Dreadful (Tattered Curtain)

by Greer Rivers

It can’t happen now, and I don’t know when, but as soon as I’m strong and powerful enough, I will get revenge for the girl. Everyone will pay.

Abusers shouldn’t get to stay the same while survivors are forced to change forever.

Well, you reap what you sow, motherfucker.”

Mamma mia, what’s wrong with me?

swear I’d crawl into an oven and bake myself to avoid this conversation if I could.

His smile returns. “I already love the taste.”

Hell, if dreams count, I’ve been spending every recent night with her.

Tallie is a viper waiting to strike, and fuck, do I want to be bitten.

I kind of like the sting, though.

plan to watch and enjoy every bloodthirsty second of it.

“Wake up, sleeping ugly. I’ve got questions to ask, and you’ve got the answers.”

She doesn’t know it yet, but she’s mine.

“There’s no fucking way that little vipera has ever touched you on her own. You’re not worth the privilege.”

The glow from below was like a sign from the devil himself, telling me it was my time to shine.

Neither men, nor women, have ever done it for me, but thinking about someone killing for me turns me on.

“I want you, vipera. All of you.”

“No,” the sexy growl rumbles against my neck. “Mine.” Sever.

“Do you always melt when you come? Or is it only with me?” “Only with you,” I admit with a blissful smile.

It takes a few strokes for me to realize he’s drenching my pussy with his cum, marking me, claiming me with the evidence of the bliss I gave him.

“Good girl.” He smiles. “Now come for me, vipera.”

“Beautiful. No washing off. I’m inside you now, and I want to stay that way.”

“There’s no more running after tonight, Tallie. Whatever we’re afraid of, we’ll face it together.”

One day soon, I’ll see all of you.” I caress her cheek slowly. “Every…single…inch.”

It’s worth being vulnerable for. It might just be worth everything.”

“I don’t need forgiveness, Father. I need justice.”

“Forgive yourself, Father, for you have sinned.”

All I want to do is bend her over and fuck her against a gravestone as a congratulations.

“I won’t make the same mistake twice, Severino Luciano.”

“I’m going to fuck the truth out of your mouth. Nice. Slow. Painfully. And you’ll love it.”

Plus, if he fucks me to death, what a way to go.

“Go to hell.” “I plan to. But I’ll take you to heaven before I drag you down with me.”

If kneeling for her is weakness, then I’ll gladly hand over all my strength to help her heal. The woman I love deserves nothing less.

“Sev, your ankle. I’m too heavy—” “I want to carry my woman, Tallie. Don’t worry about my pain. I’m only concerned with making yours go away.”

“This is no longer a suicide mission. You’re not going to have to do this alone anymore. I’m going to help you. Which means…you need to start thinking about a future. With me.”

“I want you, but I’m afraid to want this. I need you to…I need you to take control. I need the pain, the fear. And I love that I can trust you to give me all of that.

“I’m claiming you, Talia. You’re mine now. Your burden is my burden—” He punctuates each point with long plunges. “Your dreams are my dreams. Your goals are my goals. Your family is my family. Your heart is mine. My heart is yours.”

“You’re mine, Talia. We will have a future together, a happy ever after waiting for us after this. I swear to you that we’ll get these bastards, but it will not be the last thing we do.”

Pride inflates my chest. “And I’ll be the only one who does if I have anything to say about it. You’ll have to put me back on your kill list to get rid of me, vipera.”

She loves my marks as much as I do.

“Do you like my marks on you, dolcezza? Do you like feeling what I did to you every time you move?”

“I’m not on birth control.” “Good,”

“But you’re…you’re okay with me not being on birth control?” “I don’t want it any other way.” I tilt her chin. “You’re mine, Tallie. I want everything that comes with that.”

“See, Tallie? Look at how afraid he is. Of you. You’re formidable, vipera.”

“No. I’m not leaving you. Never again, mia bella vipera.”

“I will be packing. You two will figure it out, but do not take too long. Talia, say yes, or I will hit your head with my rolling pin and stuff you in my suitcase if I have to!”

“I love you, Sever—”

“Open your eyes, dolcezza. Look at me when I make sweet Tallie come.”

“Seconds without you is a lifetime. I’ve lived one without you once already, and I never want to again. Say you’ll come with me to Italy, Tallie. Say it, or I’ll kidnap you again and have no regrets.”

“No fangs, vipera. Not this time. Leave with me, baby. I’ll keep us all safe there. We’ll get married on a vineyard that doesn’t have any of our enemies buried underneath…”

“Take me to Italy, Sever. Give us our happy ever after.”