You Are Mine Little Sister (by Syra Tucker) novel Chapter 143

RALI

"I did it, Rali. I watched him break for the first time. Right before he died." He let out a laugh that sounded unhinged as he turned back to the table, topping his glass.

The room pressed in on me. My fingers dug at the back of my neck. Heat crept up my body. I felt too 'empty'.

My skull pulsed with migraines that came in stabs, disappearing and returning before I could even brace. And above the pain, above the unease, ran a single river through my veins: fear.

"He was on his knees, you know," he continued talking, dragging my eyes back to his. "Kept growling and all. I believe he was in the kind of state where the world didn't exist around you. Where you're surrounded by grief and the thought of dying actually felt like an invite to peace."

He gazed up at the ceiling. "Oh, Rali. The sight was beyond beautiful. Seeing Void break like that? Being that vulnerable? It was a day I never thought I'd live to see."

My throat tightened as he brought the glass to his lips, sipping long and slow like he wanted me to notice.

"You must think I'm evil, being this ecstatic about my own brother's death." He licked the wine from his lips. "The thing is, my brother signed his name on too many hit lists. I tried to warn him, tried to be reasonable. But my brother's always been stubborn. The men he killed? Dangerous men. Not even American. I told him to back off, but he wouldn't." He clicked his tongue. "And then there was Vlyrissa. She wanted his head for killing Grayson."

He sipped again. "You know, Grayson was her lover."

He laughed.

"I know it's crazy, but that woman can be a bit shameless. According to her, he was the only man who knew the rhythm her body was tuned to. She was mad furious when she realized he'd been killed by the Torturer. She didn't want him to handle him legally. She wanted him gone. And she had me do it."

He emptied his glass and reached for another pour. I watched the motion with tired eyes. When was this going to end?

"I must be boring you," he said with a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. "I don't expect it to be entertaining when the names mean nothing to you."

He cocked his head to the side, the glass hovering in front of his lips. "You still don't remember. Do you?"

I shook my head, the fear in my chest sinking its teeth in deeper.

His head moved in a small, dismissive shake before he tipped his glass back.

"It's fine, though. Better you're alive, really. Truth is, I didn't think you'd wake up after being under a whole week. Doctor still calls it a miracle. Three doses of Cryon should've killed you."

His gaze lowered. "You got really pretty eyes. Would've been a pity to see them go to waste."

Silence claimed the room. Only the quiet clink of his glass against his teeth marked the minutes as he stared into nothing, lost in whatever dark thread of thought he was weaving.

My throat had been itching with a question; one I'd been too scared to ask.

I cleared my throat, so subtly I was sure he wouldn't have heard, then pushed the words out.

"Will you let me go?" My voice came small, threaded with the fear that had been living in my ribs since I woke. Fear that whispered something worse was coming.

His lips tipped up with a smile. "And where will you go, Rali? You can't remember anyone. Don't even know where you live."

My eyes dropped to the floor, my fingers clutching the hem of my knee-length dress.

"And I thought I just told you there was no way out of this? You're my greatest asset, Zerali. There's no way I'm letting you go."

My breath caught, snagging in my throat "P—Please."

I felt so small. So empty. So trapped. I didn't know a single thing about myself except for the fact that my name was Zerali and there was a man who'd been obsessed with me.

I didn't know what kind of life I'd lived before now. But what I did know was that I didn't feel safe. I wanted out. Out of this room. Out of this skin. Away from him.

The smile slid from his eyes as I kept stalling. His patience soured.

"Rali, you really are a sweet soul, but I'm afraid you'll have to go walk this road. Blame it on the wrong man falling in love with you. Or, if you like, blame yourself, for loving him back."

He faced the table to drop his glass. "You'll have to undergo a series of lessons. Good news is, I'll be your personal trainer."

Panic poured through me, rising, rising; my chest too tight to contain it.

"For the last time, take off your clothes. Or I'll do it for you."

My head shook before I even realized it, tears threatening to blur my sight. "Please..."

He shook his head, muttered syllables under his breath that didn't sound like English, and stormed toward me.

I screamed.