Page 53 of Ours

Narrowing her eyes, Lexi refused to be intimidated. They danced this insane waltz every time she came home from a mission. Soon, he would threaten to make an example out of her, just as he had with Kade. It was all just a pathetic show of pseudo power, she knew and he knew it. As long as the ‘true’ heir continued to grow in her belly, she would always have the upper hand.

Silently staring at her, Bloodbayne kept his composure surprisingly cool and calm. He would love nothing more than to reach across the desk and backhand the smirk from her face.He couldn’t physically harm her, though. No, that would have to wait. He would, however, dole out emotional punishment. She had to learn somehow.

Glowering at the fire kissed man before her, she mentally plotted fifty different ways of killing him. Thoroughly enjoying her wicked fantasies, she blinked back to reality once she heard the door open. Turning her head towards the sound, her whole demeanor changed as her eyes settled on Valentina holding her beautiful daughter.

“Loey!” she exclaimed, her face instantly brightening. “My princess! My sweet princess!”

Taking a handful of steps towards her child, she was caught off guard by the sound of Bloodbayne pounding his closed fist upon his desk. Halting her movement, she glanced back at him with a confused look. What the hell was he doing? He knew her daughter was terrified of loud noises.

“No!No!Don’t you move!” he barked. “Valentina, bring her tome!”

Startled by the loud sounds filling the space, Loella’s face scrunched as she began to cry. Reaching her tiny hands towards her mama, she squirmed in Valentina’s arms.

Holding the wriggling child tightly against her chest, Valentina limped her way over to Bloodbayne. Looking at Lexi from the corners of her eyes, she kept her expression blank. With every short step, the tension in the room grew, causing the Skulls to close in around the brunette in anticipation of what she might do.

Frozen in place, Lexi’s heart tore in two as her daughter tried to reach for her. Knowing she wouldn’t be able to overpower thefour Skulls behind her, she attempted to soothe her baby with a loving smile.

“It’s ok, Princess! Shh, shh! It’s ok! I love you! Everything is going to be just fine!”

“Mama! Mama! Mama!” Loey wailed.

Urging Valentina closer, Bloodbayne chided himself for breaking her legs as punishment for allowing Kade to escape. Nearly fifteen months later and she was still having problems walking.

“Give her to me!” he demanded.

“Yes, Sir,” she replied.

Bending down slightly, Valentina eased the crying child into his spindly hands. Making sure he had a good hold on her, she reluctantly took a step backwards. Lifting her eyes towards Lexi, she felt pain and pity for the woman. She didn’t care for her, but she hated to see her being tortured again and again. She didn’t deserve this, and neither did that precious child.

Squeezing his fingers around Loey’s torso, Bloodbayne held the whimpering baby in his lap. Forcing her to stay still, he kept his beady gaze on her mother.

“Shhh, Loella! Be quiet, child!Be! Quiet!”

Feeling her blood boil in her veins, Lexi moved her attention back and forth between Bloodbayne and her daughter. She didn’t understand why he was doing this. It was the first time he was being overtly cruel towards her baby.It scared her.

“Why are you doing this? You said I could have my daughter once I had completed your mission. I’ve done it! Now give her to me!” she exclaimed.

Clicking his tongue against the roof of his mouth, Bloodbayne slowly shook his head. “Be careful, child. You don’t demand anything fromme!”he warned, his voice thick with annoyance. “I’ve changed my mind. Pray that I don’t change it further!”

Swallowing hard, Lexi dropped her attention to her baby. It tore her apart to see her so upset. If he would just let her hold her, let her comfort her.

“Please...pleasegive her to me!”

“No,” he replied coldly.

With hot tears welling in her eyes, Lexi growled in frustration. Balling her hands into tight fists at her sides, she dragged her angry gaze towards his scraggly face. “What do you want from me?” she asked.

Getting off on Lexi’s palpable fury, he pulled his thin lips into a deformed sneer. “I have a new mission for you. I need you to go to Miami. It’s time to clean house,” he said, pinching the crying baby for good measure.

Rushing towards the desk, Lexi attempted to reach for her daughter. Before she was able to, she felt Cyris run up behind her; his rough hands viciously grabbing onto her upper arms.

“Suchspunk!”Bloodbayne chuckled, watching his Skull subdue the brunette.

Squirming against Cyris, she bared her white teeth in defiance. She wanted to kill him; she wanted to tear him apart with her bare hands. How dare he hurt her daughter!

“You bastard!” she yelled.

Lexi! Stop it! You’re not going to win this one!Nikki hissed from the corner of her mind.Think about Loey! He will do worse to her if you don’t stop!

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