Elijah Vaughn
It was comforting.
Like I was finally where I was supposed to be.
My heart pounded against my chest as I swallowed hard, staring at my own reflection in the fogged–up mirror.
Dante isn’t forcing me into anything.
I’m the one choosing to stay.
Choosing to want.
Choosing to give in.
And for the first time, that thought didn’t feel wrong.
Or maybe… maybe that’s exactly what he wants me to think.
Maybe he’s been molding me without me even realizing it.
Maybe, from the very beginning, he’s been leading me to this exact point.
Like a chess player, planning each move before I even knew I was on the board.
But if that’s true…
Does it really matter?
Because in the end…
I want to be here.
And out of all the choices I’ve made, this is the only one I have no intention of taking back..
I exhaled deeply and left the bathroom, heading to the cafeteria.
As soon as I walked in, I felt the eyes on me. The weight of those stares was crushing.
It was obvious why.
My moans had been far too loud last night–there’s no doubt everyone in the wing had heard.
I swallowed hard, trying to ignore the whispers and glances dripping with curiosity, malice, and in some cases… envy.
I kept my head high, pretending not to care as I walked toward the food line.
But when I saw my tray, I frowned.
It was different.
Real food. Better than what the others were getting. I glanced at the cook, but he didn’t even look up at me–acting like this was the most normal thing in the world. I took the tray and headed toward the table where Fox was already sitting, chewing casually.
Hey, greeted, offering a faint smile,
Chapter 57
He raised an eyebrow.
“Hey? That’s all you’ve got to say?”
I frowned, confused. ‘What do you mean?”
He dropped his fork and stared at me with disbelief.
“Man, you vanished after that guard took you. The Reaper lost his mind looking for you and I almost got choked to death.”
My eyes widened. “What?! Why would he do that to you?”
He shrugged. “Now tell me what happened.”
I let out a long sigh, my stomach twisting as the memory resurfaced.
“That day… the person who came to visit me was…” I bit my lip, trying to hold back the anger. “My brother.”
His eyes blinked, surprised.
“He came just to laugh at me. Told me my parents erased me from their lives, threw away all my stuff. Said he did it because he never got enough attention from them. And to top it off, he told me he’s going to be a dad… to my ex–girlfriend’s baby.”
Fox grabbed his juice, took a long sip, and sighed.
“Dude, I hate your brother.”
I let out a laugh–dry, humorless.
“You’re not the only one. I was so angry I jumped over the table and punched him in the face. Broke his nose.”
His eyes widened, then he burst out laughing.
“That’s badass!”
I gave him a small smile.
Knowing I wouldn’t be punished for it felt… freeing.
“After the fight, I was thrown in solitary. When I woke up, I was in D… in the Reaper’s bed.”
I almost let his real name slip.
Fox didn’t seem to notice and smirked.
‘I’m glad you’ve changed. You look like someone who came back to life.”
I stiffened.
Before I could reply, he narrowed his eyes and examined my neck.
“What are those marks? I mean… not just on your neck. Your collarbone’s full of hickeys and bite marks too.”
Shit.
My face lit up in embarrassment.
He burst out laughing.
Chapter 57
I rushed to eat, trying to ignore the embarrassment.
‘You that hungry because of the blowjob in the bathroom?”
I choked, coughing hard. He gave me a few pats on the back, laughing even more.
“W–W–What?!” I stammered, stunned.
“Elijah, the guard told another guard, who told an inmate, and then it just spread. Everyone knows. Man, the Reaper on his knees sucking you off… it shocked the whole prison. And I don’t think I was the only one.”
He pointed discreetly.
I followed his gaze and saw Vibora glaring at me–angry, and clearly jealous.
I looked away, feeling a strange and familiar discomfort in my chest.
“The Reaper’s never done that with anyone. Around here, they’re the ones who blow him.”
My stomach twisted, a knot forming in my throat.
Knowing that nearly everyone in this prison had been through Dante’s hands unsettled me—like something heavy and suffocating settled
The discomfort was overwhelming, a bitter sensation I couldn’t name.
over
my chest.
But that was in the past.
He said I was his now.
That should be enough… shouldn’t it?
Then why was this stupid jealousy eating me alive?
I took a deep breath.
‘I need advice.”
He gestured for me to go on.
“I like the Reaper.”
The words came out hesitant, but there was no holding them back now.
‘Last night, he gave me a choice: if I didn’t want to belong to him, I could go back to my cell. But if I stayed… it meant I accepted him. And I did.”
A pause settled between us, the weight of my confession hanging heavily in the air.
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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.
