EZRA
It's been three weeks now, and Malachai still hasn't shown up. But I trusted him. I knew he wouldn't abandon me. My legs were healing, but the progress was slow. I could walk…barely. Each step felt like a battle, each movement like a war. It took me thirty minutes just to get to the door, but I could stand, and that… that was an achievement.
Lucius was still keeping up with his sickening act. He showered me with gifts….ice cream, new clothes, even went as far as refurbishing my room. Like a fresh coat of paint could erase what he had done. Like soft blankets and silk sheets could make me forget the agony he put me through. But I wasn't stupid. I knew what he was doing. And for once, I decided to use it to my advantage.
If Malachai was coming for me, I had to help him. I had to play the game. Play along.
So, I let Lucius think he was winning. I let him hold me, let him kiss my temple, let him stroke my back in bed like he was anything more than a monster in disguise. I forced myself to smile when he brought me gifts, forced myself to sigh when he whispered in my ear. It made my skin crawl, but if I could get closer, if I could make him believe I was his, then maybe I could learn something useful.
It was late one night, after he had his way with me again, that I finally asked. He was lying next to me, arms wrapped around my waist, face buried in my hair. I could feel the steady rise and fall of his chest against my back. His hold was too tight, too possessive, as if he was afraid I'd vanish if he let go.
"Lucius…" I started, keeping my voice soft, my tone careful.
"Hm?"
I swallowed, keeping my heartbeat steady. "The pregnant woman…" I hesitated, feeling his body stiffen behind me. "Who is she?"
His silence was deafening.
For a moment, I thought he wouldn't answer. But then, his fingers trailed lazily up my side, and his voice came, smooth as silk but sharp as a blade. "Why do you want to know?"
I turned in his arms just enough to look at him, my expression unreadable. "I heard Elvis mention her. I just… I want to understand. I want to understand you."
A slow, wicked smile spread across his lips. He liked that. He liked the idea of me trying to 'understand' him. His hand cupped my jaw, thumb stroking my cheek. "You're finally starting to see things my way, aren't you?"
I forced a small nod. "Tell me about her."
Lucius exhaled, staring at the ceiling for a moment before speaking. "She's nothing more than leverage. A means to an end."
My stomach twisted. Leverage. He was talking about a human being…..an unborn child….as if they were mere pawns in his twisted game.
"She's Malachai's wife," he continued, his voice laced with amusement. "Carrying his child. But more importantly… she's his weakness."
I stiffened, my nails digging into my palms beneath the covers.
Lucius chuckled darkly. "You didn't know, did you?" He leaned in, lips brushing against my ear. "Your precious Malachai left her. Ran away with you. Left his own family behind just to keep you all to himself."
My breath caught.
No.
I already knew the truth. Lucius thought she was Malachai's wife, but he was wrong. She wasn't. She was Elvis' wife. Malachai never abandoned her. He never betrayed anyone. The only reason she was here, the only reason she was suffering, was because of Lucius.
And now, he was using her to break Malachai. To break me.
I forced myself to play along, to widen my eyes as if I had just learned something horrific. "He never told me…" I whispered, letting my voice waver just enough.
Lucius smirked, pleased. "Of course he didn't. He doesn't want you to know what kind of man he really is."
I clenched my fists beneath the sheets. I wanted to scream, to claw his eyes out, to rip him apart for everything he had done. But I couldn't. Not yet.
Instead, I leaned into his touch, forcing my expression to soften. "You always tell me the truth, don't you, Lucius?"
His grip on me tightened. "Always."
Liar.
I closed my eyes, pressing my face into his chest, swallowing down the rage burning inside me.
I would get out of here.
I would get back to Malachai.
And when I did…
I would make sure Lucius paid for everything.