The Wife Breaker by Isabella Starling

Chapter 13

RAIN

The bullet hits me at lightning speed. Pain explodes in my shoulder and a scream rips itself from my lips as I stumble to the ground. My ankle twists unnaturally and I wince from the pain as I go down.

The night sky above me is inky black and covered in stars. My body trembles for precious seconds until Heath reaches me. His face is blurry before me and I cry as he pulls me into his embrace, muttering things I’m not even aware of as he holds me close.

“What happened?” I whisper, shaking.

“One guard shot you,” he mutters in response. “They’re taught to shoot at anything unusual. But I think the bullet just grazed you. The doctor will be here soon.”

I nod and let my eyes flutter closed again as I wait for the pain to subside. Tears stream down my cheeks and I fight the urge to sob out loud. My escape attempt didn’t work. I don’t know whether I’m relieved or disappointed. It was doomed from the start, anyway. I should’ve known Heath would never let me get away.

He’s even worse than Xavier in that regard.

Neither of us mentions our argument and the way I tried to run away from him. The doctor arrives and confirms my arm was only grazed while my ankle seems to be sprained. Just then, Liberato drags over a guard who’s shaking wildly as he falls to his knees on the wet grass.

“He’s the one that shot her,” Liberato mutters. “But please, Heath, he’s new.”

I risk a look at the man who did this to me. He’s younger than me, he looks barely eighteen, and he’s shaking like a leaf. But that doesn’t seem to phase Heath in the slightest.

I risk a look at the man who did this to me. He’s younger than me, he looks barely eighteen, and he’s shaking like a leaf. But that doesn’t seem to phase Heath in the slightest. She’s running away and is accidentally shot by one guard.

“Don’t hurt him, Heath,” I whisper weakly, but my captor isn’t paying attention to me any longer, distracted by the boy.

Silently, Heath clicks the trigger off on his gun and points it at the boy’s head while I beg him to stop.

“Heath,” L hisses.

“No, I don’t want to hear it.”

He looks like a savage as he pushes his hair back, his dark eyes focused on the boy standing in front of him and trembling with fear.

“I let the last guy who hurt her go, but that’s not happening this time,” Heath hisses, though I can see his resolve is weakening as he stares at the weeping culprit. “Any last words?”

“Please,” the boy sputters to life. “I didn’t know it was her. She’s just a toy. Don’t kill me just because of a woman, I-“

He doesn’t get to finish his sentence. Heath’s gunshot rings out in the silent night and the boy’s body crumples to the ground. I hear my own piercing scream echoing in my ears and I feel Heath drop to his knees next to me, gently touching my shoulder.

When his fingers come away wet with my blood, his expressions darkens. Barking orders at his men, he takes me in his arms and takes special care to carry me into the house. Once there, he doesn’t head to my bedroom, though.

Instead, Heath carries me to his room.

His room is a mix of navy with dark wood. Glorious views of the ocean await me from his window, and he has his private hot tub. I accept all this with my head spinning as he sets me down on his bed, being as careful as if I was a porcelain doll.

He doesn’t let anyone near me until the doctor arrives. Luckily for me, she’s a woman, so he doesn’t put up too much of a fight when it’s time for the exam. Still, he sits in the corner of the room, sulking silently when the doctor tells him she needs some space. She asks me some questions, checking my ankle for pain and wrapping up my shoulder. She said it won’t need stitches.

It makes me wonder just how bloodthirsty Heath is... All it took was a scrape for him to kill a man over me. Who does that? He’s obsessed, or maybe so addicted he can’t tell when his violence is excessive anymore.

But that doesn’t make me feel better. His control over himself is waning. He can’t stop his own actions, and that makes me terrified.

“It’s a light sprain. The shoulder should heal within three weeks.”

The doctor smiles at Heath.

“She’ll be fine. Just make sure she rests a lot during this time.”

“Of course, Doc,” Heath nods solemnly before pointing her to the hallway. “Thank you. Door’s right over there.”

She seems amused by his eagerness to be alone with me, winking at me. I’m too terrified to return the gesture, waiting on pins and needles until the doors close behind her.

“You ran from me,” Heath tells me in his dark voice. “Are you afraid of me?”

I swallow thickly, shaking my head as I mutter, “No.”

“Why did you run then?”

“I don’t want to be a captive anymore.”

“But you’re with me.”

“So?” I hiss, rubbing my temples with an exasperated gasp. “You make my head hurt, Heath. I just want to be free for once in my life.”

“But you can’t be free,” he laughs incredulously, like I’ve just told a joke.

“Why not? Why does everyone but me get to make their own decisions?”

“You know why.”

“No, I don’t. Tell me.”

He sits on the bed next to me, trying to take my non-injured arm in his, but I pull back. His jaw tics with annoyance.

“You’re a Castellamare girl.”

“I’m not the only one.”

“You’re the most valuable one.”

“Why?” I demand. “Because of some old superstition?”

“You know it’s not just that.”

“That’s exactly what it is,” I mutter. “The reason both you and Xavier think you can own me like I’m a piece of property. Just because of the village I was born in. You think your place of birth makes you a slave, Heath?”

His expression darkens, and he shakes his head, saying, “Of course not.”

“Then don’t treat me like one.” I try to get up, but forget about my ankle.

