Bloodbound: The Alliance
Chapter 110 - 112

Chapter 110: Chapter 112

My head tilts up challengingly. "I don’t believe you."

His brows leap questioningly.

"You are a carbon copy of your father. And when you stole Landen’s position at our wedding. You proved there is no line you wouldn’t cross for what you want—just like Landen. Morally flexible. You are definitely your father’s son..." my eyes glide down to his groan teasingly. "Except in some areas."

Outrage tightens his features.

"I’m surprised none of you were aware of my night with your father," I provoke, only stoking his anger. "With him... I screamed a lot louder."

"Let’s test that theory."

He lunges at me and I defend with raised hands. He seizes my wrists to pin them above my head. When he comes too close, impulse jerks my face to the side but I force myself to look him dead in the eyes.

"Let me tell you the difference between him and me. He was probably giving you all he had. Whereas I held back because I didn’t want to hurt you. But now I want to hurt you, really badly," he says achingly, a toxic blend of dangerous desire, passion and punishment. "I want you to cry, scream, beg and make whatever savagery my brother has done to you—to look like things of saints."

A harsh note of regret sends a quivering through my veins. "You wouldn’t dare," I say too low, betraying the fear I try to hide.

He cocks his head mockingly. "I am my father’s son," he proclaims.

I try his grip but his hold is a steel latch. "You wouldn’t hurt like that. You wouldn’t."

He flashes an ominous smile before his face comes to the hollow of my collarbone, so his lips can claim the column of my neck. Restraining my tears, I slant my head away to spare him more rein as I yank out conjured moans, strained as if I’m trying to stifle them. When in truth, disgust and distraught twist my insides in countless knots. Feigning pleasure, slightly exaggerating my moans so he will release me sooner and it works soon enough. And I’m quick to curl my arms around him, my hands roaming the hard planes of his torso until I reach his rear. I squeeze one butt cheek—hard, whereas my other slips out the listening device from his back pocket.

Completely oblivious, he chuckles blissfully, his warm breaths like a sear against my skin.

Then I grab a fistful of his hair with a brusque tug so that his face dips away from mine. I arch my back so I can slip the device into my own pocket.

"That’s enough," I whisper warningly.

He latches onto my wrist to bend it at an unnatural angle—a burst of pain ripping a shriek from me that snaps my vocal cords.

"I’m only getting started," he whispers back

He recedes to stand upright. I roll to my side, tears leaking from my eyes as I cradle my wrist to his chest. He stares down at me with soulless eyes—nothing behind them but a hollow hell.

"Vance, please—"

"That’s more like it," he jeers with a cruel smile, Landen-like as he unbuckles his belt.

"I love you," I breathe like it’s my last.

He pauses, not out of astonishment but an affront like I had insulted him. "You love me?"

I nod desperately, sniffing as I quickly remove my hand from my wrist to mop the tears from my face.

"I do," I say again, needing him to believe it. "I love you."

"Prove it. Undress for me."

I sniff again, lifting myself upright with my wrist still coddled to my chest. He watches patiently as I unpeel the first layer gradually—mostly with one hand, leaving only the thin-strapped top underneath that is buttoned up to the neckline. My fingers stutter on the first button and it’s like my whole hand goes numb, infected by a paralyzing fear.

"Need help, my love?"

A scream escapes me as he seizes the neckline and wrenches it apart as buttons fly open. I try to cover myself but he stops me by gripping my injured wrist. And I twist under him as my head drops forward, curtaining my face as his iron grip endures.

"You said you love me, Avara," he whispers, then louder, he says, "You said you love—"

The door swings open. "Avara?"

I keep my head bowed, my hair still shielding my face as Vance releases me and my wrist snaps back to my chest.

"Do you mind?" He says with a smile in his voice, a deceivingly light-hearted delivery. "We’re kinda having a moment here, if you know what I mean."

"Your name Avara?" Kelsey asks without a question. "Then I don’t want to hear you speak because I’m talking to my best friend. Avara, you good?"

Even though relief relieves hot tears that have been brewing behind my eyes. I don’t respond and Vance fixes his belt as he walks away. Trading places, Kelsey closes the door behind him and rushes to me like I’m mortally wounded. She drops to her knees in front of me, pawing my lap like a concerned Doberman dog. I raise my head to expose my tear-streaked face.

Without even declaring a vow of vengeance, she spurts to her feet and I launch myself after her.

"Kelsey, no—"

Thoughtlessly, I grab her with my dominant hand—the one with the sore wrist and that yanks out a pained gasp. She stops instantly and whirls around to check on me. And I bring my wrist back to my chest with a wince, tossing my gaze at the ceiling to keep the tears from falling, but it only draws a deluge.

"You don’t even know what happened between us."

"I don’t give a shit," she snaps, eyeing my coddled wrist. "I thought you guys were together—for real this time. But if he’s making you cry—hurting you. I’ll make him choke on his own balls."

She flings herself around and I call for her again. She stops grudgingly.

"My wrist hurts, can you please take me to the physician."

She sighs tortuously. "And then can I make him choke on his balls?"

"I would rather not antagonize the Vacheron men when we’re alone with them. With no one to hear our screams but men they command."

Spooked, she spins around to stare at me with gaping eyes. "What was Vance doing to you exactly?"

"Kels, my wrist really hurts."

She dispels the concern. For now. She places a caring hand on the back of my shoulder as she escorts me out of the bedroom.

"You’re going to tell me what went down between the two of you."

"I can’t hear you. The pain in my wrist is too loud."

She rants a tirade through the hallways. It’s only when we come to gallery does her words evaporate when we see my father and brothers on the ground floor.