Chapter 5
Captured Promises Broken Dreams 捕らえられた約束、壊れた夢
Evangelina
There is a heaviness in my head when I finally get the strength to peel my eyes open.
My mouth feels like it’s been stuffed with cotton. My tongue is thick and, eww, my breath — horrible.
“You’re awake.” A low rumble from my right has my head turning in that direction.
Riyu, sits like a wraith in the corner far from me as if he has to keep himself a safe distance so he won’t murder me. And from the look in his eyes, I can tell it’s taking everything in him not to do it. They eat up every movement as if tracking me like prey.
He white-knuckle grips the arm of the chair he’s sitting in. The light is dim as it hits his countenance just so. I can see the way his chiseled jaw flexes like his grinding glass.
“What the fuck did you do to our baby, Ev?” The words tears out of him swirling and vicious like a tsunami.
Clutching the spear of pain slicing through my heart like the Katana he prefers, I gasp.
Sharp pain pricks my eyes. I can’t stand to look at him.
I dare not too. Guilt eats at me. I turn from him, just needing a moment.
But I can’t even have that. Hard fingers grab my face, pinching, angry, not letting me escape the visceral hatred in his gaze.
“I guess I have my answer.” Disgust crowds his gaze and laces every word as he refuses me any reprieve.
“No.” I try to pull away, but he hold, me tight, not letting me retreat. “You have it all wrong.” I manage through the hard grip of his fingers. “You’re hurting me, Ri.”
He watches me dispassionately, like he frankly couldn’t give a fuck — as if it’s his intention to do so much more if I give him a reason to.
“Yeah? Then explain it to me. I know you were pregnant when you left me. Now you aren’t.” He’s so quick to release me I fall back against the pillows as if shoved.
He’s already turning, but I can tell he saw through his periphery what he did, yet he doesn’t bother to stop. Putting more distance between us, he stands near the door of the bedroom. Waiting for my words. Words I’m not sure I can utter. Words I’m not sure he will believe.
“I didn’t know I was pregnant until I was miscarrying.” My words sound dead. I feel dead inside. Have since the moment the nice lady doctor told me it wasn’t just my endometriosis making me have such a horrible period, but I was actually losing our baby.
The devastation I felt in that moment, the guilt and shame has ridden me everyday since.
“Dr. Akino says I was lucky to have come in when I did, or I would have probably hemorrhaged to death.” I watch emotions play across his face, but none that give me comfort.
Anger, scorn, and the gut punch of anguish all play across his beautiful face. I want to reach out.
Instead, my fingers curl into the counterpane as I watch his face slowly transform into an emotionless block of ice.
“I’m so sorry Ri—”
“Don’t speak my fucking name.” He spits out with utter contempt dripping from the words.
“She said there was nothing we could do. I had too much endometrial tissue. I had a second procedure to remove it.” I say, watching him take in all the information I’m giving with a stony expression.
“Convenient.” He muses on an exhale. “Tell me, wife was this before you had the IUD placed?”
“Before.” I say in a small voice. Clearing my throat, I add in a firmer voice.“I-I didn’t want to go through that again anytime soon. It was my decision to make.”
He nods, his eyes skewering me like I used to sometimes see the native Hawaiians do the fish near the cove where I lived.
“As it was mine to have it removed.” The blithe reply slicing through the room with finality.
At his words, I notice the changes in my body. The pain low in my abdomen, the feel of the pad and wetness that must be from bleeding.
“You had no fucking ri—”
“I have every right.” He snarls in cold, hard tones. “You gave me that right when you ran from me like a fucking coward, putting yourself in jeopardy.”
Gaze flicking over me like I’m an insect under a microscope and he’s a mad scientist, he assesses me with a cool detachment, causing my tummy to cramp with fear.
“I’ve killed men for less.” His words confirming the wisdom of the terror I’m feeling.
“You’re lucky I still have use for you.” An evil smirk spreads across his face at the way my eyes widen at his words.
“Riyu.” I try to move forward but a sharp look from him stops me.
“Uh-uh, little wife.” He tsks, moving back to the side of the bed nearest me.
“You rest. You’ll need your strength for the punishment to come. I have work that looking for your recalcitrant little ass took me away from.” Leaning down, he presses a chaste kiss to the crown of my head.
He watches the confusion cloud my face as he pulls back to his full height, well over six feet.
“You’re going?” I ask, sounding delusional to my own ears. Why the hell am I worried about this man when he’s so intent on disregarding my wishes and punishing me? I guess I’ve not shaken the Stockholm Syndrome plaguing me since I have been with this deranged motherfucker.
“I’ve said so.” His tone is clipped. His gaze shutters more as he regards me. He’s mentally shutting down. His heart is closed to me.
My face heats as though he’s slapped me. I wince as my body reacts to the harshness of his words. I turn my face away, not being able to stand to look at the anathema in his gaze.
Tugging my chin around his gaze chases mine. With nowhere to hide, I close my eyes.
“I’ll see you when I return from Tokyo. You are on your own. There are only a few servants here. But know this if you try to ensnare them in one of your bullshit escape plans, I will fuck you in their blood beside their dead corpse.”
I keep my eyes closed until I hear the door my new bedroom slide closed.
