Chapter 177

Chapter 177
Elena's POV

"Don't move," Marcus growled, his eyes following my subtle movement. "I really don't like disobedient women."

He twisted both my arms behind my back with shocking strength, forcing me to arch toward him. The sudden pain made me gasp.

"You know," Marcus said, his voice dropping to an intimate whisper as his eyes greedily scanned me, "compared to Mandy, you're the real beauty."

His free hand traced along my jawline, down my neck. "Such delicate skin, even after all these years."

I turned my face away, but he roughly grabbed my chin, forcing me to look at him. "When you first married into the Blackwood family, I noticed you. Such a waste to be paired with that cold bastard."

His gaze lingered on my disheveled collar, the exposed skin of my neck and collarbone. The hunger in his eyes made me feel physically ill.

"You disgusting piece of shit," I spat, tears of fury and humiliation burning my eyes. "Let me go!"

The other people in the private room watched in horrified fascination. No one moved to help.

"Such a filthy mouth for such a pretty face," Marcus chuckled, his fingers moving to the top button of my blouse. "I wonder what Richard would do if he found out I'd touched what was once his?"

Horror washed over me as I realized his intentions. He wasn't just trying to scare me – he wanted to humiliate me, violate me, all to provoke Richard.

I'd rather die.

In that moment, I decided if he went any further, I would take my own life. I wouldn't give this monster the satisfaction.

Just as his fingers undid the first button of my blouse, the door to the private room exploded inward with a deafening crash. Glass shattered, wood splintered, and something heavy flew across the room, striking Marcus directly in the head.

Blood sprayed as the impact sent him staggering sideways. Women screamed, scrambling to get away from the door and the violence erupting before them.

There, framed in the doorway like death incarnate, stood Richard.

He wore a simple black shirt, sleeves rolled up to reveal powerful forearms.

I'd seen Richard angry before. I'd seen him cold, calculating, even cruel.

I'd never seen him like this.

His eyes burned with such murderous rage they had turned golden. Every muscle in his body seemed coiled for attack, and the air around him practically vibrated with lethal intent.

"Richard Blackwood," Marcus snarled, blood streaming down his face from the wound on his forehead. He grabbed me again, this time wrapping his fingers around my throat. "What do you think you're doing? Want me to break her neck right here?"

His fingers tightened, cutting off my air. I clawed at his hand, my vision beginning to darken at the edges as my face turned purple.

Richard's pupils contracted to pinpoints, his gaze locked on Marcus's hand at my throat.

What happened next occurred so quickly I could barely process it. Richard moved with inhuman speed, crossing the room in what seemed like a single bound. There was a blur of motion, a sickening crack, and suddenly Marcus was flying through the air, slamming into the far wall with bone-crushing force.

The women in the room screamed again, huddling in corners, eyes wide with terror. But their fear wasn't directed at Marcus anymore.

Richard's eyes found mine for a split second, scanning for injuries, before returning to Marcus with renewed intensity. He stalked toward the dazed man. Without hesitation, he grabbed a fruit knife from a nearby table.

"You touched her," Richard's voice was barely recognizable, a guttural growl that raised the hair on my arms.

Marcus tried to scramble away, but Richard's foot came down on his wrist, pinning him in place. With surgical precision, Richard sliced through the fingers that had been around my throat moments before.

Blood sprayed across the carpet as Marcus howled in agony, clutching his mutilated hand to his chest. Some of the blood spattered across my face, but I was too shocked to even wipe it away.

The scene before me brought back memories of my childhood, when Richard had lost control and killed someone. The same cold brutality and violence.

Marcus writhed on the floor, blood pumping from his severed fingers, soaking into the carpet below. But Richard wasn't finished. He grabbed Marcus by the throat – a mirror of what Marcus had done to me – and began delivering punishing blows to his face.

Each impact made a sickening sound. As Richard methodically destroyed Marcus's features with brutal efficiency, blood and teeth flew.

"Stop," I whispered, finding my voice at last. "Richard, that's enough. You'll kill him."

Richard didn't even pause. "That's the plan," he replied, his voice terrifyingly calm despite the violence of his actions. "I'm sending him to meet his father."

His breathing had turned heavy, each exhale carrying a low rumble that didn't sound entirely human.

I watched in horror as Richard picked up the knife again, this time positioning it above Marcus's throat. He was really going to do it – kill him right here, in front of everyone.

Without thinking, I scrambled to my feet and lunged forward, wrapping my arms around Richard from behind.

"Enough, Richard!" I pleaded, my face pressed against his back.

"Get off me," he growled, the sound vibrating through his body and into mine.

"Please," I held on tighter, feeling the barely contained fury in his muscles.

"If you want him dead, fine," I whispered, my voice breaking. "But don't do it yourself. Not here, not now. Please..."

I clung to him, my slender arms wrapped around his broad back, trying to use my warmth to calm the beast within him. Tears slid down my cheeks, soaking into his shirt.

For several heartbeats, nothing happened. Then I felt a slight tremor run through Richard's body. The hand holding the knife slowly lowered.

I released a breath I hadn't realized I was holding. The other occupants of the room did the same, a collective sigh of relief washing through the space.

Marcus lay unconscious on the floor, his face a bloody mess, but his chest still rose and fell with shallow breaths.

The door opened again, and Felix stepped in, flanked by several security men. He took in the scene with a quick, professional glance, then nodded to Richard.

I suddenly realized how inappropriate my actions had been, clinging to Richard like that. I quickly dropped my arms and stepped back, wincing as pain shot through my bruised body.

Richard stood motionless, his face an unreadable mask, but his eyes still held that dangerous gleam. The air around him practically crackled with suppressed violence.

Felix approached cautiously. "We'll take care of this, Alpha. He won't be leaving Blackwood territory alive after this."

Richard gave a curt nod, his gaze still fixed on Marcus's broken form.

Felix and his men moved swiftly, wrapping Marcus in something and carrying him out. As they left, Felix cast one last glance at us, clearly registering the tension between Richard and me.

I stood there, blood spattered across my face, my clothes torn, trying to maintain my dignity despite everything. I refused to show weakness, even as every inch of my body screamed in pain.