“Yes.”
I streak blood against her cheeks before wrapping my hand around her throat. “Who do you belong to?”
“Myself.”
“Wrong answer, Butterfly.” I squeeze and watch as her eyes go wide in terror.
Fuck. The fear in her eyes is so hot. I’d never hurt her. The idea is ludicrous because Emily is the only reason I want to live, but fuck if that fear’s not the hottest thing I’ve ever seen. Emily doesn’t fight me. Her hands move to my body, and her legs wrap around my ass, pushing me further into her. My beautiful Butterfly is just as twisted as I am. She gasps for breath as I release her throat.
I pull out of her, climb on top of the car and sit under her face before grabbing her hair. “Open your mouth.”
Her mouth opens without hesitation. I fuck her mouth until I feel my release bearing down on me, pulling out and cumming all over her big tits. “Look at you. My perfect little canvas. I’m gonna enjoy painting your entire body in cum and blood.”
“Jesus, look at that slut. She must be a junkie whore,” a voice from behind me says. My body goes still.
I peer down at my girl and kiss her on the tip of her nose. “Excuse me, Butterfly.” I jump off the car and adjust myself before walking over to the asshole. “Hey, buddy.”
The guy smiles at me, thinking this will be a friendly, neighborly visit. “You done with the whore cos I wouldn’t mind getting in on that…”
I slam his head against the wall and watch as it bounces off the brick like a ball.
His body collapses on the ground, one hand clutching his face as the blood oozes from him. “What the fuck, asshole? I think you broke my nose.”
Crack.
His mouth collides with my steel-toe-boot. I’m sure I’ve crushed some teeth or his jaw, maybe both. “That’s not all I’m gonna break, motherfucker.”
“You’re fuckin’ crazy,” the guy slurs, his words not as coherent since he doesn’t have his face intact anymore. His body slumps on the cement, and for the first time since he approached us, the cocky arrogance has left his face.
I flip my knife out of my pocket and bend down in front of him. His eyes flash with horror. “Hope you enjoyed the show, motherfucker, cos that’s the last one you’ll see.”
“Please, man. I’m sorry. Like, I meant nothing by it.”
“You’re not sorry. You’re just scared. But you’re gonna be sorry.”
I dig the knife into his eye, circle the blade in the delicate flesh, and cut out his eyeball. I watch as the fluid pours, and he screams. I pick up the eyeball from the ground and slice it open, seeing the black inside. “Huh. Did you know the inside of an eyeball is black?” I toss part of the eye at him. “I had no idea. It’s kind of cool.”
“What the fuck, man!” he screams.
His body shakes as I dig into his back pocket and grab his wallet. “Today is your lucky day, Chad. I’m not in the mood to clean up a bigger mess.” I snap a picture of his driver’s license and social security number before tossing him his wallet. “Don’t think about snitching. If anyone asks, you got mugged from behind and saw shit. If you open your flap, I promise you I’ll kill you and every single person who has the misfortune to be loved by you. You got me?”
The guy nods, and I kick him in the gut. “Use your words, asshole. Do you understand me?”
“Yes.”
“Good. Now, take your phone and call the cops.”
I turn around and see Em staring at me, her mouth slightly open. I don’t say anything as I grab her by the hand and take her inside my apartment.
“You’re gonna just leave him like that?” The cops will come after you.”
“I’m touched, Butterfly. You worried about me?”
Chapter Ten
EMILY
Am I worried about him? Yes, I am. I shouldn’t be because the reality is Stone’s unhinged, but the idea of him being locked up makes it hard to breathe. Stone has always flirted with the dark. Maybe that was what made my teen heart race. But now, he’s gone way beyond flirting. Stone is the dark.
I cast my gaze to the ground and tell him the truth. “I don’t want you locked up again. Even if you deserve it.”
He pulls me further into the apartment and locks the door behind us. I’m exposed, completely naked, while Stone’s fully dressed. “The guy was right. I look like a fuckin’ whore.”
His hand grips my jaw as he pulls my face up and pins me with his eyes. He says nothing, just breathes heavily, but I can tell by the way his jaw ticks that he’s pissed. I push at his chest, but he’s immobile, and frustration bubbles up inside me as I desperately try to hold back the angry tears that threaten to fall; I refuse to let him see me cry. I haven’t cried in ten years, and I’m not about to break down now, especially over the man who caused those tears to dry up years ago.