Page 75 of Bound To Me

I heard his footsteps hurrying down the stairs to the bedroom. I waited and watched as Hana and Michael stared silently at each other, hatred clear in her eyes.

“Any last words before we silence you, then kill you?” Hana asked, tilting her head at him.

Michael scoffed and shook his head. “Killing me won’t rid either of you from me. I’ve made a mark on you both, physically and mentally, that you’ll never be able to escape—”

Hana began to flutter her eyes shut, as if she were falling asleep. “Oh, fuckingplease, Michael.” She opened her eyes and fixed him with a steely gaze. “Say somethingnew—something you’ve never told anyone, something other than the fact thatyou’ve been a shit person that we’ll never think of again after tonight.”

He was quiet again, his face unreadable. Elliott came to the door and silently handed me the ball gag that Michael had used on me only a week before.

“Here we go!” I exclaimed with exaggerated enthusiasm, holding the ball gag up in my hand.

“I love you both,” Michael suddenly spat out. “I’m sorry. You two were so fucking unlucky to come across my path. Do your worst.” His head dropped, and he shut his eyes, shaking his head.

Hana and I glanced at each other. Her eyes were widened and tear-soaked. A sting deep in my chest told me that he was telling the truth, but that didn’t make any difference. He still needed to die; allowing him to live meant he would keep harming women. If not us, then others like Charlotte, who never had a chance to escape his grasp.

I held up the blade in my hand and Hana nodded, as if giving me the go ahead. Hana and I weren’t capable of torturing Michael, as much as we wanted to. We weren’t like him. Instead, I stood in front of Michael and lifted the knife with my trembling hand. I turned to Hana once more, meeting her gaze through our teary eyes. She nodded subtly, her expression a silent yet reassuring affirmation. I glanced down at Michael, who suddenly lifted his head and flashed a smile at me; it was an unmistakable look of pride and arrogance. It was at that moment that, with all my strength, I sliced the blade across his throat. His eyes were now wide open, staring at me in stunned disbelief, as dark crimson blood began to gush from the deep wound. I quickly stepped back and clutched Hana tightly as we watched Michael bleed, his body rapidly going limp, his eyes fluttering shut.

“We should go.” Hana’s voice sounded like it was a thousand miles away as she pulled me away and led me out the door.

My body was in shock; I couldn’t move or speak as Hana took my hand, led me downstairs to the back door, and guided me outside. The next thing I knew, I was sitting in Elliott’s car, watching as flames blazed from Michael’s house.

It was over; I was finally free from his twisted web.I will never fall under Michael’s spell again. And he will never have the power to hurt anyone ever again.

Three Months Later

Elliott and I settled onto the cozy loveseat positioned on the deck in the backyard, a serene ritual that marked the start of each morning. The gentle warmth of early Los Angeles spring enveloped us, eliminating the need for the usual blanket I would drape around myself. Instead, I cuddled close to Elliott, our morning coffees steaming gently between us, while we took in the greenery encircling our peaceful little retreat.

“How are you feeling this morning, baby?” Elliott asked, as he did every day. I knew he genuinely cared about my answer.

I looked up at him and smiled. I ran a finger along his square, stubbled jaw line and nestled my hair into his chest. “I’m good. Hana and I are supposed to FaceTime in a little bit—Jenny wanted to show me something.”

Elliott chuckled. “She’s going to freak out when she meets you in person,” he said lightly.

Hana and I had grown close since the night of Michael’s death, texting each other constantly every day and having Jenny join our weekly FaceTime chats. If Michael did any good at all, it was bringing Hana and me together.

“I know. I can’t wait till they’re here next month,” I said excitedly.

Jack, Hana, and Jenny would be staying with us for a whole week while they explored LA. We promised we would make timeto see each other at least twice a year. In the fall, Elliott and I had planned to go to them in NYC.

“Well, if you have some time,” Elliott started, setting his mug of coffee on the table beside us. “I think you should take that shirt off and hop on my cock like the good girl that you are.”

I would never get tired of hearing his deep, dominant voice telling me what to do. I widened my eyes at him and shook my head. “What are you gonna do if I don’t?”

I knew what I was starting, and so did he; he flashed me his bright smile, accentuating his rugged, dimpled chin.

“Just try me, baby,” he teased, grabbing my hips as he began to hoist me over him.

I was undeniably wet for him; just fucking looking at him could do that to me. His blue eyes stared into mine, ready to play. I began to roll my hips around as I rested my weight on him, feeling his hard cock beneath me.

“Oh, fuck, Daddy. I love feeling you so hard for me,” I moaned with a smug smile.

His grip tightened around my hips, grinding me around his cock. I let my eyes flutter shut as I lifted my chest and leaned back to grip the tops of his muscular, thick thighs.

“Fuck, Jacqueline,” he breathed. “If you don’t run now, I’m going to take you now, right here on the floor.”

Fuck. Yes. I’m ready to play.Warmth and heated desire spread throughout my body. I giggled as I quickly hopped off of him, my feet landing on the hard, wooden deck. Instinctively, I let out a small, excited scream when I heard him get up from his seat and head toward me. I ran down the hill toward the lemon tree, my bare feet slipping on the grassy slope.

“I’m coming for you, baby girl,” Elliott’s deep voice echoed in the yard, and I squealed as I looked back and saw him slowly approaching down the hill.

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