Page 44 of The Devil After Dark

forty-three

LIANA

He had my favorite tea and a bathroom filled with the same products I used.

Cassio had swept in and saved me from whoever was there to hurt me and I was practically speechless as he showed me his home.

I still didn’t know what to say as Cassio turned on the shower then crossed the bathroom back to me.

His eyes were soft and kind as he cautiously unzipped his leather jacket and slid it off my shoulders.

I let him slowly unbutton every button on my shirt and drop it on the floor on top of the jacket.

I couldn’t fight anymore. I was tired and scared and Cassio … I had been scared of Cassio too.

“Your temper scares me,” I whispered before I could stop myself.

His hands paused, but he didn’t respond.

“I will not be in an abusive relationship and your temper … the way you react when things aren’t going your way, it scares me.

I’m scared you will hurt me.” I couldn’t even look at him as the words tumbled from my mouth.

His hand gently raised my chin and his forehead dipped to gently press against mine.

“I am so sorry, Angel. I am fucked up in a lot of ways, but I will never hurt you like that.” I should be running.

I should be running as fast as I could away from this man.

But I just can’t move my feet. I can’t stop myself from kissing him as his lips press to mine.

I can’t stop his hands as I let him finish undressing me and guide me into the warm shower.

I can’t help but relax under his hands as he gently soaps my body and washes my hair.

I couldn’t even find words to protest as he dried me off, brushed my hair, and tucked me into ‘our’ bed.

I didn’t have the energy to question him or fight or run as the soft bedding warmed me and I fell asleep.

When I pulled back the curtains, I instantly realized it must be late in the afternoon.

I slept the entire day. Apparently I needed it.

My legs and feet were still a little sore, but I felt rested.

Cassio wasn’t in the room when I woke and I found clothing in my size and some comfortable shoes in one of the large closets.

Cassio had stocked his house with things for me.

What if the men at my condo were part of some plan to lure me here and lock me away?

It was exactly what Cassio wanted from me.

He was volatile and he murdered someone—murdered someone to protect me.

Did that make it better? No, I had to leave.

I quietly opened the door and peered around.

The house was quiet, so I snuck down the hall and to the stairs.

Still quiet. My legs ached as I eased my way down the stairs.

I paused at the bottom, listening for any sound of Cassio or someone else.

Nothing. My heart was pounding in my chest. I was running.

I couldn’t run last night, but I could run today.

I dashed across the entry and yanked the door open. As soon as it opened it slammed closed with a sickening force. I yanked at the door again and again and it wouldn’t budge. “You’re trying to run away,” Cassio said from behind me. The calm in his voice made my skin pebble with fear.

I slowly turned to see Cassio strolling across the entry towards me. “Please let me leave,” I said with authority.

“It wasn’t my intention to lock you up here,” Cassio replied as he continued stalking towards me.

“Then please open the door and let me leave,” I countered.

Cassio just stretched and rolled his neck in annoyance. He was now right in front of me and he placed both hands on the wall behind me, caging me in. “I have a better idea.”

I clenched my teeth, trying to steel myself against this powerful and terrifying man who somehow still made my body ache in desire for him. This was sick. This was not normal. Something was terribly wrong with me.

“Let’s make a deal,” he whispered. “The main road is a few miles from this door. I’ll give you a head start and if you make it there before I can catch you, you can leave. I’ll leave you alone. I will only interact with you if you want me to and I will do it completely on your terms.”

I was quiet for a few moments trying to process what he just said. “And if you catch me?” I asked tentatively.

“ When I catch you, two things are going to happen,” he paused.

I swallowed. This was not going to be a good deal to make.

“First, I am going to fuck you. Second, you will agree to stop running and pulling away from me. You will not be a prisoner, but you will give me a fair chance to show you who I am, my life, and what it would be like for you to agree to be with me.”

“You don’t get to fuck me,” I retorted. So either I get away or I have to give him a fair chance. He never said I had to be with him, just that I had to give him a fair chance.

“This isn’t a negotiation, Angel,” Cassio replied with a dark smirk. “Take the deal or I will lock you in this house. ”

He was a psycho. He was completely unhinged. “How far is the road?” His deal gave me an out. I had to try.

“A few miles.”

“As in two or like eight?” I asked while glaring at him.

“Closer to two than eight.” He licked his lips as he continued to look down at me.

“How much of a head start?”

An amused smile crossed his lips. “Enough for you to think you’ll actually get away.”

You have got to be fucking kidding me. “So you won’t answer any of my questions in regards to this deal of yours?” I snapped.

His devilish grin widened as he shook his head no. Then his hand dropped and he opened his front door. He stepped back from me. “Ready, set, go,” Cassio said without so much as a pause between each word.

I gaped at him. He couldn’t be serious. He just jerked his chin in the direction out the door and his tongue ran the length of the tips of his teeth.

He no longer looked like a man. He looked like an animal.

A predator. I tore out the door and across the driveway.

There was a stretch of lawn between the drive and the forest. I crossed it as quickly as I could before ducking into the trees and running like my freedom depended on it—like my life depended on it.

CASSIO

Okay, I admit this deal was wildly fucked up of me.

But if she wanted to try and run, I’d let her run.

I really had no intention of keeping her here against her will.

In fact, I was planning to actually do the right thing and stop being such a controlling asshole.

That was until I saw her trying to sneak out.

Then I snapped a little. She wasn’t even going to give me a chance after I saved her.

Had I not answered her questions? Had I not offered to answer more of them today?

Her trying to sneak away was unacceptable.

Then I saw her look up at me so fucking sexy and scared and I just couldn’t help myself.

I really just needed her to treat me like I wasn’t about to kill her at any moment and she would see how good we would be together.

There was an undeniable thrill coursing through my veins as I watched Liana disappear into the woods.

Her ponytail was swinging as she ran and I could practically already feel it wrapped around my hand.

Stalk her, fuck her, make her completely submit to the pleasure I can draw from her—make her submit to me.

I am well aware of how sick this all has been and how all of my behavior has led to this climactic moment.

Hell, if I had been normal, Liana probably would have denied me the chance to get close to her.

She was just fighting her feelings about all of this—about us—because she was smart and overthinking everything.

This chase was really not going to be fair.

It would be dark soon and I had the very distinct advantage of knowing these woods intimately.

Liana didn’t even know how far she had to go to find the road—four and a half miles, but I hadn’t told her that.

That distance also assumed she took a straight line through the woods and didn’t try to weave a less obvious trail or get turned around.

I turned from the door and headed upstairs, taking the steps two at a time. I needed to change before I chased my little angel.

Twenty minutes. I had given her a twenty minute head start.

If she was heading straight and able to keep her pace, she was probably halfway to the road—but more than likely she had found the small but path-obstructing cliff band instead.

Navigating around it would slow her down and provide an opportunity for her to get turned around.

I stepped into the woods and began my chase. The dark clothes, the leather gloves, and the mask I now wore were just another prop in my twisted games. I picked up Liana’s trail easily and felt my arousal already building. I enjoyed this way too much.