Groaning with pain, I fall back onto the soft, down pillows.

“And I don’t want to be in your bedroom, either.”

“That’s not your call to make.”

“Fine,” I grit out. “Treat me like your prisoner, then. That’s what I am, right? A *toy* for you to train.”

“That’s not it,” he snarls in return. “You’re more than that, and you know it. I took you to the hangout...”

“Wow,” I say mockingly. “A night with your best friends, all of whom see me as some sort of sex object. Score.”

“Watch that mouth,” he says, his gaze carrying enough of a warning to send a shiver down my spine. “Don’t make me punish you when you’re already broken.”

“I’m broken because of you.”

“You’re broken because that piece of shit guard-“

“Whom you killed without reason!”

“Without reason?”

He looks about ready to explode, his eyes wild as he gets in my face, scaring me.

“I killed him because he fucking hurt you, Rain. And did you hear his little speech at the end? Repulsive.”

“Neither of those are valid reasons to *kill someone*, Heath!”

I groan, ready to give up.

“Just... forget it. Forget everything.”

“No, I won’t.”

“I’m tired of fighting with you. I want to rest.”

“No.”

“No?” I laugh bitterly. “You’re just going to ignore what the doctor told you?”

“I’m going to show you how much you mean to me.”

“How? By killing somebody else?” I smirk, unable to stop myself from going on. “Liberato, maybe? He looked at me tonight, Heath. I think he liked my dress. You going to kill him, too?”

I know I’ve gone too far. This time, Heath will make me pay.

His charcoal eyes go numb as he reaches into his nightstand. My heart is pounding, awaiting the punishment I’ve certainly deserved by now.

But instead of the paddle or cane I expected, Heath pulls out a small vial of transparent liquid. He loads it into a medical syringe and plunges it into his veins.

The sight sends me sprawling across the bed in fear. My ankle is throbbing, but he pays it no mind as he reaches for me, roughly pulling me back.

“Don’t hurt me.”

“It’s a bit too late for that, don’t you think, Sunshine?”

I cry out as he rips through my dress as if it’s nothing. The next moment, I’m shivering in front of him in nothing but a pearl thong.

“I like that,” he mutters, pointing to my pussy. “So pretty.”

Something is scaring me about this. I wonder how much control Heath has over his body when he takes these drugs. How bad is his problem? Will he ever stop?

“I’m going to scream for help,” I blurt when he pulls off his shirt.

“And you think people will come to your aid?”

He smirks.

“Everyone listens to me here, Rain. You’re on your fucking own. Now come here.”

He cages me beneath his body. I’m so afraid of the pain he’ll induce, but it never comes. He just watches me as if he’s trying to commit every feature to memory.

“Why aren’t you...” I swallow. “Why aren’t you hurting me?”

“Why would I?” he mutters against my lips, making me lick them nervously, inches aways from his face.

“Because of the drugs...”

“These aren’t drugs that make you violent.”

“But the other ones were.”

“I know,” he smirks. “These drugs, though... they just make you fuck like a beast. Want to try?”

He holds up the syringe he just used and my stomach twists at the sight. Wordlessly, I shake my head.

“You sure, Sunshine?”

I can’t even speak anymore. Confusion makes my head spin and my heart asks for something while my mind screams for something else.

“Give it to me.”

My words surprise us both, and Heath’s gaze latches onto mine, staring deep into my soul.

“You want to try?”

I nod, taking the syringe and unceremoniously plunging it into my forearm, just like Heath did earlier.

I feel the burn right away, a deep, searing pain as the poison spreads through my bloodstream. Half a breath later, everything changes.

Heath is no longer the dangerous monster I was so afraid of.

All my fears have been extinguished, leaving only one thing behind.

Glorious, undeniable desperation.

I make a grab for him, seeing the same need in his eyes. We both rip at his clothes, panting until we’re both naked.

Now I finally realize why Heath is so addicted to whatever he put into that syringe... It’s fucking glorious.

Our animal instincts take over as Heath pulls me in for a deep, searching kiss.

Our bodies unite, heartbeats beating as one as our limbs entangle on the bed. My ankle is forgotten, the pain in my shoulder nonexistent. I live for the feeling of Heath’s mouth on mine. For his tongue meeting my own in a fiery dance. I live for the sensation of his palm pressed against my wet, hot pussy. For the relief I get by grinding against it, desperately panting his name.

“I need you,” I mutter against his lips. “I can’t get enough of you. I need you inside me.”

Nothing seems like it will be enough until I feel his rock hard cock beneath my fingertips. Tracing them over his impressive length, I look up at him with pleading eyes.

“Fuck me.”

He grunts my name before climbing on top of me. His eyes find mine as he puts his cock on top of my pussy, and we both watch it throb against my body. He’s so big I do not know how he’ll fit even half of his cock inside. The thought of how painful fucking him will be excites me.

I give myself a mental reminder not to show him how much I truly love pain. I try to keep my face neutral as he presses his tip against my entrance. He makes me feel like a virgin again, wiping away years and years of his uncle’s abuse.

“Still want it?” he asks, his voice raspy with need.

“Yes.”

Before he can plunge inside me, I put a hand on his chest and his eyes meet mine, burning with questions.

“Heath, I...”

Oh, to hell with my rules and mental notes.

“I want you to make it hurt.”