God of Pain (Legacy of Gods #2)(113)

And although I figured that out a long time ago, this is the first time it’s slapped me across the face with enough strength to cause a sting in my eyes.

It takes everything in me to speak in a composed tone. “I want to go home.”

“This is the only home you’ll have. Get used to it.”

“Creighton…this is called kidnapping.”

“And you shooting me is called attempted murder, but you don’t see me putting a label on that.”

I flinch as if I’ve been punched in the gut.

And it’s not only due to his words. It’s the dispassionate way he speaks with, the coldness that coats his skin, and the cruelty that radiates off him.

I don’t recognize the man who stands in front of me. He’s a mash of particles with no heart or soul.

And I need to get the hell away from him before he does something we’ll both regret.

I let my gaze stray sideways in search of an escape.

The door is behind him, and as much as I want to use that obvious option, there’s no way I’d win against Creighton in the physical department. Not only is he bigger than me, but he literally pummels people for sport.

I’m not ready for what happens next.

I’ve been so caught up in my plans to escape that I completely missed when he started advancing toward me.

The moment I look up, it’s too late.

His body traps mine and his hand wraps around my throat. He squeezes enough that my complete attention homes in on him.

The grip is firm enough to freeze me in place, allowing me only enough air to inhale him, and fall irrevocably into him.

“You don’t need to busy that pretty brain of yours with thoughts of escaping, because that won’t be happening. You’re mine now, little purple, literally and figuratively.”

My nails dig into his wrist. “Creighton, stop this, please…”

“Don’t beg when we still haven’t gotten to that phase yet.” His fingers stroke my throat with no ounce of warmth whatsoever. “I’m going to need you to be real obedient for me, can you do that?”

I purse my lips.

“Answer the question.”

“I’m not your plaything.”

“You’re more than that. You’re the subject of my vengeance, Annika. You shot me and there needs to be retaliation.”

I don’t see it, but I can hear the sound of my heart smashing to pieces. The heart that I thought died the moment I pulled the trigger is obviously not completely gone. It keeps scratching, tugging, and attempting to burst out of my chest.

So I was right.

I had a tiny hope that the time we spent together would at least mean something to Creighton, but I thought wrong.

He’s blinded by revenge and will never see anything past it.

Despite the pain that’s breaking me apart at that bitter realization, I won’t stay to find out what he has in store for me.

I stare at his impassive eyes that I once used as an anchor while my calm voice carries in the air. “You kidnapped Nikolai and forced my brother to come get him, then you made him watch his best friend get his own throat sliced. You forced me to watch you stab my only brother while I had a gun pointed at you. While I was high on emotions. I begged you to stop, I begged you, Creighton, but you made me pull that trigger.”

Tension rolls off his body in waves as his harsh breaths fill the space, snatching mine, suffocating them, forcing me to breathe intoxicated air.

“I didn’t make you do anything. It was you who pulled the trigger. It was you who chose your family. If we were to go back in time, you would choose your family again, wouldn’t you?”

I would choose to shoot myself.

But I don’t say that. Because I need to end this fucked-up charade and make him let me go.

This situation isn’t about him or me anymore. It goes way beyond the two of us, and too many people we care about are involved.

Like his father and mine, who’ll definitely clash if either of us is hurt.

“You’re right. I already shot that bullet and killed us with it. We can’t go back in time, but we can remove ourselves from each other’s lives.”

His hold tightens on my throat until I think he’ll choke me to death. “That won’t be happening.”

I see it then, the determination, the decision he’s already made about this.

He’s keeping me.

Nothing I do or say will change anything. He meant it earlier when he told me that I’m his both literally and figuratively.

No.

No, this isn’t how it’s supposed to go.

I’m already suffering the fallout of my actions and going crazy in my attempts to move on. I’ll simply not allow him to ruin everything by self-destructing.

Because that’s what’s happening right now. He might think it’s payback, but he’s shattering himself in the process.

I don’t think about it as I lift my knee and hit him in the balls.

The moment of stunned silence is all I need. When his hold loosens around my throat, I push him away, dart around him, and run outside.

I have no clue where I’m going, but if I find the main road, a car, or a person, I’ll be able to leave.

The sound of waves reaches me first and then as I run, I notice a shore, a rocky path, and a driveway but there’s no sign of any cars.