Page 49 of Brutal Knight

Hated that I felt the need to draw comfortfromher, instead of only needing togiveit to her.

And lastly, hated that I hadn't been the one to take her virginity.

I'd wanted to wait, thinking her too young and innocent, not realizing that it would be ripped from her regardless.

I was the naive one.

We didn't speak for a long moment, instead letting silence fill the room as we often had before. There was nothing that could be said, nothing that could erase what had just happened to her.

We couldn't take any of it back, but, I could change her future.

This wouldn't stop unless I did something about it.

Her parents would continue to rent her out, using heroin to calm her if she continued to fight, and each time would be worse than the next. The more she was used, the less she would be worth. Then she would have to work twice as hard to keep up with their expectations.

Tatiana's body was only a depreciating asset; she would never be enough for them.

I'd never been so angry in my life, and as I held her, I spent the next hour seething and raging, planning how I would kill them.

I knew once I’d returned home, I wouldn't be allowed my freedom because I’d disobeyed Abuelo, so everything had to be done tonight.

A quick pop to the head was too easy a death for them.

They needed to suffer.

I didn't get off on torturing people, but I would enjoy every minute of pain in their eyes.

Then I would find a way to take care of her after they were gone, even though I was beholden to my own father in Vegas.

He was quickly rising in the ranks of the King Empire, and was pressuring me to leave my best friend, Rook, behind and instead befriend Coulter. Coulter was the second heir to Nero King, the mafia Don in Vegas. I wouldn't be able to stay here, or even to return as often as I wanted now. I also couldn’t bring her home with me, but I could easily open an account in her name.

My only worry was that she was only fifteen. Who would look after her here? Would I take out her terrible parents, only to replace their presence in her life with someone worse?

I would have to make a deal with Abuelo. In exchange for his protection, I would have to give him something he wanted.

"Knight?"

Tati's voice pulled me from my murderous thoughts.

I grunted in response, not wanting her to hear the fury in my voice.

"Are you mad at me?"

I jerked upwards to stare down at her. How the fuck could she think I was mad ather?

Her face was open, star-blue eyes vulnerable, her lower lip trembling.

“Polva, sweetheart.” I grabbed her jaw, pulling it upwards to force her eyes to focus on me. I gave her a fierce stare. "I couldneverbe angry with you. You’re too sweet.”

Her throat bobbed. "Are you sure?"

"Fuck," I cursed, letting her go and staring up at the wall. "How could you think that?" My voice was cold, but I couldn't help it. Otherwise, I would betray the rage I was feeling, and she would think that anger was directed at her.

"I don't know."

Her voice sounded so sad, it made me close my eyes in frustration.

Shewas upset and feeling guilty. God,I hated it.

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