Page 9 of Psycho Saints

Slowly, he pulled out of me and shifted his body so that he was sitting on the couch. Before I could move away, he reached out and pulled me into his lap, cradling me against his chest like a precious treasure.

I was numb, my mind a whirlwind of shock and disbelief. I sat there, stiff and broken, as he stroked my hair and whispered soothing words in my ear.

"Everything will be okay, kitten," he said, his tone almost gentle. "I'll protect you. I'll die for you if I have to. You'll be loved in a way no other man could ever love you."

His words struck deep, because I knew they were true, he'd kill for me, or die. And not just that, in that moment, I realized he was right about one thing. No other man could love me the way Cristian did—because his version of love was tainted by possession and control.

I thought of his brothers, of Julian's welcome sweetness and Tyrone's fierce protectiveness. They were all a part of this, whether they admitted it or not. They were all complicit in my captivity, in the stripping away of my freedom and my choices.

And as Cristian held me close, his hand stroking my back in slow, rhythmic circles, I prayed this whole pregnancy thing didn't happen. Why was my mind so broken that I'd want to keep it? After what he'd just done, how he'd been to me? I hated how he was toying with my emotions, being two people, one so normal, and then this feral, monstrous side.

I closed my eyes, a fresh wave of tears threatening to spill over. I was trapped in a gilded cage, surrounded by men who saw me as nothing more than a prize to be won, a treasure to be coveted.

Despite how Julian and Tyrone treated me and spoke to me, I felt like they were the same in their thoughts towards me. They'd said I was more to them now, not just their captive, but how could that be possible? They'd allowed Cristian to hurt me so much, looking the other way, accepting this twisted side of him.

"My precious little kitten. I won't let anything happen to you," Cristian said as he kissed my temple, and my stomach dropped.

I was stuck in this mess now, and I doubted Tyrone and Julian could help me.

Hell, what if they just looked the other way yet again?

5

SCARLET

Icurled into myself as Cristian finally left, the elevator doors sliding shut behind him. He'd dared to kiss my forehead before he'd left my lying there, used up like a damn sex doll.

Tears burned my eyes, and a sob ripped from my throat as I pulled myself into a sitting position. My hands shook as I fumbled with my clothes, struggling to dress myself, my body aching.

Stumbling towards the stairs, I climbed them on unsteady legs. Each step felt like a mountain, my body heavy with shame and fear. As I reached the top, Julian's door opened. His eyes widened when he saw me, his face dropping.

"What happened?"

I couldn't speak. The words caught in my throat, tangled up with the sobs I was desperately trying to hold back. As Julian wrapped his strong arms around me, my resolve crumbled. I melted into his embrace, my body trembling as the floodgates opened. My tears soaked his shirt, and the familiar scent of his cologne did little to ease my pain. I clung to him like a lifeline, my fingers digging into the fabric of his clothes as if I was afraid he'd disappear if I let go. I needed someone right now, someone to help me hold it together, and despite our situation, I felt the strange closeness with him.

"Cristian," I choked out. "He... he..."

Julian's body tensed as his arms tightened around me, his voice gruff. "What did he do?"

I struggled to recount Cristian's actions through broken sobs, my voice breaking. Julian's grip on me tightened even more, his strong arms becoming a fortress around my trembling form. I felt his jaw clench against the top of my head, the tension in his body palpable. His breath came in sharp, controlled bursts, and I could sense the fury building within him. Despite everything, a small part of me found comfort in his protective embrace, anchoring me.

"That fucking idiot," he growled. "Come on, let's get you cleaned up."

He guided me to the bathroom, his touch gentle despite the anger radiating off him. "I'm calling Tyrone. This will be sorted."

I nodded numbly as Julian opened the bathroom door. "Can I... can I be alone?" I whispered, my thoughts becoming dark. I wanted to be on my own, the reminder that relying on anyone always bit me in the ass.

Save for Noms, she was the only person I could trust in this world.

"Of course." He hesitated. "I'll be right outside if you need anything."

As the door closed behind him, I stripped off my clothes and stepped into the shower, drawing in shallow, shaky breaths. The hot water cascaded over me, but it couldn't wash away the feeling of Cristian's hands on my skin, his words branding me as his own.

I doubted they'd do anything against their brother. They were family, after all. And what was I? Just a captive. A toy. A potential incubator. Julian and Tyrone weren't all that upset at the possibility of me being pregnant. Was this their plan to keep me? To make me their little pet forever? Their sex slave?

I closed my eyes, recalling all the good moments, the shopping trips, the meals, the comfortable relaxing times. They were warping my mind, twisting it. God, it was killing me. They'd kill me in the long run, and if I was pregnant, this was it. I was trapped, forever.

The thought of being pregnant hit me like a punch to the gut. I slid down the shower wall, hugging my knees to my chest. Maybe I needed to reconsider the morning-after pill. Or an abortion, if it came to that. The idea of carrying Cristian's child after what he'd done made me sick to my stomach.