Chapter 205
RAINA
Maybe if I died, all these would stop.
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The thought crept through my mind, curled around my chest, and squeezed until it hurt to breathe. If I was gone, would Nathan finally leave my family alone? Would he finally stop tormenting them? Or would my death just make it easier for him to destroy them?
I swallowed hard, my eyes blurring before focusing on Alex. His jaw was clenched so tight that I thought he might crack a tooth, while his nostrils flared to each heavy plod of his breaths. But it was his eyes—wild and ablaze with some unhinged sort of fury–that made my tummy drop.
“Why the hell are you trying to give Nathan what he wants?” His voice had an edge as sharp as his glare.
I knew what he meant. Nathan had been after me for years, and he wanted nothing more than a way into my family. If I ran right into his arms, he’d have exactly that.
But what choice did I have?
I whipped my head up, rage crashing into fear. “Am I supposed to stay hidden while Faith’s out there, suffering because of me?” My voice cracked, but I didn’t care. “Am I supposed to just sit here and do nothing while she-”
“Yes!” Alex thundered, his hands curling into fists. “Because Dominic and I are dealing with it!”
A bitter laugh tore from my throat. “Handling it?” I gestured around us, my heart pounding. “Is that what this is? Sitting here, waiting for news while Nathan holds Faith hostage? That’s your idea of handling it?”
Alex stepped forward, his looming presence nearly swallowing me whole. “You think running straight to him is a better idea?”
I shook my head, frustration clawing at me. “I won’t let Faith die because of me!”
His eyes darkened. “And I won’t let you die because of her.”
The words slammed into me, knocking the breath from my lungs.
Dom had been silent through it all, sitting on the couch, staring blankly at the floor. His usual fire, his commanding presence–it was all gone. He wasn’t himself.
I hated this. I hated every second of this.
The walls were closing in, stifling me. I couldn’t be here. I couldn’t do nothing.
I spun on the ball of my foot, my feet already moving before I could reconsider it. I needed air. Space. I needed to get away from them before I lost what little control I had left.
But I barely made it two steps before I was yanked back–hard.
A shocked gasp ripped from my throat as my body was lifted off the ground.
“What the hell-”
My words cut off as I found myself slung over Alex’s broad shoulder like a damn ragdoll.
“Put me down!” I screamed, kicking wildly. My fists slammed into his back, but he didn’t even flinch. “Alex! You fucking overgrown caveman! Let me go!
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“Keep fighting, Raina,” he said, his voice maddeningly calm as he carted me up the stairs. “See where it gets you.”
I fought harder. “You are such an arrogant, overbearing, controlling piece of—”
“Careful,” he cautioned, amusement threading his tone.
My blood was boiling. “I swear to God, Alex, if you don’t put me down right now-
“Or what?” he taunted. “You gonna fight me?”
I let out a rage–filled growl. “I hate you!”
“Yeah?” He kicked open my bedroom door and strode in. “You’ll hate me even more in a second.”
Before I had time to protest, he tossed me down onto the bed.
I bounced slightly, my breath leaving me in a sharp huff. The second I tried to sit up, he was on me, pinning me down with nothing but the sheer weight of his presence.
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Chigsten 205
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His hands braced on either side of me, his face inches from mine. His eyes burned into me, fierce and unrelenting.
“Calm. Down,” he ordered.
“Go to hell,” I spat, shoving at his chest but he didn’t move.
I struggled harder, my heart hammering as I fought against him. But he was too strong, too steady, completely unmoving no matter how hard I pushed.
“Raina,” he murmured, his voice softer now. “Just listen to me.”
“No!” I twisted beneath him, rage and desperation warring inside me. “I have to do something, Alex! Faith is out there, and I-
My words were cut off as his hands suddenly cupped my face. And then his lips crashed onto mine. My body froze. My breath hitched. For a moment, everything stopped–the fear, the anger, the chaos spinning inside me. It was just him. And then, before I could even think of what I was doing, I kissed him back.
