Page 107 of Atone

Or protecting me?

No. I need to stop excusing him. He’s been stalking me. Keeping key information from me. All for what?

Where did it get us?

“At least you’re starting to see the truth.” Marco grabs my hips, pinning me to the door.

“All I see right now is a cheating asshole who won’t leave me alone.”

“I’m never going to leave you alone, Mila. You were mine before you were his. You think you can spread your legs for half my brothers and not at least repay me the favor?” His hand moves down, aiming between my legs.

“Don’t.” I shove his hand away and try to knee him.

But Marco gets leverage over me too quickly. He shoves his knee between my legs, guarding himself.

He manages to secure my left wrist in his grip, but with my right hand free, I reach for my thigh. For the knife strapped there.

“Nice try.” Marco grabs my wrist before I reach it, shoving both my hands over my head.

I try to headbutt him, but he’s too tall. And even with his still-healing shoulder, he’s too strong.

“Fuck you, Marco.” I spit, and it dribbles down his cheek, but he only seems to appreciate it. “Let me go.”

“Oxy told me what happened. How he thought he actually had a shot with you. He didn’t realize you’re a feisty little thing. Or how protective Alex is over his favorite pet.”

“I’m no one’s pet.”

“Are you sure about that? Why else would he do what he did?”

“I don’t know.” Or I can’t admit it to myself right now. “What do you think Alex will do to you when he finds out whatyou’redoing right now?”

Marco grins. “Nothing. I’m not a hang-around like Oxy. I’m a member. He can’t touch me. Alex knows no woman is worth that much trouble from the House.”

What if Marco is right?

Alex got away with hurting Oxy because he wasn’t a member. They were probably more than willing to help cover up what he did. But that doesn’t mean he can take serious actions against another member. Throwing a knife at him and claiming it was an accident is one thing. Consciously taking revenge is another. He wouldn’t risk it. Especially after what I said to him tonight.

Tears sting my eyes, but I don’t let them fall for Marco. He doesn’t deserve them. Instead, I harness the fire that’s been steaming under the surface for years and face him without an ounce of fear.

“So this is who you really are, Marco?” I jut my chin up, staring into his dark eyes. “When you can’t get a girl to do what you want, you force it?”

“Like you don’t want it, slut.” His grip tightens. “I can’t believe I fell for your Virgin Mary act the whole time we were together. You probably thought that would get me to snap then, didn’t you? That I’d call you on your shit and claim what’s mine? Sorry I disappointed you, Mila. But I promise, I can make it up to you.”

A flash of panic swells in my chest, but I maintain the cold, hard look in my eyes so he doesn’t sense what I’m about to do. In a swift movement, I angle my foot as far back as I can with the wall behind me, and then I slam it forward, straight into his shin.

It’s not enough to get Marco off me, but he loosens hisgrip, giving me the second I need to slip a hand free. I reach for my knife, unsheathing it from my leg.

Marco shoves his knee between my legs again, pushing so hard it hurts.

I swallow my scream and ignore the pain as I stab Marco in the side.

“Fuck.” Marco jerks, grabbing my throat and shoving the back of my head against the wall. “You’re going to pay for that, you fucking bitch.”

Blood drips down Marco’s side, along the handle. My vision spots as he cuts off my airway.

One of us isn’t going to survive, and I’m losing focus.

I’m losing sight.

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