Chapter 8

Chapter Eight

Serenity

Angelo swept me into his arms, carrying me like I weighed nothing at all as he strode down the hallway. I struggled in his iron grip, but it was like trying to bend steel with my bare hands. His body was an unyieldingly solid mass of muscle and power that easily overpowered my own. As he held me closer, his lips descended upon mine, devouring me with a hunger that left me breathless.

His kiss was possessive, arrogantly claiming me as his. I gasped for air, both terrified and excited by the intensity of his desire. When we reached my door, Angelo shifted his hold on me, freeing one hand to turn the knob before carrying me inside and kicking the door shut behind us. He pressed me against the wall, his body pinning me in place as his hands began to roam hungrily over my curves .

I stumbled backward, falling onto the soft mattress of the bed. A shiver of terror ran through me as I looked up at him, his lips pulled back to reveal two long, sharp fangs glinting in the moonlight.

"N-no," I gasped, pushing against his chest with every ounce of my strength. But I might as well have tried to push a mountain aside or stop a freight train with my bare hands. It was as if he were carved from granite, unyielding and indestructible, a superhuman entity that defied the very laws of nature.

"DuPont!" I screamed for help, but my voice came out thready and weak.

There was no way he would hear me.

In a flash, Angelo's fangs pierced my neck, and I tensed, anticipating an agonizing onslaught of pain. But instead, an unexpected wave of euphoria washed over me, a pleasure so intense and all-encompassing that it threatened to unravel my very being. It was as if molten desire was coursing through my veins, setting every nerve ending ablaze with a blissful fire that consumed my entire existence.

My resistance crumbled faced with these overwhelming sensations. It was as if all my fears, doubts, and reservations had been incinerated, leaving behind only the desire to submit to him completely. My eyelids grew heavy, weighed down by the sheer force of pleasure engulfing me, and I found myself surrendering to Angelo in a way I would have never thought possible, my very soul laid bare before him.

"DuPont…" I mumbled again, drawing out his name. "Please…don't…let…him…kill me." My words faded away to nothing .

Angelo's tongue licked over my neck where he had bitten me, and he whispered low in my ear. "Sleep, little one. Know that no one will ever touch you again but me. I will protect you always. I will never let you go. You're mine." His soft voice welcomed me into a safety net that I never thought I would have again.

Not since Mom had died…

I found myself walking through the familiar landscape of my childhood. The vibrant color of azaleas, camellias, and crepe myrtles in full bloom filled my vision as I walked through my mom's garden.

The sweet fragrance of magnolia flowers surrounded me, bringing a sense of peace. I sat on the old swing hanging from the magnolia tree and watched my mom carefully pruning the lemon and orange trees. Behind her rose the majestic oak tree with its long branches draped in Spanish moss. As a small child, I used to imagine all sorts of fearsome creatures hiding in its shadows, but now it just brought back fond memories of outdoor picnics and playing tag with Joy and her brother, Steven.

Mom was pruning her favorite orange tree as I approached her.

"Mom." I rushed over to her.

She put down her clippers and embraced me. "Oh darling, I've missed you so much."

"Me too," I choked out as tears streamed down my cheeks.

She pulled away and cast a fond gaze over me. "You've turned into such a beautiful young woman. "

I almost wished I hadn't. Maybe then I wouldn't be in this mess.

The words tumbled out of my mouth like a runaway train. "Mom, I've been kidnapped and sold at an auction." My voice quivered as I wiped away another tear.

"I know, honey." She squeezed my hand.

"And I can heal people now. How can I do this? You couldn't."

"Oh, Serenity." She cupped my face. "There are so many things I wish I'd had the courage to tell you."

I frowned. "You mean like about my father?" The question had haunted me for years.

My mother's eyes held a mixture of sadness and love. "Your father was a man caught between worlds, much like you yourself are now. His story is a piece of your puzzle, but not the one you need to solve it just yet."

"What does that mean?"

"Just know I loved your father with all my heart. You were my greatest joy after I lost him."

"Why…Why did he leave us?" It was a question I had asked her so many times, and she always avoided answering, but maybe now she would finally tell me.

She rubbed my arm. "You will find out in due time."

I wanted to scream.

"And another thing—if you loved my father so much, why did you marry Freddie?"

Her expression softened. "I married Freddie out of a misplaced hope and a desire for stability—for us. He wasn't always the way he is now. You might not remember that. But some gamblers are destined to lose, sweetheart. I see now. I should have bet on our strength together, yours and mine. I'm sorry."

As the dream faded, I found myself chasing other happy memories with her, reliving happier days…and then I drifted back to darker times…