Page 47 of The Hellkeeper

I see it in her eyes; she thinks she’s won. That something is going to happen between us in that car. Pathetic.

She scrambles for the keys, rushes to my car, and starts the engine. It’s like she’s a dog trained to obey.

I turn back to Amelia. She’s glaring at me, arms crossed, jaw tight. I grab her face, kissing her again, this time right in front of Linda, making damn sure she knows exactly where I stand.

“Don’t get any crazy ideas in your pretty little head,” I murmur against her lips. “I want you. Only you. I’m going to return Linda to her father and have her put in her place.”

Her glare softens slightly. “I don’t like it,” she admits. “She’s in your car. In your space. Alone. What if—”

“Don’t.” My voice is a growl. “Don’t even finish that fucking sentence.” I cage her in, pressing her back against the door again. “Even the thought of another woman putting her hands on me fills me with rage. No one touches me but you. No one touches you but me.”

My chest tightens at how sweet she looks, even when she’s mad.

“Pack a bag,” I order. “You’re coming home with me after this; I’m going to show you just how much I belong to you.”

With one last peck on her lips, I head to my car. The second I get inside, Linda reaches for me.

I snap.

My fingers coil around her wrist like a vice. Violently, I shove her off.

“Try that again, and I’ll break every last delusion in your fucked-up head,” I threaten. “You don’t touch me. You don’t even breathe in my direction.”

Linda startles but quickly recovers. “You wouldn’t have let me in your car if you didn’t want me here.”

“The only reason you're in my car is because you wouldn’t have walked on your own two feet where I’m taking you.”

“What does she have that I don’t?” she wails. “I could give you so much more, Damien. Power, wealth, anything you want. She’s just a naive little girl.”

I slam the brakes. The tires screech, the force jerking her forward.

My head slowly turns to her, and whatever she sees in my expression drains the color from her face.

“Say one more word about her. Fucking try it,” I dare her.

She presses herself against the seat, suddenly aware of the monster she’s been trying to tempt. But she’s too far gone to back off now. She recovers, shaking her head.

“You think she’s different? That she’s pure? She’ll ruin you, Damien. She doesn’t understand us.”

“There is nous,” I snarl. “And the only thing ruining me right now is your fucking voice.”

For the first time since this whole ordeal started, she finally looks scared.

Good. She should be.

I press the gas, taking a sharp turn. When she recognizes where we are, the blood drains from her face completely.

“No,” she screams. “You wouldn’t.”

I don’t answer. I just drive.

When we pull up, she tries to bolt. I grab her arm before she can, dragging her out of the car. She fights, but it’s pathetic. I’m disgusted by her desperation, by the way she still thinks this will end any other way.

I throw her forward, shoving her through the doors.

The men inside barely glance up as I toss her like garbage in front of Richard.

Richard doesn’t say a word. Just eyes his daughter, who is sprawled on the floor, shaking.

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