Chapter 42
Elijah Vaughn.
Something definitive.
There’s something that pisses me off deeply, little bunny.”
My throat went dry.
The tension in the air was almost suffocating.
W–What?
The smile that spread across his face was slow, tinged with something dark.
That bastard of a brother you have,” he said, voice dropping lower. “Calling him a coward would be generous. What he deserves goes far beyond contempt.”
A cold shiver ran down my spine.
“D–Deserves?‘
Before I could react, his fingers closed around my chin, tilting my face up.
His gaze examined me closely, like he was trying to read every detail of my expression.
“Cowards like him don’t deserve to be forgotten.”
His grip tightened slightly–not enough to hurt, but enough to make me feel even more vulnerable.
“They deserve punishment. They should pay in pain for every bit of shit they’ve done.”
A lazy smile curved his lips, but his eyes were full of cruel promises.
There was a predatory gleam in them, like he was already savoring the idea of tearing screams of agony out of my brother.
“He destroyed you, little bunny,” he whispered, voice rough. ‘He took your life, your dreams, and threw them in the trash. Everything you were… everything you built… he reduced it to nothing.”
He paused, watching for my reaction.
‘Hate isn’t enough for a traitor like that. What he really deserves is death. Same as your bitch of an ex.”
My breath caught.
His words crashed down on me like a crushing weight.
“Dante…”
“What?”
His fingers slid down to my jaw, holding me there, making it impossible to look away.
‘Tell me I’m wrong. Tell me that bastard doesn’t deserve cruel punishment for what he did to someone as innocent as you.
Uncertainty bubbled inside me.
My chest rose and fell rapidly, my thoughts spinning.
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Chapter 42
I should’ve disagreed.
I should’ve said revenge wouldn’t change anything.
But then I remembered David’s eyes full of mockery,
The way he laughed at my pain.
The cruel words he hurled like sharp blades.
And in that moment, the shadow of hatred took shape.
Dante wasn’t entirely wrong.
I let out a heavy sigh, like I was finally accepting something that had been inside me all along.
“Yeah… My voice was quiet but firm. “You’re right.”
A satisfied smile spread across his lips.
His eyes gleamed with something dark and dangerous as he leaned in to kiss my hair.
“Don’t worry, little bunny…” he murmured against my skin. “Soon, you’ll have a surprise.”
I frowned, a shiver crawling down my spine.
“What does that mean?” I asked, trying to decipher the cryptic tone in his voice.
He let out a low, humorless laugh.
“Don’t worry about it.“.
His fingers slid slowly down my arm, like he was trying to soothe me.
‘Focus on me from now on. Accept me as your master.”
My muscles tensed.
‘I’m not a dog, Dante, I shot back.
He chuckled softly, drawn–out, like he found my response cute. His eyes were calm, but something predatory lurked in his expression.
‘Don’t be foolish, Elijah…”
He spoke gently, his thumb brushing along my jaw in a near–affectionate touch.
“I’m not asking you to be a dog. I’m telling you–you belong to me.”
His eyes locked onto mine, drowning me in that deep, dangerous stare.
“And if you’re smart, you’ll realize this isn’t a threat. It’s a privilege.”
I swallowed hard, heart pounding in my chest.
“A privilege?”
‘Yes.”
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Chapter 42
He smiled, his thumb grazing my bottom lip before continuing.
“Because unlike your family, I would never throw you away.”
His voice dropped into a hypnotic whisper, each word sinking deep into my mind.
You want to belong to someone, don’t you, little bunny? Someone who’ll never abandon you. Someone who’ll never make you feel disposable.”
My lips parted slightly.
“…”
That’s what I’m offering you.”
He leaned in closer, his warm breath brushing against my skin.
“Someone who will never leave. Who’ll always be here, by your side.”
His eyes glowed with dangerous intensity.
“Because you’re mine. And I never let go of what’s mine.”
I swallowed, feeling my breath catch in my throat.
His words wrapped around me like invisible chains, squeezing my chest, my mind, and my soul.
I wanted to say no. I wanted to reject the entire idea.
My mind screamed that this was wrong.
That he was a monster.
That everything he’d done to me was against my will.
I’m not gay.
The phrase thundered through my mind–sharp and absolute.
He abused me.
That truth alone should’ve been enough to make me step away.
To push him off.
To fight against all of this.
But then why did my body burn under his touch?
Why was my heart racing?
How could I let myself feel any of this?
I should’ve pushed him away.
I should’ve screamed.
I should’ve done anything except give in.
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
