Chase Me

Chapter Twenty-Three: Fragile

Bellona

The room was dim and dark when I could slowly open my eyes. The only source of light in the room was bright enough to make me face it then turn away, wincing, and squeezing my eyes shut. Sounds were distorted and I felt something sticky and dry on my face.

Blood.

I slowly let my eyes roam over whatever parts of my room I could look at without closing my eyes. It was too dark, spots were appearing in my vision. Something was holding my hands down against the chair and my ankles too. I tried to budge but it was no use.

I heard a small laugh come from a place in front of me and my head shot up. I squinted trying to see who it was but the figure was only a shadow to me. A lean shadow leaning against a metal shelf with his arms crossed. My hair was falling out of my ponytail and strands were falling into my vision and sticking to my forehead.

God, it was hot in here.

The person pushed himself off of the shelf. I tried to lean back, to show I was unaffected, but even I could hear my heavy breathing. The figure laughed and then stepped into the light.

Oh. Lord. No.

Will stood above me but he was no longer in that apron and overalls. He was wearing black pants and a black windbreaker zipped close to his chin. He gave me a crooked grin, a grin he had never given me before, and that small grin sent a terrified shiver down my back. Especially when I saw the light from above me glint off of his first molar.

It was gold.

I rolled my head to the side and did an up and down of him. Then I gave a half-shoulder shrug which looked more like a tick with my bound hands. "I liked you better before."

"Really?" He had noticed my eyes on his tooth and placed a finger in his mouth to touch it. "I had to hide this thing."

Heiress to Chicago, I had to keep tabs on some things and when I found out that I was to be married to Amo, I studied. I studied hard. People always underestimated me because I was to take on the Outfit and be the first major female leader organized crime has ever seen. But that didn't stop them from seeing me as only a pretty thing. Even if I didn't want to admit it, I felt like my father viewed it the same sometimes. But I knew he was just trying to protect me.

The reason for my fast-tracked marriage was right in front of me now with his glinting gold tooth and his crooked persona.

He was a Daffodil.

I jerked in my seat again, testing the binds. They were strong. Will laughed again and I watched the bastard lean down, placing his hands on his knees, and meet my gaze as if he were about to scold a small child or meet the eyes of someone fallen. I hated it.

His smile was wrong on so many levels, looking so evil and despicable on the face that had looked away from me when I'd say something shameless or try to get close to him. Now he was the one getting close to me. Too close.

He brought a finger under my chin and I tried to shake him off but then he seized it with his thumb and forefinger.

"I swear," I seethed. "I'm going to sever this very hand for having the fucking audacity to touch me."

He slapped me.

My head snapped to the right and I grunted. I blew the strand of hair away from my face and then faced him again. I smiled, matching his wicked expression. "You think I can't take a hit?"

He stood to his full height and then reached for something behind him. A knife. I tensed but I kept my expression bored. He examined the blade carefully and ticked a non-existing speck of dust off of it. Then he lowered it straight under my chin to point my face upwards. I felt the point of the blade press into the skin right above my larynx. I didn't move.