“Not if I have my way.”
I pivoted and came face to face with Balthazar. Fear paralyzed my limbs as the memory of being trapped in his cockroach-laden dungeon surfaced. Another more haunting thought of seeing Roman’s broken body made me tremble.
A victorious glint lit Balthazar’s eyes, and a grin spread across his evil face. “That’s right, my sweet. I’m back to finish what I started.”
My arms shook, and my knees wobbled. All the strength drained from me. This was the moment Balthazar would finish me off.
I made a weak, half-hearted attempt to grab him, but he only laughed.
“You’re pathetic, you know that?”
I did, in fact, know that. But I said nothing.
“If you think you’re going to destroy me, think again.” His thick hand wrapped around my neck and squeezed. “How dare you think you can doanythingto me after you’ve betrayed me. We had a deal, and you and Alexander broke it. How did he get out? Did you somehow arrange it? How did you know where to find him?”
I could barely breathe as his fingers crushed my windpipe. I clawed at his hand, gasping, desperate for air.
“I’m done fucking around with you, Olivia, you wretched little bitch. You defied me. My enemies never live to see the light of day.” He shook my throat, and a whole light show swirled in my head.
This is it. This is where I die. Oh, Roman, we never stood a chance against evil, did we?
Balthazar flung me to the ground like a rag doll.
Before I could scramble to my feet, he straddled me, pinning my arms over my head. “Fuck you or kill you, hmmm? Or should I fuck you first, then kill you?”
I writhed, kneeing him in the back.
Balthazar laughed. “Oh, how you amuse me, Olivia. Don’t worry, I’m not ready to kill you yet—you’re too much fun.”
He released my arms and grabbed my jaw.
I struggled and tried to bite him, but his strength was too great.
He leaned down until his face was inches from mine. Then, in a low, wicked voice, he said, “I’m going tobreakyou, Olivia, piece by piece. You’ll wish I’d killed you after you feel my wrath. Your pain, heartbreak, and very existence will be too great to bear, mark my words.”
Oh, God. What’s he going to do?
I shoved the heel of my hand into the base of his nose, hoping to break his bones and scramble his brains.
He let out a roar of laughter as blood spurted from his nose. “Think you can kill me with your antics? What a fool you are. Nothing can kill me.”
He wiped his face with his sleeve, then licked the remaining blood from his upper lip.
He could taunt me all he wanted, but I refused to give up. I clawed at his face and eyes, scratching his skin. Next, I spat at him and tried to headbutt him.
He pinned my hands to the ground. “That’s enough,” he yelled, sending a spray of spittle against my cheeks and lips. His hands grew hot, burning my flesh.
I cried out, but his eyes dilated in excitement at my misery.
“Oh, how I’m going to enjoy breaking you, my sweetheart. You’ll never recover from the torment I will exact on you and those you love.”
“Don’t hurt Roman!” I yelled. “Leave Emily and Marcellious alone!”
“Why should I? They’re important to you. I will take everything and everyone who means anything to you and destroy it.”
My skin blistered beneath his searing touch. The smell of scorched flesh assaulted my nose.
“You haven’t even seen my worst,” Balthazar said. “I’ve been kind to you until now. You’re going to feel my wrath. You’re never going to survive. Let me tell you what’s going to happen next. Roman and Marcellious will die in battle when the Kiowa return. They’re very clever, the Kiowa. And they’re angry. They despise the Sioux. They were easy to manipulate.”
