At least Nila would be intact.
You don’t believe that.
Her strength came from answering back and standing up for herself. If she let Cut willingly strip her of sexual rights and permit him to take her...I doubt her mind would remain so rebellious and untouchable.
Christ, I’m so sorry, Nila.
I wriggled on the floor, trying to get closer, doing my best to get free. Every inch of my body worked against me, slowly draining with every sordid breath.
Cut panted hard as he brushed back his hair, centring himself. “Give me your arm.”
Nila froze. “What? No? I won’t touch you again.”
“I didn’t ask for yourhand, Nila. I asked for your arm.”
She slowly shook her head, crossing her arms defiantly. “You ask and I deny. No, you may not have my arm.”
“You’re wrong. I didn’t ask to begin with. I saidgive.” Cut’s anger rose to the surface. I was surprised he’d let Nila’s outbursts last as long as he had. No matter how he would deny it, Cut had feelings for Nila. Feelings he still nursed for her mother. He wanted her. He wanted to keep her. But it fucking killed him that the daughter fell in love with his son when the mother cursed him to hell the day he took her life.
He’d given her a choice...
My mind skipped back to the private conversation I hadn’t meant to overhear. A week before the Final Debt with Emma, Cut had admitted to his Weaver prisoner he loved her too much to kill her. He wanted more from her. More time. More togetherness. He was willing to hold off the Final Debt indefinitely if she agreed to be his completely.
Marry him.
Submit to him whenever he desired.
His one condition for her life—she was forbidden from seeing Tex or her children ever again.
It was a testament of Emma’s love for her family and husband that she turned him down and chose death instead.
“For fuck’s sake, give me your bloody arm.” Cut lashed out; snatching Nila’s arms and breaking the hold she’d formed. She struggled but was no match for Cut’s strength.
Slamming her forearm on the table, he growled, “Did you listen to the part of the story about smuggling diamonds?”
Nila wriggled in Cut’s possession, doing her best to take her imprisoned arm back. “Yes. I listened.”
“In that case, you’ll understand what the rest of the Fourth Debt entails.”
She stopped breathing. “No...I don’t...”
He chuckled, fighting her tugging, keeping her arm against the table. “Yes, you do.” Holding her down with one hand, he reached to the side with the other. Plucking a narrow stick from its resting place, he pressed it against her mouth. “Open wide.”
Her face arched away from the offer. “What? No.”
Cut pinched her arm. The shock stole her attention, parting her lips. Taking advantage, he slipped the stick inside her mouth so the ends stuck out either side of her cheeks. She looked as if she’d been bridled.
Turning her head to spit it out, Cut held the stick in place. “Ah, ah, ah. I wouldn’t do that if I were you.”
Her eyes glared daggers.
“Bite down.” Cut slowly removed his hand, daring her to dispel it.
Nila paused, the stick remaining lodged in her teeth. Her eyebrow rose with questions as Cut slowly picked up a black rubber mallet. A type of mallet used for hitting unwilling pieces of timber or coaxing nails into holes. A hammer that would bring untold pain.
She sucked in air around the stick, her struggles renewing. “No!” Her voice wavered around the obstruction.
“I told you, bite down.” His fingers latched tighter around the mallet. “This will hurt.”
