Page 152

“Oh, I was sad to let her go. She screamed so loud, but the bitch was quite persistent. She lived longer than I thought she would. Ellis had to take matters into her own hands, and help her along.”

Riley didn’t kill herself?!

“You’re beautiful,” he moaned, trailing his fingers down my breast. Clenching my teeth, I took a calming breath.

“I don’t fit your profile.”

“I made an exception for you. Aren’t you happy?” His eyes were dark, unfeeling. “You’re special enough to break the rules. Do you want to know why?” He smiled. “Because every car, every toy I broke as a child... none of them were mine. They were Jonah’s and Vincent’s, and I blamed Jonah for breaking Vincent’s car, and Vincent for stealing Jonah’s.” He laughed, looking pleased with himself.

I’m the toy this time. Vincent’s toy.

“I’ll break you, just as I broke the ones before you. I know you’ll be difficult, but it already makes me hard… thinking about that.” He ran his fingers down his erection.

“You think I’m going to go down without a fight?”

His eyes narrowed, a glint of excitement in them. He leaned in, close enough for me to smell the stale coffee and cigar on his breath. I shuddered in disgust when he pressed a kiss on my mouth.

“Oh, please, do fight,” he said with a sneer when he pulled back. “There’s something oddly satisfying about breaking an animal that fights back. The moment when I see the last spark of fight leave their eyes… when they finally give in and realize there’s no hope left.” He moaned. “That’s when I feel truly alive.” His eyes clouded with desire as he leaned in and kissed me again. I bit his tongue when he tried to push it in.

He howled. With a grunt, I spat the blood in his face. His smile faltered. His hand shot up, wiping the blood away, nails scraping against his skin as he fought to contain his rage, to keep his control.

I saw the crack in his armor. A faintest tremble.

“When this is over,” I said, smiling. “You’ll understand just what it means to fight a woman like me. I’m NOT going to die, Holland. I won’t die. You’re not strong enough to kill me.”

“Shut the fuck up,” he growled. “No one’s coming here to save you.”

“Who said I need anyone to save me?” I scoffed.

“You won’t live past this night. I’ll kill you myself,” he spat.

“No suicide for me? Oh, that makes me feel special.”

“I’ll kill you myself… after I’ve fucked you a million times, Diya. I’ll tear your cunt and—”

“You think I’ll die even then, Holland?” I leered. “Oh, you pathetic little man. I have lived half my life fighting useless men just like you. I didn’t just survive; I made sure they never did.”

His eyes darkened, and for a second, a flicker of doubt creased his brows. “We’ll see who’s left standing when this is over, won’t we, Doctor?” His lips tilted up as he grabbed my hair and yanked it hard. I winced. “Now, it’s time for a game, little fly. The spider is hungry.” He unlocked the metal shackles from around my legs. Oh, this stupid fucker. “Time’s a-wastin’.”

I closed my eyes, my fingers curling around my coat, my heart racing.

He stood up and pulled off his shirt.

“Run.”

I waited, my fingers slowly tugging the coat closer to me. I didn’t make any sudden movement, fearing he might catch on.

When my fingers finally found the solid weight of the knife, I bit back the smile.

God, I love Layne.

He pulled his pants down.

“You won’t run?” he asked. “Ah. You’re a psychiatrist. You know I enjoy the chase, and so you’ll deny me that. Neat trick. It’s okay. I’ll take you right here then.” His fingers curled around my hair as he pulled me up from the floor.

He pushed me against a metal shelf, and I bit back a scream when glass jars fell to the floor and a million spiders crawled out of them. Four eyes… millions of four eyes stared as they jumped.

I pushed him, but he was stronger. His fingers curled around my throat as he smiled at me.