I swallow hard and let out another heavy breath, hating the thoughts twisting through my tortured mind.
I can’t. That’s insane. But what choice do I have?
My hands shake as they hover over the small blade, and mustering up every last ounce of drive, I grip it between my fingers and bring it to my mouth. I tear open the thin sterile packaging with my teeth, and before I allow myself to back out of this fucked-up little plan, I dig the blade deep into my arm.
Biting down on my tongue, I will myself not to scream as my hands continue to shake. Blood pools under my bite as the blade tears through the flesh of my arm, slicing painfully through the muscle. Tears stream down my face and I breathe heavily, sharp pants ripping from deep in my throat.
Images of Lucas Miller holding me down begin to surface through my head, his knife digging deep into my skin as my world came crashing down around me, but I push through it, determined to see this through despite the terror pulsing through my veins.
Blood trails down my arm, pooling beneath me, and just when I think I can’t handle it, I feel the small contraceptive device hidden deep within the muscle. Relief swirls through my chest and I drop the blade, frantically searching the small bag for a pair of tweezers.
“Fuck,” I whimper, coming up empty before glancing back down at the mess I’ve just made of my arm. I shake my head, knowing what I have to do, but not having the stomach to do it. I stabbed Marcus in the fucking hand, survived Lucas’ bullshit, and found the courage to shoot my own goddamn father in the knees. If I can do that, then I can do this too.
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.
Letting out a shaky breath, I promise myself that if I somehow make it through this, I’ll splurge on a new McClitoris 3000 and ... I go for it.
Sucking in a loud hiss, my fingers dig into the bloody flesh, feeling around until they finally curl around the little contraceptive rod. Nausea pulses through me as my body grows weaker by the second, and just when I think I can’t go on, I grip onto the small device and yank it out of my arm with a low, pained groan.
The small rod clatters to the ground as my hand slaps over my arm, desperately trying to control the bleeding. “Holy fucking shit,” I breathe, swallowing the blood in my mouth while trying to calm my racing heart. I stare down at it, catching my breath, and as the blood seeps away, I see a small green flashing light staring back at me. Putting myself through that kind of hell was all worth it.
The need to crush the little tracking device floods through me but I leave it alone, kicking it under the table. I can’t risk crushing it and setting off some kind of silent alarm on the boys’ phones. It’s not worth it. For now, I need to get the fuck out of this room.
I drag myself across the small room, leaving a trail of blood in my wake. My hand grips the door handle and I pull it down, letting the door swing open and I fall forward, landing flat on my stomach. I groan low, but I’m one step closer to freedom with the door open. I can’t stop to cry about it now.
Getting my hands and knees under myself, I crawl through the doorway, inching myself through the downstairs area until I come out into the massive ballroom that I once thought was the most impressive room in the castle.
Shuffling across to the side of the room, I pull myself up against one of the many expensive statues lining the room. I bite down on my lip to keep me from groaning in pain, and when I finally get to my feet, I forge ahead, determined more than ever to get the fuck out of here.
Clutching onto the white walls, I leave my mark with every small step I take, holding in each grunt of pain. Finally breaking out of the ballroom, I see the long hallway ahead, the very hallway that leads right to the front door. “Come on,” I mutter to myself, willing myself to keep going.
My knees fight me with every step, desperately needing to give out. Hell, if that happens, I’ll be worming my way to the door and down the fucking steps. All I know is that I cannot stop.
To hell with Roman and Levi. Adios, motherfuckers. I’m getting out of here today. Levi can take his hot as fuck roof sex and his ginormous cock and shove it up his goddamn ass. And as I ride off into the sunset, I hope he’s watching me from the window as I flip him off and bolt out of their reach like my ass is on fire.
The mental image puts an oomph in my step and I stumble down the hallway, my gaze locked on the front door.
“Only a little bit further,” I mutter to myself. “Come on.”
I’m going to do it. I’m going to get out of here, and when I do, the world is mine for the taking. I won’t be sitting back and hiding for the rest of my life. I’m going to lie in wait, and when the time is right, I’ll fuck them up like never before. They’re fools to think their father is their biggest threat because they’ll never see me coming.
Taking my final step, I reach the front door, relief pounding heavily through my veins. Whatever pills I took before are making me feel like I can do the impossible, and while the pain is still in the forefront of my head, my ability to push through has risen.
My bloody fingers curl around the door handle as I taste the sweet smell of freedom on my lips, but when I yank down on it, it jars, locking me in. I try again and again and the panic surges through me. “No,” I breathe, my gaze shifting over the massive door. “NO!”
Hot tears spring in my eyes as my chest heaves with heavy pants. I forgot about the keypad, Giovanni’s electrical lock keeping the brothers trapped like prisoners in their own home, keeping them trapped in here with me.
FUCK!
I sink to my knees, the devastation hitting me like a fucking freight train as thick sobs get caught in my throat. My head falls forward, slamming against the heavy door. “Fuck. Fuck, fuck, fuck.”
A chill sails down my spine as two large shadows fall over me. “Well, well,” I hear Roman’s gruff tone piercing through the silence. “It seems that someone hasn’t learned her lesson.”
I spin around, pressing my aching back up against the door just in time to see Levi bending low, his arms curling around my waist like two impenetrable forces. “NOOOOOO,” I scream, trying to get away, but it’s too late. He hauls me over his big shoulder and locks me down with his arms over the back of my legs.
“Don’t worry, little one,” Levi chimes, excitement brewing in his deep tone. “I promise, we’re going to have so much fun.”
5
LEVI
The rhythmic beep of Marcus’ heart monitor flows through the room, the single noise the only thing managing to keep me calm. My fingers itch for my drumsticks, but not even they can ease the rage burning through my veins.
How the fuck could she do this to him? Was this all part of her sick game? Get close enough to strike? Get us when we’re down? It’s fucking dirty, but we shouldn’t have been so surprised. In this world, the only people I can rely on are my brothers.
Fuck, Marcus never saw her coming, but I’ll be fucking damned if I let her play that same shit on me. It’ll never fucking happen. Hell, if she doesn’t learn her lesson after attempting to kill my brother, then I’ll make fucking sure that she knows to never step out against us again.
Shayne Fucking Mariano. I’m not going to lie, that little bitch has balls of fucking steel. If I wasn’t so damn furious with her, I would have bent her over that fucking surgical table and fucked that tight ass until she came.