Page 56 of Love Under Siege

"Just get on with it Paul!" I snap with annoyance, meeting his menacing gaze. He gives me a chilling look before responding, "with pleasure."

"Now, we'll see how much you really missed me," he sneers, his eyes gleaming with malicious intent. I can feel my heart race at the sight of him.

"Enough!" I shout, frustration and fear heated in my voice. "Just do it already!"

With a sudden burst of anger, he lunges at me, his fists clenched and ready to strike. I brace myself for the impact, my mind screaming "close your eyes, close your eyes!" But I can't, I can't let him win.

The first blow lands with a jolt, pain shooting through my body. My head jolts back, I bring it back to face him, I refuse to give in. I look deep into his eyes, a fire burning within me, a fire that he cannot extinguish.

"You were never good at following directions Anya” he sneers. “You just left without a word! But I always knew where you were, until I didn’t! he says. “But now I have you again! You were a gif-

I felt a surge of anger and defiance rise within me. "Is that all you have?" I interrupt him, my voice shaking with determination. "Two years of rage and hate, and this is it?"

He pauses, taking a deep breath and holding my gaze, as if searching for something in my eyes. "You think you're strong, don't you, Anya? You think you can just walk away and start a new life," he spits the words out as if they're poisonous. "You can't escape me, Anya. I am a part of you, forever."

I can feel my heart pounding in my chest, but I refuse to let him see fear in my eyes. "Yeah, I can walk away. I can start over, and you can't stop me," I say, my voice barely above a whisper.

"We'll see about that," he growls, taking a threatening step towards me.

I don't flinch. Instead, I raise my chin and stare him right in the eye. "You can hurt me, you can try to break me, but you can't change who I am," I proclaim, my voice shaking with resolve. "I'm not the same girl you hurt two years ago, Paul. I'm stronger now."

There is a moment of silence. A moment of stillness that seems to last for an eternity. My breath hitches in my throat, and I can feel the sweat trickling down my back. I don't know what he'll do next, but I know that I can't back down now.

Paul's cruel chuckle sends a chill down my spine, like icy fingers creeping up my back. I steel myself for his next attack, but instead he kneels before me, his eyes glinting with malicious intent. I try to kick him, but he easily holds my bound legs in place with one hand. My heart races as he lifts my dress and his hand snakes up my inner thigh. Panic rises in my chest - not again. "Do you remember this?" he taunts, his grip tightening on my leg. "I remember how much you begged for me," he adds with a sickening smirk. The nausea rises in my throat, but I swallow it down, determined to stay strong. "You want to rape me again? Go ahead!" I spit at him, the fire of anger burning in my veins. "But know this - those moans you heard were nothing but lies!" My words cut through the tension like a knife, and I feel a spark of triumph amidst the fear and disgust that consumes me.

With a sinister tone, he replies, "Let's see if those words hold any weight." His hand sneaks under my panties, ready to penetrate, when a loud boom echoes in the room.

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

Anya

I am covered in blood and Paul’s lifeless body lies on my lap. I kick him off as best I can, my legs still bound together. Lana cries out, “Anya! Are you okay?!”

I try to catch my breath and piece together what just happened. “Anya!” Lana calls out again. I find my voice, “Yeah...yeah, I’m fine. What happened?” I manage to say between heavy breaths.

“I don’t know,” she starts to say before Adam appears in view.

“Oh my God, Adam! Thank God!” Lana says with relief in her tone.

He kneels down and checks me over, his concern evident. “Are you okay?” he asks.

I give him a small smile and nod, and he takes a rag from his pocket to wipe the blood off my face. “Are you sure?” he asks.

“Yes, thank you.”

“Good, I couldn’t let him touch you like that,” he says in a strange tone.

“Yeah, it’s fine...well, not really fine, but I couldn’t let him hurt Lana,” I say as I glance at her. “I’ve dealt with him before, it was nothing I couldn’t handle,” I state matter-of-factly.

“Adam! Thank God you came for us!” Lana exclaims, her voice a mix of relief and desperation. “Could you please untie us so we can leave?”

Adam’s expression darkens, and a sinister smirk creeps across his face. “Why would I do that?”

Lana and I exchange worried glances. “Adam, please untie us,” Lana says, her tone more forceful.

“Hmmm…” Adam taps his finger against his mouth, feigning contemplation. “No,” he replies, his glare now fixed solely on Lana.

“Why not?!” I shout, frustration and fear mingling in my voice.

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