My Stepbrother's Dirty Little Secret novel Chapter 90

My stomach twisted strangely as I stared at them. My toes flexed slightly, testing the tightness of the wrap. The burning pain from last night had dulled into a throb, but it wasn’t raw anymore. It wasn’t bleeding anymore.

Someone had cleaned them.

Someone had wrapped them.

A memory slipped into my head before I could stop it.

Raphael kneeling on the floor.

Big hands holding my ankle steady. His fingers rough but careful as he pressed gauze against my skin. His head lowered, focused, jaw tight while he worked like it actually mattered.

Like I mattered.

Heat crept up my neck before I could stop it.

I didn't believe that memory because it didn’t match the monster standing behind me with a damn snake around his shoulders.

I swallowed hard and straightened my back.

No.

I wasn’t doing this. I wasn’t standing here thinking soft thoughts about a man who had just threatened to feed me to his pet like I was dinner.

"Make sure no one sees you stepping out of my room, I don't want to associated with you in any way," he said rudely.

My fingers curled into fists at my sides.

“Did you do this?” I asked quietly, gesturing towards my feet.

Behind me, I heard the soft shift of scales as the snake moved again, “Yes,” he said simply.

“Next time,” I muttered, forcing strength into my voice, “don’t.”

The lie tasted bitter in my mouth.

I forced myself to step forward. The bandages pressed softly against my skin as I walked toward the door.

The door stood tall and silent in front of me. Locked. Smart system, no handle and no way out without him.

Of course.

I stopped in front of it and waited.

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