

“What…ever…” she chokes out, her face turning a dark shade of red as she struggles for breath.

I squeeze her throat tighter, waiting until her breathing stops. The moment it does, I let go, staring down at her and waiting for her to take another breath.

She does.

Good, I don’t want our game to be over yet.

I’ve got to be careful not to cut off her air too much. I would hate for something to happen to that brain of hers. She’s too smart to waste.

“I wish it didn’t have to be this way.” I stalk back over to the counter, grabbing the syringe.

After checking for air bubbles, I slip it into her arm, pushing the plunger down.

She’ll sleep a little more comfortably now.

Muffledwords come from the room she is in.

Guess she’s awake now.

I get up and putPeter Panto the side, humming to myself as I walk back into the main room.

She twists, pulling against the binds, the gag in her mouth keeping her from cursing me out.

The look in her eyes is furious, though. She’s looking like she could burn a hole right through me if she tried.

Might be entertaining to see her try.

I could untie her and prove to her that she’s always going to submit to me. That she’s not the one with the power here.

It would come as a shock to her, given who her family is. Though, I do know that her older siblings can be a bit overbearing.

I cross the room and put my hand over the gag. “Now, if I take this out, you’re going to want to watch the way you speak to me. I only want what’s best for you, and you’re making that a little difficult.”

As I pull the gag out, she rears up, pain flaring from my cheek as she smashes her head into mine.

I should’ve collared her.

I grab her by the throat and slam her back down into the table. “You’re going to make me kill you, and I really don’t want to do that.”

I don’t know that Icankill her. Not with how I want her. But she doesn’t know that, and I need to keep her on her toes, just as much as she keeps me on mine.

She scowls. “You could let me go. I wouldn’t tell my family who you are.”

“Do you even know who I am?” I brush her jaw with my thumb before letting go of her throat and going over to grab one of the knives.

I pick a slim dagger, knowing it’ll be enough to cause concern, but she won’t worry about me cutting her limbs off.

Yet, at least.

Not that I want to, but I could if I had to.