Chapter 16

My heart still pounded, it hadn"t settled. Not even since Eli and Damon left. I"d been stewing in my intrusive thoughts the entire time the bidding took place in the mansion. I was an absent mess, because other than being sandwiched by three brothers, I realised I was owned by someone. My masked kidnapper. My stalker. My nominated killer.

My brain was fucking fried, I was their toy to torment tonight, and they had certainly done just that. The puddle between my thighs was clear evidence of that. I hated it was there, I hated how Damon was right, and just how desperate I had been. How desperate I still was. I hated how I liked the feeling of his cold gun on my skin, a fucking weapon, one that could have easily killed me.

I hated that when the three men had put me into a love triangle, and called me names, and teased me turned me on. No. Who was I truly fooling?I wanted to hate it all, but I didn't. I hated what was happening to me, maybe I did deserve to die, for acting on sins. Because, it wasn"t like I was screaming out for help with a rape whistle. But, that was the problem, I wanted more.

Heaven wouldn"t dare let me in now. I wanted to get the fuck out of here. Even if it meant that I"d be locked away in my dark room, and let the blackness envelope me. I could squirm all I liked, but Caine had a firm grip on my arm. He hadn"t said a single word, other than muttering when he had made an expensive bid on something.

I waited, locked beside him by his strength, patiently waiting for the bidding war to end. Soren was hosting the charity, as well as the Whitlock brothers. The fuckers. The lot of them were rolling in cash obviously, and people had come from near and far just to be here.

The more I thought about the shadow man, the more I was hit with nerves about who was around me. Did they know who the shadow man was? Was he one of them among us? Unmasked? Though, everyone was wearing masks. The uncertainty chewed away at my head for far too long.

The bidding came to an end, and the crowd roared into cheer before shuffling into the garden, where we were informed the celebratory fireworks would take place. The lighting in the garden was lowered, and the music was loud. Caine suddenly grabbed my arm a little harder. A concerned, and jealous frown grew over his face as he peered down at me through his eyelashes. The voices that bounced over the top of the music were even louder, flaring my concern.

I gulped, but stayed quiet, panning my surroundings. Everyone was cheerful, either dancing or watching the sky, waiting for the coloured light show to crack. Caine"s grip wasn't hard enough to hurt me, but it was enough for me to mimic his concern. He was perturbed from something, I couldn"t put the name to it.

I shuddered, and his arm band around me. I drew in a rapid breath as his arm locked over my chest, pulling me backwards against his broad torso. Like he was shielding me from something, or someone.

I felt a cold chill race through my spine, like ice was being injected straight into it. My breath staggered before holding it in instinctively, because I knew for sure, that I'd smell him if I breathed normal. But I couldn't hold my breath forever, so I drew in with my lips parted. Nothing. I plucked up the courage to ask.

"Caine? What's going to happen?" I squeaked, and lifted my head up to glance at Caine. He sighed, shifting slightly, but didn't answer. After a while, I tried again.

"Is he going to kill me?" He stirred again, but Caine wasn"t giving away anything. Caine"s eyes scanned the garden deeper than the last, as though he were looking for someone in particular. His grip tightened against my chest again before a snort sputtered from his nose. He was furious about something, regret and something else I couldn't put the name to.

"Sorry, little diamond." He whispered. His tone was sincere and wounded. The first set of fireworks blew off, crackling in the sky, startling me.

I winced as his hold around me tightened. A raspy cough sputtered from my mouth, and his thumb caressed my collarbone, but his grip didn't soften. I frowned. Although his caressing was genuine, it wasn"t going to stop me from trying to break free. Fear was taking charge of everything in my being, so I kicked out.

I wriggled, and tugged, pushed, and heaved. First to my left, then to my right.

I didn"t have a clue in how to perform self-defence, nonetheless, I continued to pry Caine's grip. The fear intensified as the smell of pine grew stronger. Fighting Caine was no use, he was too strong. Tears flooded down my cheeks, and my heart felt like it was being squeezed internally.

Then, the smell of moisture, and musky earthy tones filled my lungs, and the metallic twang of blood loomed my nose.

Then the second set of fireworks powered into the sky, louder, and bigger than the last.

Hewas here. For me.