Page 23 of Downfall

“It’s not just her house is it? Paris is there.” Ben states.

I snarl at his name. That fucking prick.

I’m going to kill him. In this moment, that’s what I decide. That will be my next move. I’m going to fucking kill him for what he’s done, whether she agreed or not, he married her, he took her from me and more than that, he’s hurt her.

I’m going to make that bastard pay.

And then I’ll deal with Rose. But more than that I’ll see how she truly feels for him, when he’s dead at her feet, will she cry over his coffin? Will she mourn him? Whatever she does will dictate how I treat her, whether I show her kindness, mercy even, or the rage that’s been festering these last six years.

Rose

“Someone was outside.” The security guard states.

I barely look up. It’s three in the morning. My head is killing me from more than just the alcohol and the icepack against my face is making my fingers throb with the cold.

Paris is pacing back and forth. What most people would consider his killer looks contorted into something akin to concern.

He looks at me and I can feel the heat of his glare, like it’s my fault, like I did this.

“What did they see? How long were they there?” He starts shouting out questions but the security man doesn’t seem to have any reply. “What about the CCTV?”

“There’s nothing there. We didn’t pick anything up on any cameras.”

I grit my teeth. Another no show on the CCTV? That can’t be a coincidence can it? I don’t voice it. I don’t say anything.

Paris snarls tossing a glass ornament.

The security man glances at me but I avoid his gaze. I know they know what Paris is like, who he really is but none of us say the words. None of us speak it out loud.

“I want more cameras. I want more men patrolling too. No one gets inside this compound without us knowing.” Paris growls.

The man nods.

“You’re dismissed.” Paris waves his hand barely looking at him as he says it.

The security man spins on his heels and leaves the room as quickly as he can without making it obvious he wants to run, clearly relieved that he’s not getting a beating too.

I let out a low sigh. The signs were there that this night was going to be a bad one but even I hadn’t guessed it would be this long. I need another drink but that would only make things worse.

“If they saw…” Paris snaps.

I let out a hollow laugh. “What?” I snap.

He narrows his eyes, his body moving quickly to dwarf mine. “This was your fault.”

“And how do you figure that out?” I retort. Christ my face is throbbing. It doesn’t feel like the ice has done anything to help it. How hard did he hit me this time?

“If you hadn’t picked a fight. If you’d acted the way a wife should.”

“You mean just give you what you want?” I sneer.

His hands find my hair, yanking my neck back at an angle that forces me to look at him. Even now he’s itching to lash out again isn’t he?

“You’re my wife. My property. I can do what I like with you.”

“Then why are you so concerned about what someone might have seen?”

He snarls, his fingers twisting and I feel more of my hair break. At this rate I may well have to tie it up until it recovers.

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