A month later…
Standing out on the cliff face, I look at the sea beyond, gripping the embossed letter curled in a ball in my hand.
Be ready.
R
I’m almost tempted to throw myself off the edge just to spite him. I won’t give him that satisfaction. I survived him once. I will again.
Bridget’s and my innocence in this entire situation was established a long time ago. Riyu and his equally demented brother, Takashi, know they left us with no choice.
If he thinks forcing me is the way to keep me, then he’sin for a rude fucking wakening.
“Madam.” I look over my shoulder to Aiko, the pretty attendant hovering just inside the bedroom. “Your bath is ready.”
It doesn’t matter that I didn’t ask for a bath. Riyu left them with his own set of instructions, as he has from the moment he brought me to this cliffside house in the middle of nowhere.
They follow their employer’s orders without question. My wants and needs only matter as long as they align with Riyu’s demands.
Unlike his mother’s residence, where Flower held sway and enlisted the servants to aid us in our escape, the servants here have only one loyalty — Riyu. Not that I would ever endanger their lives after his diabolical promise before he left last month for Tokyo.
“Arigato.” Plastering a smile over my face, I toss the black rice paper over the edge and follow her into the bedroom.
The vanilla rose permeates the air when I step into the bathroom. The dark teak of the floor is warm as I walk over to the sunken tub overlooking the spectacular scenery below the cliff mansion.
I still can’t help being captivated by its beauty.
No matter the circumstances bringing me here, the sheer beauty and serenity of this place has brought me peace and even healing that seemed to escape me even in Hawaii.
Because you know he’s close. I shove that thought away along with the clothes I discard.
I know it’s futile telling Aiko, I can put them away in the hamper. She hovers until I do Riyu’s bidding. Gathering the clothes, she leaves on quiet, slippered feet, allowing me some semblance of privacy, though as soon as I rise from the bath, I know she will appear out of nowhere to assist me.
Stepping into the water, I breathe out a sigh as I submerge my body. The suds lap around my body, making muscles I thought I’d made relax from my morning yoga.
“Yess.” The word drags out of me. Worrying over the punishment Riyu has promised is the reason tension has wracked my body. I rest my head back against the rim of the tub. Time drifts away from me like wisps of dandelion.
“I see you can be obedient.” The heavy timber of my husband’s voice has me shooting up with enough force to make water slosh over the edge of the tub.
“Shh.” His heavy hand presses me back until my back is again touching the back of the tub.
I stare at him, knowing he can feel how he’s made my heart race with his sudden appearance.
“How long have you been watching me?” I ask recalling how I cavalierly he informed me he’d been watching me for nearly the entire time I was in Hawaii.
He says it was out of care and concern, but I know it was nothing more than a power trip, knowing at any time he could snatch me out of my life like the malevolent god he thinks of himself as.
This man, I swear. I can’t stand his ass.
His mouth quirks like he’s reading my thoughts.
“Still so brave,” he murmurs, his eyes alighting with sick pride. “I like that shit. Makes things — interesting.”
“I’m done.” I say moving to rise.
“Aht, aht.” He shakes his head, rolling up his sleeves. His gaze caresses my body with scorching heat.
My body, the traitorous bitch, weeps for him. I can feel heat pooling between my thighs, ready to welcome him in any way that he desires. Shame at my own betrayal stings my cheeks.
Knowing the futility of fighting him, I settle back so he can bathe me.
Grabbing the net sponge, he lathers it generously. Seeing the muscle tick in his jaw is my only comfort. I love that he’s just as affected by me as I am by him.
Beginning at my neck, he begins his torture. With firm, gentle strokes, he covers me from neck to shoulder. He makes quick work of my arms, paying close attention to every finger. He takes a moment looking at the wedding ring he gave me, his eyes meeting mine briefly.
He takes his time — more time than necessary for my breasts. Using his finger, he swirls and tweaks my nipples. Moving lower, he makes large swaths over my tummy, then moves to my legs.
I tense in anticipation. He often bathed me like this before I left. My body clenches, preparing for ruination. A whimper escapes before he even finishes my feet.
His gaze snags mine. We tangle, clash. There are promises made. I know he’s going to keep them whether I want him to or not.
My legs drift open and I want to curse myself for not making him demand.
“Eyes on me, pet.” His hands glide between my thighs as the dark onyx of his eyes ensnare me.
“So responsive, and we haven’t even begun.” A cruel slash of a smile appears when his fingers make contact with my pussy, feeling the telltale evidence of my desire.
“I thought you’s make it harder.” He tsks using his long fingers to clean me. “Make me work for it at least.”
“Why?” I ask on a breath. “When I’m already yours.”
His face hardens as if I’ve slapped him.
Withdrawing his fingers, he rises quickly, turning away, but not before I see the way he’s struggling to maintain his composure. His dick is hard and straining against his pants.
“I’m done here.”
Aha, I muse rising from the sudsy water moments later and stepping into the offered bath sheet Aiko holds out for me.
My acquiescence is his undoing.
He expected a fight and couldn’t respond when he didn’t get one.
Oh this isn’t going to go the way you thought, husband. I smile to myself. He may have put me in his mansion prison, but I’ll have him in my thrall, and by the time I’m done, he’ll be the one begging to be free.