Page 33 of Cruel Possession

Footsteps echo down the hallway. An annoyed sigh reaches me.

Does the entire family live in this damn house?

Shoving open another door, I take a moment to hide. I ease it shut, the door latching into place.

“You know they’re going to kill you for this,” Royce says, his voice audible through the heavy wood door. “Gia, I can’t fucking believe this. I told you not to get in the middle of Aiden’s shit, but you couldn’t help yourself, and now we have a bigger problem on our hands.”

I want to open the door and go get her, but I can’t hear Bianca babbling. I want to get to her first. It’ll be easier to convince Gia to come with me if I take the baby first.

I shove my hood down, letting out a slow breath and running my hand through my hair.

The first threads of regret flow through me.

Maybe I shouldn’t have come back for them. Maybe I should’ve just left.

“She’s my sister,” Gia says, her voice breaking. “I couldn’t just let her sit there while he played his games with her.”

I have to get them out.

“It’s not your place to get involved. You should’ve just left it alone.” Royce sighs. “He’s not going to kill her. He’s got some weird obsession with her.”

I smirk and press my ear to the door, trying to hear more of their conversation, but their voices fade quickly.

Warm breath skates across the back of my neck, a body pressing close to mine.

My pulse spikes, and the world starts to spin.

I squeeze my eyes shut for a moment, hoping this is all just a dream and I’m going to wake up back in my cell.

Or even better, back in my own bed with none of this mess happening to me.

“What do you think you’re doing?” Aiden asks, amusement in his voice.

My breath catches in my throat, and I swallow hard before opening my eyes.

His lips press to the side of my neck before he pulls away.

“Do you know how fast your pulse is racing?” His hand slips beneath the hem of my sweatshirt, resting on my waist, pushing me harder into the door. “You were out of here. You could’ve been free, but you turned back.”

“What’s it to you? You should be happy. You’re not going to look like a failure in front of your family.”

He chuckles, kicking my feet apart, one leg pressing between mine. “You would think that, wouldn’t you? I was looking forward to the chase, though. This is rather disappointing.”

“Well, then hurry up with whatever you’re going to do.” I try to force some confidence into my voice.

I need him to believe that I’m not bothered by this. That Gia and Bianca aren’t my weaknesses, even though I think he already knows.

And I think, to a degree, he might be one of my weaknesses too.

His fingers skim higher, brushing beneath the hem of my bra. “I don’t think so. It might be fun to take my time with you. I could make you beg to die.”

“You could, but you’re too pathetic to do it.”

Aiden sighs, his breath fanning over my neck and sending a shiver down my spine.

Something sharp presses against the side of my neck. “You know, this was a cute attempt.”

And as the sedative flows through my veins, I’ve never regretted turning back for my sister more because I don’t think Aiden is going to keep me alive a second time.