Fated To Three, And I Broke Them All

Verity:

I stared at him in disbelief, my eyes widening. What he said next left me completely stunned.

He shrugged, as though what he was demanding was no big deal.

”Look at yourself, Verity. This is all your fault,” he remarked.

It was unsettling. I stood there silently while he looked me straight in the eye.

”You’re so physically attractive, so beautiful. Whenever you walk, you set something on fire inside me. So tell me, how is any of this my fault? I want what you’ve been showing the rest of the world. Your body,” he continued, as though my mere existence was somehow to blame.

”So come on. Strip,” he ordered, snapping his fingers before reaching for his belt.

I had no idea what else he had planned. That fucker acted as though nothing could stop him.

He removed his belt and fashioned it into a noose, then took off his tie and fastened it to one end.

”Come on. A leash for you,” he announced excitedly as he began taking off his clothes.

I pretended I was going to undress as well, which made him hurry.

But once he was finished, I stopped.

I pulled my zipper back up and watched him.

That asshole had already opened his shirt and taken off his pants. He was ready.

”Only do what you’re prepared to be held accountable for,” I warned him, reminding him that he was crossing every limit.

But he remained completely confident, as though he believed he was untouchable.

”Oh, come on. Shut the fuck up. I’m not listening to you. All I hear is whining,” he scoffed, rolling his eyes. ”Come on, let’s get started.”

He gestured for me to continue.

I stayed exactly where I was before finally folding my arms across my chest.

”No.” I met his gaze directly.

”What?”

Was it really that difficult for him to understand?

”I said no,” I repeated calmly.

”You do realize this could land you in trouble, right?”

He chuckled, but when he realized I wasn’t going to budge, the amusement disappeared from his face.

I watched his expression harden as his irritation turned to anger.

”I mean, I don’t care.” I shrugged.

”You should, darling. Now that my clothes are off, you’re already mine.”

The second he said it, he lunged at me and grabbed my arm. His shirt was already open.

I fought back, scratching at him as he ran his hands over my back, trying to drag the zipper down.

While we struggled, several bright lights suddenly came on around us.

He recoiled at once, instantly trying to cover himself, but the lights were blinding.

Through the chaos, I watched shock take over his face. Until now, he had always been the one watching other people panic.

Apparently, he had no idea how to react when he was the one caught off guard.

His gaze immediately dropped to his coat and pants.

Before he could reach them, I kicked them away.

He grunted angrily and shoved me with both hands. I stumbled backward, nearly falling, until someone caught me.

Oliver looked up and did a double take, as though he needed to make sure the man standing behind me was really there. His eyes widened.

”Ragnar! Ragnar, look what she’s doing to me!” His tone changed instantly as he pointed at me. ”There are cameras everywhere. People are filming from behind the screens. I don’t even know what’s going on!”

He started crying, desperately trying to cover himself with his hands.

Ragnar shot past me like a bullet.

He seized Oliver by the neck, and I watched Oliver’s entire body go rigid before his arms fell limp at his sides. Even his shirt slipped from his hands.

”You disgusting bastard! I didn’t bring you into my home so you could prey on the women in my family!” Ragnar roared, slamming him against the hood of the car.

Oliver went completely numb. He seemed unable to decide whether to defend himself or cover his naked body.

I moved aside, fading back into the darkness as tears filled my eyes.

”It’s all a misunderstanding. I don’t know what she told you, but...” Oliver began desperately.

Ragnar slammed his head against the hood once, twice, then a third time.

Afterward, Ragnar stepped back.

Oliver’s body slid down the front of the car and collapsed onto the ground.

Ragnar tore off his coat and threw it down before clenching his fists.

The next thing I knew, he was over Oliver again.

He bent down, grabbed him by the back of the head, hauled him up, and struck him twice in the stomach.

”You fucking asshole! I heard everything!” Ragnar screamed as he hit him again. ”How could you be this much of a bastard? How did I never realize what you were doing to innocent women?”

”No, please. I’m begging you. I’ll never do it again,” Oliver cried. ”I just—I got carried away. I liked having that kind of power.”

For once, Oliver wasn’t even trying to lie.

He was confessing now, apologizing over and over.

I stood there, watching it all unfold.

Ragnar didn’t stop. He turned toward the lights and shouted, ”This is the face of a bastard!”

The people behind the lights were actually the warriors. They had come to record Oliver’s confession.

That was why I had let him keep talking.

I had even allowed him to speak about the past.

Once he did, though, something about the whole situation felt strange.

Ragnar’s anger only intensified, and he kept beating Oliver as though he had no intention of stopping.

I watched until my head began to spin.

”Hey, don’t take Oliver’s remarks to heart. You know bad people eventually face karma. It may happen much later in life, but when it does, it’ll be satisfying.”

My brother’s voice echoed through my mind.

Everything around me began to fade.

I could no longer stay on my feet.

I lost my balance and nearly collapsed, but a pair of arms caught me and held me steady.