Page 32 of Cruel Betrayal

“Playing with my pussy in public is going to get you in trouble,” I whisper, leaning closer to him and rocking into his touch again,aware of all the eyes on us and the way people turn to whisper to each other.

Before he has the chance to say anything else, gunshots echo through the room, screams following them.

Ezra moves in the blink of an eye, grabbing me and hauling me to the ground. His body covers mine before he looks around and gets up.

More gunshots crack through the air. More blood sprays.

“It’s your family.” His voice is husky, the vibration starting again, building slow and low in my core. “You have a choice.”

“And what’s that?”

“You can come with me…” He increases the pace of the vibrator, making it hard to think straight. “Or you can let them capture you and go back to the boring life you had before.”

Chapter Ten

JADE

Go back to my family.

Lose my freedom, all I fought for. And knowing Aiden, this was my only shot, no do-overs, game over.

Or let Ezra whisk me away from here and get some insight into his family.

I could do something good. I could use whatever information I get from being with him to help them end this war. I could show Aiden I’m not the glass doll he thinks I am. I could show him that I can take care of myself and be an asset to the family while keeping my independence.

I’m so sick and tired of this fucking war.

Ezra eyes me as a body drops beside us, blood pouring over the ground. “You’re running out of time to make a choice, love. I think I’m being nice by giving you an option.”

“If I go back with them, what happens?”

He chuckles, hand wrapping around my throat, pulling me closer until his lips brush against mine. “Then I hunt you downall over again and make sure you know that you’re never going to escape me.”

A chill runs down my spine.

Maybe I was wrong. Maybe he could kill me if he really wanted to.

“Take me away from here,” I whisper against his lips.

For the first time in my life, I want to do something for me. I want to be the one calling the shots and deciding the steps I take. I want to gain power in my family so I can keep the freedom I conquered, and this is the way to do it.

He takes my hand with a smile that sends an uncomfortable feeling through me.

I don’t know if it’s the attraction I have for him mingling with the fear, but I don’t care.

I’m running from one cage by locking myself into another.

I lookaround as we step off the elevator, blood staining our clothes. “Where are we?”

He takes a set of keys from his pocket. “My apartment. Thought you might like a little bit of freedom, and my roommate isn’t going to be home tonight.”

“You work for the Rinaldos, but you have a roommate?”

Ezra looks at me over his shoulder as he unlocks the door. “Your family killed his wife and his child was caught in the crossfire. Idon’t need the roommate, but he needs someone to make sure that he doesn’t go off the deep end again.”

I fight past the lump in my throat and follow him inside. “I’m sorry. My family wouldn’t have killed a woman or a child on purpose. Aiden views it as wasteful. Always has.”

“Is that supposed to be comforting?” His tone is hollow.