Page 28 of Make You Mine

He’s the one who’s betrayed me! He’s the one who’s been ungrateful and selfish every step along the way, overlooking what I’ve done for him and his children. How could he take me for granted when all I’ve done is love him?

Doesn’t he realize I’m the woman he should be with?

My sense of righteousness returns. I steel myself, remembering why I’ve done what I’ve done.

I’m refusing to be ignored any longer; I’m taking my destiny into my own hands.

He and the children are mine , and I’m never letting them go.

I smile in the face of his rage. “Hello, darling. I figured we need some alone time.”

He screams at me through the muffle of his gag— my used knickers .

I crawl over, thighs settling on either side of his chest as I straddle him. My index finger trails along the sharp edge of his jaw as I look him in the eye and savor how utterly helpless he is in this moment.

From here on out, this’ll go how I say it goes. Declan will realize this is what he wants and that he’s much happier this way. Once Amerie is out of the picture, we’ll be able to move on with the kids, and finally be together like we’re supposed to.

“I’ve been thinking, it’s time we talk. I know it’s a bit much, waking up like this. But I had to. You weren’t listening before. You weren’t paying mind,” I croon, gently brushing sweat-damp hair from his forehead. “This’ll work out. You’ll see it’s for the best.”

His gaze is murderous. If looks could kill, I’d be dead and buried by now. But fortunately they don’t.

I stroke his face some more, caressing his cheek intimately like a lover would.

“I’ve seen how you look at me. Your eyes linger on me whenever I’m around.” I lean forward and let my lips hover by his ear. “Don’t try to pretend otherwise. You want me as badly as I want you. Which is why I’ve done what I’ve done, Declan. So we can be together. I’m going to make sure she’s gone.”

That really angers him.

He gives his angriest roar yet, howling so loudly it reverberates through the room.

The veins in his neck and arms pulse and protrude against his reddened skin.

He bucks under me like a maddened bull, wrenching at his binds with full strength.

His eyes flash dangerously, like if he were freed he’d do very violent things.

Frankly? If he were to break free, I’d probably be scared out of my wits.

But he’s not free, and he won’t be breaking free. The knots I’ve tied him up in are so secure that he’s trapped.

He’s permanently tethered to the bed until I let him go, and deep down he knows this. That’s what it is. It’s why he’s lashing out the way he is, jerking and thrashing in place, roaring into the knickers gagging his mouth.

Declan is a protector.

Nothing scares him more than being unable to save those he loves.

So, I decide to rub it in a bit, smirking at him. “You won’t be able to protect them, Declan. And I think you know that. It terrifies you to your core, doesn’t it?”

There’s a gentle tap at the door, shortly followed by a little curious chirp on the other end.

“Daddy?”

It’s Willow.

We both go still, though for different reasons. His eyes widen with sudden dread. He’s still gagged, still tied, but I can feel the panic pulse through his body.

I blink slowly, my smile spreading.

It looks like it’s time to tend to the littlies.

“Excuse me, darling,” I say brightly. “I have to go check on our sweet girl.”

That’s all it takes to send him into another frenzied fit, thrashing and jerking against the binds and screaming around the gag.

The sound is still muffled, but I recognize what he says anyway. He’s screaming her name.

Willow! Willow! WILLOW!

RUN!

Before I can think it through, my hand whips across his cheek, delivering a punishing slap. My palm stings, but I don’t bloody care. It’s deserved considering how he’s betrayed me.

With a grunt of effort, I slide off him and dash across the room, snatching the doorknob and yanking it open before she can get too curious or clever for her own good. I step into the hall and slam it shut behind me in one clean motion, trying to keep what’s inside exactly where it belongs.

Willow stumbles back a couple steps, blinking up at me with wide, suspicious eyes. Her brow is furrowed, her mouth pursed, and I know that look. I’ve seen it before.

It’s the same sharp scrutiny she had that night in the bathroom when she’d caught me with Amerie’s perfume.

The little girl really is too smart for her own good. She knows something’s off.

I see it written on her round face, her adorable button features. She blinks up at me and then squeaks, “Where’s my Daddy?”

I pop on a forced smile, realizing I’m slightly out of breath. “He’s just resting, poppet. Needed a bit of shuteye, poor thing.”

From behind the door, there’s another burst of sound—Declan’s muffled roars filtering through the cracks in the frame. I let out an exaggerated cough to cover it, then slide an arm around her tiny shoulders, steering her down the opposite direction of the corridor.

“Tell you what, dear. How about I fix you a bowl of ice cream? You can pick a film. A rewatch of Lilo just like I handled my sister when she got in the way and I had to teach her a lesson she’s still suffering for to this day.

And then, finally, I can have what I want. Finally, my happy ending can begin.