Page 124 of Revenge Saints

“You called me an asshole and slapped me twice,” he says, rising from the chair and cracking his neck. “And let’s not forget, you lied and ran.”

I backpedal, hitting Dante’s leg behind me. He stays seated, arms crossed, just watching.

“You already punished me last night,” I huff, crossing my arms.

Knox steps forward, gaze dark. “Oh, pet… that was just the beginning.”

He leans in, lips barely brushing mine.

“And if you keep slapping me… the punishment? It’s going to be brutal.”

For some reason, the heat in my chest builds fast. It burns behind my ribs, under my skin. I can’t stop it.

I need to push him.

I take a breath and square my shoulders. “And don’t you think you deserve punishment too?”

Knox’s gaze sharpens, his jaw ticks, and his brow lifts like he dares me to keep going.

“For what?” he growls.

I fight the smirk tugging at my mouth.

“For insinuating that I don’t love you the same way I love the others,” I say, stepping closer. “For suggesting I need them more than I needyou.”

Another step.

His chest rises faster, that thick vein on his neck bulging, his fingers twitching like he’s two seconds from grabbing me.

“Love?” Dante says behind me, and my breath catches.

Shit.

I bite my lip, heat crawling up my throat.

“Yes, okay?” I spin around, facing all of them. “I love you guys. All of you. And I can’t live without you.”

I turn back to Knox. “Any of you.”

The room goes still. No one moves. No one breathes. My heart beats so loud I swear they can all hear it.

And Knox? He just stares at me.

Stone still.

So I snap. “So if you ever say that shit again, like you don’t matter, I swear to God I’ll kick you in the fucking nuts.”

His lips twitch. That grin, slow and smug, blooms across his face.

I roll my eyes and shove past him, storming toward the bedroom, face flushed, and pulse wrecked.

And then I hear it.

“I love you, pet.”

I stop. Frozen.

His tone wasn’t loud, but it hit me like a truck.