My body locked with dread as Zade tightened his grip. This was more than just a warning. It may as well be an experiment to see if my neck was weak enough to snap in two.

Psychopath.

"If you’re going to kill me... Then just do it."

A thunderous laugh escaped him, his chest vibrating, jolting chills down my spine.

"You don’t see people going around breaking their expensive things, do you?"

This rotten piece of—!

Zade sank his teeth into my neck, and I gasped loudly with wide eyes.

What is he—!

My nails scratched the table as my fist clenched as a jolt of electricity shot through me, and as quickly as it came, it was gone, replaced by a numbing sensation.

But it came right back when he sucked against that area like he wanted to drain my soul. I sulked in a heavy breath when he released me, unable to move, my mind still doused in shock.

It took a while before I summoned the strength to turn, bracing my hands against the table for balance, only to find him gone.

What the fuck just happened?

My shaky hand brushed against my neck, and the ache made me hiss.

I quickly took one of the plates that glittered like polished silver in hopes I could see it, but I couldn’t get a right angle.

He-He bit me! That snake bit me!

I growled, tossing the plate and running my hand through my hair in frustration.

I heard snappy clicks and turned to find Lisa coming into view, while clutching an iPad.

"Don—" She paused when she saw me, her smile dropping instantly.

Her eyes roamed the dining room and then pinned on me with far too much intensity in an up and down motion.

It got awkward as she just stood there and gawked. I cleared my throat, adjusting the strap of my dress.

She scoffed scornfully. "I guess it runs in the family."

"Excuse me?"

"It has only been two days, and you’re already throwing yourself at him like a needy slut."

I took a step back like I had been slapped on the face.

Wait... Did she just... Did she think...!

"That’s—"

"Now you wanna deny it?" She came closer. "Deny the fact that you spread yourself eagle wide on that table and let Zade fuck you?"

Okay, this bitch is seriously delusional. What made her think of that?

Two beats, and I caught her glare on my neck, where Zade had bit me, and then how my dress was obviously rumpled, my missing heel, and the finishing touches was the heavy rise and fall of my chest.

Ahh... this is the part where I say it wasn’t like that. But what’s the point of throwing reasoning with a dumb bitch?

"So...? What’s the use of getting so worked up? A husband and wife get freaky all the time, don’t they?"

She scoffed in disbelief, eyes broad.

I’m not gonna lie, it’s kinda appealing seeing her lose her mind over this. Everyone in this household has been driving me crazy. This was nice for a change.

"Of course, I wasn’t the one who made the first move. He came onto me like a rabid animal."

That part I meant, because who the fuck bites someone and leaves?

"And you expect me to believe that? There’s no way Zade wants you or even sees you as a person."

My lips curved in a smirk. "Believe whatever you want. You seem pretty good at that. Want an award for best believer in history?"

"You have no shame, do you?"

I rolled my eyes, walking past her to grab my heel. "If we’re talking about shame, then we’re gonna be here all day. Well, not me but you."

I took off my other and went barefoot.

"What would your sister think right now?"

I halted my steps instantly and faced her with a frown twisted on my face.

"Don’t talk about my sister."

Lisa smirked, suddenly empowered but she just made a big mistake.

"Fucking your sister’s killer is a bit low, don’t you think? Or should I remind you how he sent her pieces back to—"

Slap!

Pain shot across my hand, but it didn’t amount to the heat flaring from my nostrils.

"I said don’t talk about her!" I seethed.

Lisa licked her lips, fixing her bleached blond hair smoothly, treating what I just did as a passing breeze.

"You’re gonna regret that..." she said, thumping my shoulder as she left.

~☆~

My eyes were puffy and red from crying. After I came back to my room, I just couldn’t help it. The emotions and the face slapping reality hit me all at once.

I’m trapped in this house.

Living with serial killers, and

A dumb bitch.

Thankfully, my babies cuddled next to me. It made it impossible to keep sobbing my nose off when they wanted belly rubs.

I picked up the hairbrush and ran it through my hair. It took a minute before I pushed some strands behind my ear, turning my head to the side to see the bold red mark on my neck.

This wasn’t a bite... he left a fucking hickey on me.

I have been raging ever since I saw this and pondered why he’d do something as horrendous as this.

What was the point? I pointed a weapon at him again, and all he did was bite me?

The serpent’s untouchable, isn’t he? And no one survives trying. As the twins said... nothing is stopping him from getting rid of me.

I shook my head. He’s probably keeping me alive because I’m an expensive purchase... and he strikes me as someone who couldn’t afford to waste money. Cheap ass snake.

I applied some ointment, hissing when my neck throbbed. How am I gonna sleep tonight without whining in pain?

He’s gonna pay for this.

I heard multiple vibrations from my phone, and I picked it up, swiping through. Would you look at that? There’s finally service.

I can keep trying Jacob’s number again.

However, midway through there, I caught some articles popping up all at once, practically loading my phone, as well as posts from all social media.

I tapped against the notification panel.

"What the hell?!"