𝐑𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐁𝐮𝐫𝐧 ✓

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐓𝐰𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐞

RopeBurn

"Every girl is
capable of murder,
if you hurt her"

Chapter Twenty Three

Breathe

Elvira
↽———⋆♥︎⋆———⇁

Air had been a luxury I had taken for granted prior to meeting Marco Russo. Every waking moment since I have been here the air has either been knocked out, shocked out, or drowned out of me.

This was the first time Marco had hurt me physically with his own hands. Something he constantly swore he'd never do, yet here I sat in a tub moments after being submerged in water.

All because what?

Because I refused to give into his fantasy where I fall in love with him after he kidnapped me and has held me hostage for a month.

Seven minutes passed before I had managed to collect myself. I forced myself up to sit on the side of the tub and sat down while I dried myself off. Once dry enough I took the white button up shirt from the counter and pulled it over my head. I would have dressed further but the only other clothes seemed to be dirty.

The walk to the bed was tiring, torturous. Marco could be seen on the other side of the room watching me from behind his computer. He didn't wear a smug expression to show me that he enjoyed my pain. It was the same solemn expression he had before nearly drowning me.

I slithered into the bed, moving under the sheets and resting my head against the pillow with a sigh. I couldn't sleep with the presence of Marco so close by, regardless of how enervated my body really was.

Besides the clicking of the keys it was silent in the room. Marco made no attempt to communicate with me. It could be that he felt guilty for nearly killing me, or needed to come down from his high.

Each hour that passed the clock let out a chime, a tune that I wasn't familiar with. Every few minutes a groan would come from Marco followed up by quiet curses in Italian. Whatever had his attention had him angry, and for once it wasn't me.

     Four separate chimes played as hours passed by. Each song echoing throughout the room. It wasn't until after the fourth song that the laptop clicked shut.

    Heavy footsteps made their way towards the bed before a dip in the mattress was made. From behind me I could feel the bed move around and hear the sound of clothing being removed and tossed to the floor.

     Marco moved under the covers allowing a gush of cold air to reach my back as the covers moved from my body and back down encasing me in fabric. He moved in my direction and wrapped his two large arms around me.

     The little energy I had in me had been wasted during my struggle in the water. Nor did I want to risk the chances of ending the night with his hands wrapped around my neck "I love you." His breath fanned my neck, but I made no movements to indicate that I was awake.

"Despite what you believe I wouldn't have killed you, I only wanted to scare you." His fingers traced circles around my stomach, and I couldn't help but tense ever so slightly. "I'll kill for you Elvira."