Page 49 of Deliria

Alex scoffs, a cruel twist to his lips. “Lost? Or were you looking for him, Scarlett? Is that what you’re telling me?”

“No. Of course not.” I protest, taking a step back from him. But he’s on me instantly, his hand wrapping around my throat, squeezing just hard enough to make me gasp for air.

“Why don’t you do it then, huh?” he growls, his face mere inches from mine. “If you know he’s dangerous, if you know what he’s capable of, then why don’t you just stay the fuck away from him?”

I claw at his hand, my nails digging into his skin, but he doesn’t budge. “I...I don’t...” I choke out, my vision starting to blur at the edges.

He releases me suddenly, shoving me away from him with such force that I stumble and fall to the floor, landing hard on my knees. The impact sends a jolt of pain up my spine and I grit my teeth hard to stop myself from crying out.

Alex looms over me, his chest heaving with anger. “You’re mine, Scarlett,” he snarls, his voice shaking with barely contained fury. “Mine. And I won’t let anyone take you away from me. Not Rafferty, not anyone.”

Tears sting my eyes as I stare up at him, my heart pounding in my chest.

Why is he so jealous, so suspicious all of a sudden? I haven’t been alone with Rafe before. Not that I remember, anyway. Unless...unless Rafe has been coming around more than I realize, and Alex knows something I don’t?

The thought sends a chill down my spine.

God, I wish I could remember. I have to remember.

“I’m sorry,” I whisper, my voice barely audible even to my own ears. “I didn’t mean...I wasn’t...”

“Bullshit,” he snarls, taking a fistful of my hair. “I know he’s been here. I know he’s been bothering you. So why the hell don’t you tell him to get lost?”

Tears well up in my eyes. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I sob, even as the memory of Rafe’s cock in my mouth flashes unbidden through my mind. “Please, Alex, you’re hurting me...”

He releases his grip, snarling in frustration and for a moment I think it’s over, that this fight or whatever it is has blown over.

He reaches down, his hand gripping my chin roughly as he forces me to look at him. “I do everything for you, Scarlett,” he says. “Everything. I give you a life of luxury, I protect you from the world when I could just as easily have you locked away in a nuthouse...and this is how you repay me? By sneaking around with my brother behind my back?”

“No, Alex, please...” I beg, but he cuts me off with a harsh squeeze to my jaw.

“You need to trust me,” he continues, his eyes boring into mine with an intensity that makes me shudder. “You need to let me take care of you, without questioning it. I mean, haven’t I done enough? Sacrificed enough?”

I nod back. Yes, yes he has. What a noble, loving man my husband is, sacrificing his precious time to take care of me. Only, that’s not what he’s doing, is it? His intentions are so far from altruistic it’s unreal.

“I love you, Scarlett….” He continues, and it takes all I have not to show my revulsion then.

Those words are lies. No man loves their wife and does the things he does.

“…I love you more than anything in this world.”

I swallow hard, my throat aching from the force of his grip.

“Why does Rafe keep showing up?” I ask, my voice trembling. It’s a risk to continue this conversation, but it doesn’t make sense. If he’s so damn dangerous, why do he and Vincent even let him visit? “Why does he keep coming here?”

Alex’s eyes flash with something unreadable, his jaw clenching so hard I can see the muscle twitching. “It’s not important,” he says finally, releasing his grip on my chin. “He’s just here to cause trouble.”

“But...” I start to protest, but he cuts me off with a sharp look.

“No buts,” he says, his voice brooking no argument. “Rafferty is not your concern. Your concern is me and making sure you don’t do anything to jeopardize your recovery.”

I nod slowly, my heart sinking in my chest. I know I should be relieved that he’s not pressing the issue further, but all I feel is a deep, gnawing sense of unease.

Something’s not right here, I can feel it in my bones.

Perhaps I’m a fucking idiot, but a spark of something akin to hope builds in me. Maybe Rafeisgoing to help me. Maybe he is going to take on his brother, and Vincent too.

I clench my fists, driving my nails into my palms to stop the relief I feel from showing on my face.

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