Chapter 15
ADELINA
How would it feel to kill him?
His blood was bright red, a single bead creeping down the front of his neck, another trailing down the back. I wanted to press harder. I wanted to engrave every piece of rage out of my body and into his. His family destroyed mine, and I wanted to take everything from him.
So why couldn’t I cut his throat?
Why wouldn’t my hand move?
Not once did he flinch. Not once did he disobey. He kneeled there, chained and waiting, as if he truly meant to let me end his life. As if he doubted I could.
“If you want my life, Petal, it’s yours to take. Only yours.” His voice was empty and certain.
My attention refocused on the scars mapping his back.
I knew who did this to him. I didn’t know Cezar, not yet, but I knew the type of man he was—one who allowed things to be done to him, not because he was weak, but because he had learned to endure the pain.
Still, I didn’t understand why he would allow his father, of all people, to keep hurting him.
I withdrew the dagger and strapped it back into its place before following one of the raised lines down his back. His body stiffened. His hands curled tight against the chains.
Cezar didn’t retreat. He moved his head until it rested between my thighs. I parted them just enough so he could breathe.
A strange calm rolled through me, as if the storm inside went silent for the first time. I petted him, curious despite myself.
I felt like a cat marking something that wasn’t mine.
What the hell am I doing??
I pushed him up and away from me gently. Dear god, the sadness in those stunning eyes. My mind blanked for a moment. I couldn’t think. Then a faint smile pulled at his mouth, soft and devastating.
I moved behind him, weighing the idea of keeping him here like this.
Forever. The thought lingered a little too long before I reached for the keys.
As I unraveled the chains, I noticed the marks on his wrists and arms. He must have pulled hard.
Anyone who saw him would know exactly what happened.
What I did. My face grew hot, and I felt… giddy.
While I put everything back where it belonged, Cezar rose. Slow movements. Sore. He had been trapped in that position for too long.
When the last candle went out, we retraced our steps. Cezar stayed carefully behind me. Normally, that position would put me on edge. Hard to be jumped if you aren’t in front.
What felt more unsettling was his silence. The rain had stopped by the time he slipped ahead to open the door for me. I watched him closely before getting into the car. He made his way to the passenger side.
With the cold air, the dampness clinging to my skin, and the fading adrenaline, I craved warmth. Not the kind Cezar gave. Just… something steady. I let the car warm up, and then he spoke, his voice faint.
“Thank you…” He exhaled, long and deep.
I wondered what he was thanking me for. Not killing him?
“If I was going to kill you, I would have back then.” Shit. My hand tightened on the steering wheel. I meant back there, not back then. Did I just admit I had no intention of killing him? Do I? Could I?
He let out a soft chuckle. “No, Petal. Thank you for giving me an out. Giving me that choice.”
Holy shit… an out… the safe word…
I didn’t know how to respond. Every second with Cezar made me more curious. About everything. Every piece of him. Every part he tried to hide and every part he didn’t want to.
He pushed the seat all the way back, crossed his arms, and closed his eyes. He trusted me with all of it, with whatever this was turning into, and I didn’t know if I could carry that without ruining it.