Filed To Story: Pretty Poisoned Novel by Elle Mitchell
“I think Declan loves you. It’s okay if you love him, too.”
I swallow hard. “You’re wrong,” I tell him. “And I don’t.”
“Okay. If you say so.”
I don’t sleep for a while after that.
Iwake before Luca for once, wrapped up in his arms and bloody sheets. For a giant who spends most of his days exercising, drinking, and fucking, he certainly seems to have evolved to need very little sleep. My phone buzzes against the wooden side table again. I’ve ignored it for a while; I need to edit my “do not disturb” timer. Ten in the morning is far too early for me these days.
I reach for the phone slowly, careful not to wake him, and open my messages.
BLAKELY You need to answer your phone NOW, Teagan.
BLAKELY You were right about themyou’re not safe.
BLAKELY This isn’t a joke, Teagan. ANSWER YOUR FUCKING PHONE.
Somewhere in the middle, there’s a link to an article: Heidi Collins Speaks: The girl found in the woods claims she was held prisoner by ex, Luca De Rossi.
Oh shit.
BLAKELY Leaving now. I’m bringing you home. See you in a couple of hours.
I click the link and jump out of bed, my mind reeling as I read through Heidi’s recount of events. The man in the bed stirs, stretching his arms over his head.
“What’s up, baby?”
“Nothing,” I say, backing into the wall. My voice doesn’t come out right; it’s too fast, too high-pitched, and he notices. He knows something is wrong.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” he asks. His brow furrows. “What are you reading?”
“Nothing just a text from my sister,” I tell him. “I’m going to go see if there’s coffee.”
I move a little too quickly, and he lunges out of bed, standing between me and the door.
“Teagan let me see your phone.”
“There’s nothing on my”
Luca snatches it from my hand before I can finish the sentence.
“Oh shit,” he says. “Shit ”
While he’s distracted, I go for the door, but I’m not quick enough. He drops the phone, then grabs me by the hair and slams it shut.
“Declan!” I shout, hoping he can hear me. “Let me go! Don’t hurt me, please.”
He throws me down on the bed and climbs on top of me, his legs on top of my thighs while he holds my wrists against the bed, effectively immobilizing me.
“I’m not going to hurt you, Teagan,” he says. “I love you. Just listen to me.”
“You’re hurting me right now! Let me go, and I’ll listen to you!”
“I don’t believe youso nofuck that! Teagan,” his voice is softer this time, “tell me it’s okay and that you still love me. Please?”
He leans in and kisses me on the mouth; I turn my head to the side, and he trails kisses up my jaw.
“Stop ”
“Please, Teagan.”
Behind him, the door opens, and Declan walks into the room.
“We have a fucking problem,” Declan says.
“I’m aware,” Luca says.
“She saw it?” Declan asks.
“Yep.”
Declan sighs and sits on the edge of the bed. “Teagan ”
“Get him off of me!”
“Let go of her,” Declan says.
Luca releases my wrists and climbs off of my body, and I sit up quickly. Tears well in my eyes.
“Don’t do that to me!” I yell, punching him in the back.
Luca looks at me, his eyes filled with rage. Arms circle my waist and pull me away from him.
“Not fucking smart, Teag,” Declan says. “You need to calm down.”
“Me!?”
“Yes, you,” he says.
“It’s fine,” Luca says. “I’m not worried about Teagan’s teeny tiny baby fists. Feels kind of good, actually.”
“What are you even trying to do, huh? What are you even upset about?” Declan asks.
“What? I”
“Teagan, I warned you,” Declan says. “You didn’t care. You know who he is, and you know what he is. He did it to you, didn’t he?”
“Not exactly”
“And you love him,” Declan continues. “You love him so much you cried last night because you thought he left with someone else. You let him carve his initial into your skin, and you liked it. You knew, Teagan. Stop thinking about how you should react based on societal conditioning. You don’t really care, do you?”
“I do care about this!” I tell him.
“Why?” he asks flippantly.
“She’s jealous,” Luca laughs. “There’s nothing to be jealous about, Teagan.”
“I am not fucking jealous!”
Beside me, Declan’s phone rings.
“Hold on,” Declan says. He answers the call and paces in front of the bed. “Yeah?”
“I love you, Teagan. I never loved her like I love you. I could never do that to you.”
New Book: Returned To Make Them Pay
On her wedding anniversary, Alicia is drugged and stumbles into the wrong room—straight into the arms of the powerful Caden Ward, a man rumored never to touch women. Their night of passion shocks even him, especially when he discovers she’s still a virgin after two years of marriage to Joshua Yates.