I try to stand, too, but dizziness assaults me again, and I fall back on the bed. “Stop calling me that and tell me what you did to my family.”
His nostrils flare. “They’re not your family; they kept you from me all these years.”
“Are they dead?” My lip quivers, and I bite it to make it stop.
He scoffs. “They’re not the concern, Leeva. And it doesn’t matter—payback is a bitch and all that,” he says flippantly, like their lives mean nothing.
I remain sitting, trying to get my world to stop spinning so I can clear my head and get my bearings. I need to figure out how to get out of here.
I’m in a small, cramped bedroom; the ratty bed is the only thing in here. Nothing to use as a weapon. He’s not as tall and muscular as Hayes, but I’d never be able to physically overpower him.
“You don’t want me,” I try to reason, since obviously, brawn and brute force are not on my side.
“Of course I want you.” He crosses his arms over his chest. “I chased you after you disappeared from the hospital. Well, Ichased after you once I recovered enough to do so from the beating my fucker brother gave me,” he states darkly.
“You only want me to get back at Hayes.”
“I did at first, yes.” He reaches down to brush my hair back, and I recoil, making him frown. “I love you.”
“You don’t know what love is,” I snap with more fire than I actually feel. “Or is your version of love fucking around on me with not one woman, but three at the same time?”
His jaw shifts, and his mouth pulls tight. But there’s not an ounce of remorse or regret in his expression. “That was your fault.”
“Excuseme?” Fury flares hot and wild within me. If I felt steadier, I’d stand and slap this asshole. “How fucking dare you.”
He tsks, his face darkening. “You know I don’t like when you swear. You’re my sweet little lamb.” He runs his tongue over his lip. “My docile little lamb.”
“I’m yournothing, Guerilla.” I stand now, willing myself not to topple over as dizziness tries to push in again and my body protests in pain. Fire fills my veins, and I can’t resist reminding him just how nothing I am to him. Tilting my chin, I point to my neck. “Or have you forgotten?”
He stares at my neck, free of his tattoo, his hands clenching and unclenching. “I’ll mark you again. Maybe this time with an actual brand so you can’t remove it.”
He wouldn’t dare. Would he?
But he has a crazed look in his eye, warning me that he just might make good on his words, and fear ripples through me.
“I’m not yours, and you can’t force me to be with you.”
He chuckles, rocking back on his heels. “We’re not in Kansas anymore, Toto,” he mocks. “Ash and his rules of not forcing the woman to be with you don’t mean shit in my world.”
“Why do you want me?” I try again. “And is my family okay?”
Please, God…please let them have survived the attack.
He ignores my last question but answers my first one.
“At first, I chased after you because it was the principle of you trying to run from me, and because having you was the biggest ‘fuck you’ I could give Hayes and put him in his place.
“When I almost caught you in New Orleans, I discovered Luthor Wentzell had whisked you out of the country. For years, I tried to find a way to get to you, but his security was too good. But then, a few years ago, I stumbled upon a group that could help me.”
His uncharacteristic openness isn’t doing anything to appease my nerves and fears, only amplifying them.
“Why would they help you?” I ask, and I hate the slight quiver in my voice that I can’t hide.
“Because you went and married a billionaire, sweetheart.”
I swallow the lump in my throat, shaking my head. “I signed a prenup; I don’t have Luthor’s money.”
“Ah, but you do.” He smiles, and it’s filled with evil, malicious intent. “You’re a billionaire, little lamb, which meansI’ma billionaire since I’m your old man and will be your husband.”
