Ruthless

62

How could he say that to me?

I turned my head sharply, glaring at him with bloodshot eyes, making no effort to conceal my disdain. Edward's eyebrows lifted slightly, seemingly intrigued by my reaction.

"You're nothing but a jerk. How dare you drag me here?" I spat venomously. My voice was raw with fury.

I didn't care about the consequences; the aftermath didn't matter anymore. To hell with him and those cruel, sadistic brothers. My entire body was burning with anger, as if I were a living flame.

Yet, a question still nagged at the back of my mind. Why was I brought here? Was it to break me?

Edward's lips pressed into a thin line, clearly displeased with my disrespect.

Without warning and in a swift, unexpected motion, he pulled me into his lap as if I weighed nothing. His hands gripped my waist firmly. Edward's eyes darkened with something I couldn't quite read.

"W-what are you doing?" I stammered, shaken by his unexpected movement.

I tried to push myself away, but he seized both of my wrists in one hand, dragging me closer, already anticipating my attempt to escape. My chest slammed against his. I was pressed firmly against him like a magnet to metal. Even where his body heat seeped into my body.

"Let me go," I demanded, my voice filled with defiance.

I twisted and turned, desperately trying to free myself, but his grip only tightened, rendering my efforts useless.

"I SAID DON'T TOUCH ME!" I shouted, my voice cracking with fury.

I'd reached my limit. If he wanted to play games, he could do it without using me as his pawn.

"ENOUGH!" he barked back, his voice just as harsh.

Like a frightened animal, I froze, my rebellious spirit momentarily subdued.

Edward released one of my hands, then took a lock of my hair between his fingers, twirling it around. I was tense.

"Just because I'm fucking that pussy of yours, don't get too comfortable. I won't hesitate to leave you here," he declared, yanking my hair so hard that a few strands ripped from my scalp.

Pain shot through my head, and tears sprang to my eyes, both from the sting of his rough handling and the cruelty of his words.

He was so heartless. Was it too much to expect even an iota of empathy from him? Was it really so easy for Edward to bring me to a place filled with the very people who had destroyed my life, who had inflicted wounds that would never heal?

My throat tightened. I turned my face away, unwilling to let him see the tears that blurred my vision. However, I couldn't stop the emotions from spilling over, couldn't stop the tears from streaming down my face. A hiccup escaped me, making it all the more humiliating.

Edward released my hair, his grip shifting to my jaw, forcing my face back toward him.

"I hate you," I hissed through my sobs.

There was a darkness in Edward's eyes, one that seemed ready to swallow me whole, yet he did nothing. He just stared at me in silence, watching me cry, which only made the situation more odd. I couldn't tell how long he sat there, his gaze locked on me as I sobbed uncontrollably. But eventually, I managed to rein in my emotions.

I wiped the tears from my eyes and stared at him. The tension between us had only grown thicker, especially with Edward still visibly seething. His gaze swept across my face one final time before he closed his eyes.