Page 145 of Ecstasy
I frown, the pain momentarily numbed with my confusion. “Remember what whatwas like—”
“I know you’re stupid but you’re not that fucking stupid, Zara. Remember what it was like when I met you. What it was like when you were all over me and you wanted to do anything I asked. When you let me hold you down in that pool? When you agreed to this, Zara.”
My stomach twists. The pain of the glass makes my eyes water. “But this is…this is all wrong, Eli. You know this is all wrong.”
His hand shifts to my throat. “Yeah. You fucking knew that, too, huh? But you wanted to experience everything, didn’t you, baby girl?”
“You fucked me over. You fucking fucked me over and—”
“I gave you an out.”
“No. No. Fuck you. You have no right. No fucking right!” I try to scramble upright but glass lodges itself into my palm and I hiss between my teeth, Eli still pressing down on me.
“You think Alex is gonna treat you right, Za?” He switches his grip, jerking me up to my feet. My back is on fire, and I feel blood warm and wet on my palm. Eli’s forest green eyes darken as he pulls me into him, glass crunching under his shoes, slicing into my feet. “You don’t fucking know him like I do. And he doesn’t know you.”
“But I know you. I know you and I know you’re a sick fuck, Eli Addison. Fuck you. Get out of my house.”
“End things with him.”
“No.” My jaw clenches. “No. You’re fucking sick, Eli. You’re fucking sick and you need help—”
He slams me against the counter, then wraps both hands around my throat, fingers digging into my skin as he leans over me.
My heart is going to shoot out of my chest. Eli was always this quiet, simmering darkness. Always. It’s why I was drawn to him. It’s why I fucked with him in the first place.
But he was more than that. So much more.
He wasfucking insane.
My mom’s words echo in my head. “One of them doesn’t want you, Zara.”
“If you don’t break up with him, I will kill you. He can’t even stand watching someone else fuck you, Za. How’s he going to put up with your bullshit?” His hands dig deeper into my throat, and my head starts to swim, brain desperate for oxygen. “Only I can do that, baby girl.” He brushes his lips over mine. “But you know what? I kind of like you like this. Stealing your breath.” He turns his cheek against my mouth. “I kind of like feeling nothing where your life should be.”
I open my mouth, but nothing comes out. I dig my nails into his arms, and he laughs as he turns back to me.
I’m going to die.
He’s going to kill me.
And in this moment, something occurs to me, and I don’t know if it’s a gift from God, right before I take my last breath, or if I really am stupid, but I can’t stop the thought that blares in my head like a warning too late.Rihanna Martinson didn’t drown. He killed her. I don’t know how or why or when, but he did it.
I dig my nails in deep enough to draw blood, but his smile just widens.
“You gonna break up with him, baby girl?”
No. No I’m fucking not. But I’m not stupid. I’m not a stupid bitch. I nod my head.
He presses his nose to mine but doesn’t let go. I feel myself sagging further against the counter, the blood leaving my head.
“And then you’re gonna be mine to fuck, huh? Just mine?”
I nod again.
“Because no one else will fuck you like I can and you know that, don’t you?”
My eyes flutter closed but I still nod.
“And you’re never going to run from me again, right?”
