Chapter 18 Chapter 18
Tessa
He ignored the body and walked straight towards me. I was shaking so badly I could barely keep my eyes open, staring only at his massive, dark boots and the immense size of him. Then, his hand shot out, grabbing my chin with a firm, cold grip pulling me close until I could feel the heat radiating off his body.
“You thought you were clever last night, didn't you? You thought you could divide your loyalty.”
His voice dropped below a whisper and was laced with a terrifying, possessive jealousy and fury that made my blood run cold.
I froze. He knew. How the hell did he know about Rhyland? He was a ghost, but he had eyes on me even inside the most secure building in Manhattan. The world spun.
“The way you let him take your mouth in that elevator, the way you were shaking for him. You thought you could offer your softest places to another man while you belong to me?” The whisper was pure poison. “I watched you. I saw you, the cameras. I see everything. You are a debt, not a lover. And now, you need punishment for your disobedience.” he said He released my chin with a painful shove.
“You ran from the rapist, right? Smart girl. But running from me? That’s different. That’s disobedience. I need to know, Darling, who you truly belong to.” he said
His voice dropped, low and dangerous. “I’m going to give you a head start. You run. You hide. If you can escape this yard and disappear, I will let you go. You win, you’re free. But if I find you before you get out of this yard, you are mine. Forever. Every inch of you will belong to me. No arguments. No hesitation. Understood?” he asked
I nodded, the terror of freedom and the threat of capture battling in my chest.
“Good. It’s a little game of hide and seek, Tessa. My punishment. Your chance. You have a count of ten. Go. Run now. See how far my claim reaches.” He started counting down, his voice rising, metallic and terrifying: “One. Two. Three…”
That was all I needed. I didn’t wait for ten. I scrambled up, the absolute terror of his power overriding the shock of the execution. This wasn't just running from a threat; this was a game for my life, and the prize for losing was forever.
I bolted; I didn't look back. I ran blindly through the massive warehouse. The terror felt like an ice block slamming into my lungs, stealing my breath. I dodged around the support columns, their rusty surfaces cold and rough. I could hear his count still going: “Six. Seven. Eight…” He was taking his sweet time, the bastard. He knew I couldn't escape. I threw myself behind a huge, stack of rotting wooden pallets. It was dark here, in the shadows where the moonlight didn't reach. I huddled, my body shaking so violently my teeth were chattering. Silence. Absolute silence.
I clamped my hands over my mouth, trying to slow my ragged breathing. I had to hear him. If he was moving, I had to hear those massive, heavy boots echoing on the concrete. But there was nothing. No sound at all. It was worse than the counting. It meant he was moving with intent, like a ghost, or just standing there, knowing exactly where I was. He’s letting me think I’m safe. He’s toying with me.
The sheer size of the warehouse became oppressive. It felt like I was hiding in a shoebox, waiting for the enormous spider to drop down. The air stank of stale oil and rust. Every shadow looked like it was breathing.
I stayed there for maybe two minutes, which felt like two hours. The tension was unbearable. My muscles were screaming, ready to spring. I realized that stillness was death. I had to get outside, away from the echoing concrete and the crushing steel.
I risked a peek around the rotting wood. Nothing. The center of the warehouse, where Alex's body was still slumped, was quiet. No movement.
I took off again, running low and fast toward the massive, cracked-open door that led to the docks. My sneakers were barely a whisper on the concrete now. I weaved through dark forms massive, corroded machinery. I was running on pure adrenaline and the desperate need to be free.
Then, I heard it. It wasnt fast, but it was slow, relentless footsteps Thud. Thud. Controlled, powerful, and fucking terrifying. He wasn't even breathing hard, I bet. It was the sound of a dark purpose in motion, certain of its catch.
He was right behind me, maybe only thirty feet back, moving like he owned the distance between us.
I burst out of the massive door and onto the dock, the wind whipping against my face and nearly knocking me off my feet. I didn’t slow down. The dock stretched out, an open, cold road to my car the tiny, pathetic light of its engine still running, a beacon of impossible hope.
I ran along the dockside, my lungs screaming for air. I didn't look back, but the feeling of his presence the immense size of him was like a physical weight on my shoulders. I felt the powerful thud-thud of his steps gaining ground, closing the gap with calculated precision. He was playing with me. He could have caught me inside the warehouse. This was just to prove I couldn't escape his claim. I was maybe five feet from the car, my hand outstretched, reaching for the door handle, when it happened.
His hand clamped around my waist, pulling me off the ground like I weighed absolutely nothing. I was pulled back with force and slammed hard against a cold, rusted crane support. The air left my body in a massive, painful rush, and I choked on the sudden impact. He pinned my shaking body to the steel. I couldn't move. I couldn't breathe. His chest was heaving only slightly, but his control was absolute. He hadn't broken a sweat.
“Found you.I always will,” he whispered in my ear, hot and furious, his voice terrifyingly resonating victory. “Every single time. You belong where my hands put you.”
He was silent for a terrifying beat, his entire weight crushing me against the metal, demanding immediate and absolute submission.
Then, the true punishment began. He pulled out the knife, and I began shaking more.
“And now, you need punishment,” he said. He began cutting my pants off “ple,,,” he squeezed my throat cutting off my words. He ripped my underwear off, and in one swift move, he thrust into me, making me scream as my head fell back. He took my mouth, kissing me; it was brutal, punishing, and claiming; it was demanding. His mouth was rough, forcing mine open, demanding my obedience as he kept thrusting into me.
“You belong to me” he groaned as he thrusted into me harder and faster. He was asserting his dominance. The shock, the terror, and the immense, crushing size of him all combined to force me to surrender.