Page 1 of Inked Desires

ANDREW

A glass shattered against the wall, scattering glittering shards across the marble floor.

I didn’t move.

My body stayed frozen, strung tight like a wire about to snap. The air was thick with rage, heavy with dangerous electricity—this violence, I knew it too well.

Jace was staring at me, shirtless, a bottle of whiskey in one hand, the other clenched into a fist, his muscles tight with fury. His hair hung in messy strands across his forehead, his eyes burning with a manic glint.

"Tell me it’s not true, Andrew."

His voice was low, dangerously calm. Worse than a scream.

I swallowed, my fingers tightening around the fabric of my jeans.

"Jace, I—"

"Say it."

I held my breath, knowing anything I said would only feed the fire.

"I didn’t cheat on you."

It was the truth. Of course it was the truth. But my words had never meant anything to him.

Jace let out a laugh—cold, joyless, stripped of anything human. He raised the bottle and took a long swig.

"Don’t lie."

He hurled it at my feet. The glass exploded in a thousand fragments.

I flinched.

And then he struck.

The blow landed on my cheek, sudden and brutal. My head snapped to the side, pain flaring through my jaw. A metallic taste flooded my mouth.

"You think I’m blind?" he hissed. "You think I don’t see you throwing yourself at every asshole who looks your way?"

"He was a waiter," I managed, barely.

"A waiter?"

He laughed again, and the sick gleam in his eyes made my blood freeze.

"Then why the fuck is he touching what’s mine?"

I said nothing.

His fist crashed into my stomach.

A strangled gasp escaped my lips as I doubled over, pain tearing through me. My knees hit the thick carpet.

His fingers grabbed a fistful of my hair and forced my head up.

"You never learn, do you?"

He wanted me to beg. To submit.

Not this time.

Jace clicked his tongue, disappointed. He released me, and I collapsed to the floor.

"Lie down."

The blood drained from my face.

"Jace…"

"Lie. Down."

The command was implacable.

My stomach twisted. He wanted to break me. Again.

I clenched my jaw and searched for a way out. My gaze darted around the room, landing on the lamp on the nightstand.

In a desperate move, I grabbed it and hurled it at him.

The impact knocked him back. He groaned, one hand pressed to his forehead.

This was my only chance.

I rolled off the bed and bolted for the door.

"ANDREW!"

I didn’t stop. My heart was pounding so hard it felt like it might burst.

My bare feet slapped against the cold marble in the hallway. Shouts echoed behind me, mixing with the crash of something hitting the floor.

Jace’s men were here.

One of them appeared ahead of me, sharp and alert.

"Hey!"

Without thinking, I grabbed a vase and threw it at him. He dodged, but the moment of confusion was enough.

I sprinted toward the office.

The safe was already ajar. I’d left it that way earlier in the day.

Ten thousand dollars.

My trembling hands grabbed the stacks of cash.

Heavy footsteps pounded the floor behind me.

I had to go. Now.

A glass door opened out onto the courtyard.

I lunged, my hand smacking the handle.

"Get him!"

The shout hit me like a bullet to the chest.

I threw the door open and rushed into the freezing night. The air stabbed at my lungs as I ran across the garden. Behind me, voices yelled, floodlights flared on, illuminating the lawn.

My heart thundered in my chest.

The fence was just a few meters away.

An engine roared.

I jumped, grabbing the sharp metal. My palms tore open from the effort. A jolt of fear ran through me as a gunshot split the air.

They were shooting.

But I didn’t stop. I swung over the top and hit the ground hard on the other side.

My legs screamed in protest, but I ran.

I didn’t look back.

I didn’t breathe.

Not until the house was gone.

Not until darkness swallowed me whole.

Not until I was free.