“It’s easier to pretend no one wants to hurt you, sweetheart.” I growled those words and came closer to her, hating myself, this situation, and being so fucking bared right now.
She shook her head and closed her eyes.
“You can’t pretend it’s not right in front of your fucking face.”
I’d been molded and shaped into the monster I was, a machine who destroyed. Even if that meant my own… happiness.
As if a creature like me could ever be happy, could ever deserve that elusive emotion.
“Your father deserved what he got. I just wish I could have watched him suffer.”
Tears welled in her eyes, the moonlight reflecting in that sheen before a fat droplet rolled down her cheek.
“You’re so pretty when you cry. But save those tears. I certainly don’t deserve them.”
“Just stop,” she finally said, her voice threadbare but I could see her anger starting to cross her features.
I kept moving closer and she retreated until she was now off the bed and standing on the other side of the mattress.
As if that would make her safe. But I let her have her false sense of bravado and protection. I gave her a sadistic smile, this twinge in my chest making me feel unhinged. I may act like I was enjoying this, but the truth was, frightening her in this way didn’t bring me pleasure, not like it did with everybody else.
Make her see who you really are. Let Bunny know you’re not truly a monster. Not to her.
I stood on the other side of the bed, just feet separating us as I stared into her eyes. With the shadows playing over the room, and the wild energy pouring off of me, this situation appeared even more ominous.
“You forced my hand. Bought me.Used me.”
“Judge Wilcox was in my pocket. He’s a slimy bastard, and does deplorable things. Or at least tries to. He’s a stupid fuck and gets caught every single time. But his money and connections allow him to get away with it.” I grinned broader. “But I have my ways to get what I want. I have correspondence between the bastard and underage girls. Girls from his son’s school. I have videos of him trying to accost women.”
I watched her face, saw the mix of expressions move across it.
“I was just biding my time, planned on going through with everything while Zachariah was still alive. But the bastard died before I could exact my revenge. At least… while he could witness it all.”
She was breathing so hard, her eyes wide. Poor little thing was terrified.
“I had Judge Martin Wilcox sign over guardianship to me. Nasty fucker didn’t have a choice. It was either he did what I said, or there would be repercussions to his disobedience in the form of all his dirty little secrets coming to light.”
She shook her head, trying to deny any of this, as if the simple act would change the outcome. I watched her throat work as she swallowed, no doubt picturing all the deliciously dirty things we’d done together.
“All this for revenge?”
Although she phrased it like a question, I could hear in the tone of her voice she already knew the truth.
“You used me.” She kicked her chin up as if she were better than me, as if she just got the best of me.“You act like you don’t care if my father sees what you’re doing, but I know you do.”
I chuckled darkly. “Oh sweetheart, I don’t need anybody to witness what I do. The very knowledge that I fucked Zachariah’s daughter, popped her little cherry and made her bleed all over my cock, is enough to give me immense pleasure.” I didn’t bother telling her about Michael. It wasn’t as if she had any kind of real relationship with the asshole anyway.
“You’re a sick bastard.” Her voice was so soft.
“Without a doubt.” I grinned to let her know I heard her loud and clear and agreed.
She took a steadying breath as if coming to some kind of resolve. “What my father did to you… my grandfather…” She sounded like she was in pain as she closed her eyes and tightened her little hands into fists. “It was heinous. Deplorable.” She opened her eyes and whispered. “I’m so sorry.”
Shock slammed into me. She believed me. There was no question in her tone, not her implying that I lied. She believed me just on my words alone and that had my chest tightening in my heart racing.
“I don’t need your sympathy,” I hissed out, my rage bubbling over.
“But you have it regardless.”