Page 242 of Inferno

“Be brave,” he mouths, and I nod.

Vlad gets to work tying rope around my middle so tightly I yelp. Even through my thin jacket, it burns through. He starts atmy waist and goes all the way up to my biceps, my wrists still bound behind my back.

“That feel comfortable? Bet you wish you could have the chains back from the bed. That must seem like heaven in comparison,” Vlad mutters, and I bite my tongue.

“Any time I’m in your presence is hell,” I tell him.

“I’m just preparing you for where you’re heading. You belong in hell. You aren’t worthy of anything else.” His dark eyes bore into mine, and he smirks.

“If you had just behaved and not been a whore, we could have lived a nice life. Your dad would still be alive. Maybe we could have had a kid. Some dogs? But no. You had to spoil it.”

“I would have never. I am not yours, and I never will be.”

My head flies to the side as his hand connects with my cheek.

“You will always be mine, printessa,” he hisses.

I shake my head.

“You’ve abused me in every way possible for ten fucking years. Do you honestly believe there is anything left you can do to me that would actually hurt? Kill me? Fine. End this nightmare. But just know, even in my death, that isn’t the end, that is the beginning of your purgatory. And that, asshole, will be worse than anything you could ever do to me. I’m not alone in this world anymore. You think you’re evil? You have no idea how bad he is. The man who truly owns every single part of me. You are not the devil. He is. And I’ll be happy to burn in hell knowing you’ll be following me soon. Then, I’ll torture you just like you have me for eternity.” I’m almost breathless as I finish my speech.

“You think he gives a shit now he’s got his daughter back? Why would he want a useless mother like you back to fuck her up? He is a clever man, he won’t start a war for you. Worthless. Bitch.”

His words hurt worse than anything else he could do to me.

I would die for my daughter. I’ve done everything I could under the circumstances. Yet, that guilt eats away at me every day.

Could I have been a better mom?

Did I really do everything to protect her?

Would she really be better off without me?

A tear rolls down my cheek. I wish I could wipe it away. Just how I wish I could cleanse myself of my sins.

Be the mom that she truly deserves.

Not this monster constantly fighting to survive.

“Ah, interesting. My words hurt you, don’t they? Your little soft spot.”

Drago cries out, and I look over, and my eyes close, feeling his pain.

“Oh, and watching people you love get hurt. You’re giving yourself away, Charlotte. Having Isabella made you weak.”

It made me weak so I could open my heart, and I will never feel guilty about that.

Vlad’s eyes darken as he backs away from me towards the shelves on the wall.

“What do you think, princess, would this hurt?”

He picks up a carving knife and runs his finger along the flat edge of the blade.

I keep silent.

“Come on, play the game. Would this hurt?”

“Yes! You fucking know it will,” I shout.

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