Submitting To The Devil - The Devil's Snare - Book 2

Chapter Ninety Two

Bianca

Despite Niko's firm grip around me, I could sense the simmering anger coursing through him, a palpable tension that hung in the air. I couldn't fully blame him for it; after all, I had kissed Benji—a decision rooted in gratitude for all he had done for me. But how could I have known it was him stepping through the door?

It was all so tangled and confusing, a web of emotions that left me feeling trapped. Looking at Benji, my heart ached. He kneeled there in nothing but his jeans, his bare skin a canvas of scars and wounds, each mark telling a story of pain and resilience for anyone to see. It pained me to witness his struggle, the way he fought to maintain his steadiness, a stark reminder of the battles he faced. The sight was haunting, a mix of vulnerability and strength that made my own turmoil feel small yet insurmountable.

No matter what I did, his safety weighed on me like a heavy charge I had to uphold. I could sense Niko's resentment simmering beneath the surface—I could almost hear the disappointment in his silence—but how could I let Benji die, knowing what he had done for me?

I owed him so much. He had stopped his father from committing unspeakable acts against me on more than one occasion, and he had risked himself, taking blow after brutal blow on my behalf. In his eyes, I found freedom; he uncovered layers of my identity I hadn't even known existed.

And then there was the other side of Benji—my life was intricately tied to his, like threads woven together in a fabric that might unravel and cost me my marriage. He alone understood the depths of who I was, a truth I craved to explore, to research. I needed to comprehend my essence, to discover what my trigger words were, to ascertain whether I posed a danger to myself or to others. What was I truly capable of?

As we paused outside a dimly lit hall that looks hauntingly familiar, reminding of the night they abused me, I note the men aligned with Mitchel Debois and Drake Pelion, Niko's irritation grew palpable, radiating off him like heat from a flame. I felt the tension thrumming in the air. Benji, however, was in distress, flailing as he teetered on unsteady feet, his fingers grasping at the wall as if it were his only means of support.

I instinctively reached for him, drawn by his vulnerability, but Niko's grip tightened around my arm, pulling me back. His gaze bore into mine, a hard stare laden with unspoken warnings—a clear message that I had to keep my distance.

"Let me go," I pleaded, desperation lacing my voice as I struggled against his iron grip on my arm, which seemed to tighten with each passing moment. The reason behind his behavior was painfully clear to me, yet I had always believed he was above such actions. I had trusted that we had built something meaningful between us—a foundation of understanding and respect not ownage.

"No," he replied, shaking his head with an unsettling finality.

A surge of anger coursed through me, hot and electric, blurring my vision as I summoned every ounce of strength I had to free myself from his grasp. With a swift, determined motion, I twisted in his hold and pushed him away, just enough for him to stumble back, surprise flickering across his face. His eyes hardened, filled with a mixture of anger and something I couldn't quite place at seeing me resist, fight back in a way he hadn't expected.

"Enough," Luca interjected firmly, stepping into the space between us with an air of authority as he looked to Niko with pity. His eyes were steely as he cast a commanding glance at those gathered. "Let her attend to the boy," he instructed, his voice brokering no argument.

I quickly moved towards Benji, my heart racing as I knelt beside him. My gaze fell upon the deep, weeping wound on his chest—a jagged gash that told the harrowing story of a father's violent outburst. Pain etched across the boy's face, mingling with tears that streamed down his cheeks, reflecting both fear and confusion. I knew time was of the essence as I prepared to tend to his injury and offer some measure of comfort amidst the chaos.