Page 21

Scarlett

I stare up at the mansion as we approach, its gothic spires and darkened windows seeming to loom over us like a malevolent shadow.

My heart pounds in my chest, fear and dread coiling in my stomach. I know what awaits me inside those walls, the horrors that lurk in the shadows.

Every step feels like a step closer to my doom. I’m terrified that he’s going to drag me inside and hurt me again, like he did last night.

And yet, I have no choice but to return to it.

Alex’s grip on my arm tightens as he leads me up the steps, his fingers digging into my skin hard enough to bruise.

I wince, trying to pull away, but his hold is unyielding.

He’s angry.

I can feel it radiating off him in waves.

We step inside the foyer, the heavy oak doors swinging shut behind us with a resounding thud that echoes through the cavernous space. Alex releases me abruptly, his hand still clenched into a fist at his side.

“You need to stay away from Rafferty,” he says, his voice low and threatening. “He’s not to be trusted, Scarlett. He’s dangerous.”

I swallow hard, my mouth suddenly dry. Like the man before me isn’t just as dangerous. “I know,” I whisper, my voice barely audible even to my own ears. “I know he is.”

Alex’s eyes narrow, his gaze boring into mine with an intensity that makes me shudder. “Then why were you with him? In the woods? Alone?” His words are clipped, each one dripping with accusations he has no right to hint at considering what he forced on me last night.

I open my mouth to respond, but no sound comes out. How can I explain something I don’t even understand myself? I wanted to escape, yes, but I also...I also wanted Rafe’s help. His protection. Even though I know it’s foolish, even though I know he’s just as much a monster as the rest of them.

“He found me,” I say finally, my voice trembling. “I was lost and he found me.”

Alex scoffs, a cruel twist to his lips. “Lost? Or were you looking for him, Scarlett? Is that what you’re telling me?”

“No. Of course not.” I protest, taking a step back from him. But he’s on me instantly, his hand wrapping around my throat, squeezing just hard enough to make me gasp for air.

“Why don’t you do it then, huh?” he growls, his face mere inches from mine. “If you know he’s dangerous, if you know what he’s capable of, then why don’t you just stay the fuck away from him?”

I claw at his hand, my nails digging into his skin, but he doesn’t budge. “I...I don’t...” I choke out, my vision starting to blur at the edges.

He releases me suddenly, shoving me away from him with such force that I stumble and fall to the floor, landing hard on my knees. The impact sends a jolt of pain up my spine and I grit my teeth hard to stop myself from crying out.

Alex looms over me, his chest heaving with anger. “You’re mine, Scarlett,” he snarls, his voice shaking with barely contained fury. “Mine. And I won’t let anyone take you away from me. Not Rafferty, not anyone.”

Tears sting my eyes as I stare up at him, my heart pounding in my chest.

Why is he so jealous, so suspicious all of a sudden? I haven’t been alone with Rafe before. Not that I remember, anyway. Unless...unless Rafe has been coming around more than I realize, and Alex knows something I don’t?

The thought sends a chill down my spine.

God, I wish I could remember. I have to remember.

“I’m sorry,” I whisper, my voice barely audible even to my own ears. “I didn’t mean...I wasn’t...”

“Bullshit,” he snarls, taking a fistful of my hair. “I know he’s been here. I know he’s been bothering you. So why the hell don’t you tell him to get lost?”

Tears well up in my eyes. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I sob, even as the memory of Rafe’s cock in my mouth flashes unbidden through my mind. “Please, Alex, you’re hurting me...”

He releases his grip, snarling in frustration and for a moment I think it’s over, that this fight or whatever it is has blown over.

He reaches down, his hand gripping my chin roughly as he forces me to look at him.

“I do everything for you, Scarlett,” he says.

“Everything. I give you a life of luxury, I protect you from the world when I could just as easily have you locked away in a nuthouse...and this is how you repay me? By sneaking around with my brother behind my back?”

“No, Alex, please...” I beg, but he cuts me off with a harsh squeeze to my jaw.

“You need to trust me,” he continues, his eyes boring into mine with an intensity that makes me shudder. “You need to let me take care of you, without questioning it. I mean, haven’t I done enough? Sacrificed enough?”

I nod back. Yes, yes he has. What a noble, loving man my husband is, sacrificing his precious time to take care of me. Only, that’s not what he’s doing, is it? His intentions are so far from altruistic it’s unreal.

“I love you, Scarlett….” He continues, and it takes all I have not to show my revulsion then.

Those words are lies. No man loves their wife and does the things he does.

“…I love you more than anything in this world.”

I swallow hard, my throat aching from the force of his grip.

“Why does Rafe keep showing up?” I ask, my voice trembling. It’s a risk to continue this conversation, but it doesn’t make sense. If he’s so damn dangerous, why do he and Vincent even let him visit? “Why does he keep coming here?”

Alex’s eyes flash with something unreadable, his jaw clenching so hard I can see the muscle twitching. “It’s not important,” he says finally, releasing his grip on my chin. “He’s just here to cause trouble.”

“But...” I start to protest, but he cuts me off with a sharp look.

“No buts,” he says, his voice brooking no argument. “Rafferty is not your concern. Your concern is me and making sure you don’t do anything to jeopardize your recovery.”

I nod slowly, my heart sinking in my chest. I know I should be relieved that he’s not pressing the issue further, but all I feel is a deep, gnawing sense of unease.

Something’s not right here, I can feel it in my bones.

Perhaps I’m a fucking idiot, but a spark of something akin to hope builds in me. Maybe Rafe is going to help me. Maybe he is going to take on his brother, and Vincent too.

I clench my fists, driving my nails into my palms to stop the relief I feel from showing on my face.

I have to be better than that. Smarter than that.

“I understand,” I murmur, my voice barely above a whisper. “I won’t...I won’t do anything to upset you again, Alex. I promise.”

He smiles then, a cold, cruel thing that doesn’t reach his eyes.

“Good girl,” he purrs, reaching out to stroke my cheek with a gentleness that belies the brutality of his actions moments before.

“I knew you’d see reason. Now, let’s go up, shall we?

I think we both could use a drink after all this excitement. ”

He extends his hand to me, waiting for me to take it. And what choice do I have but to obey? To follow him into the lion’s den, knowing full well that I’m just a lamb to the slaughter?

I place my hand in his, my skin crawling at the contact and I let him lead me up the final set of stairs.