Owning the Beast

“I never forgot what you did that day. How you killed my parents and left me for dead. Today is the day you pay for what you did.”

Logan crashed through the doors at that very moment, taking out the man holding Annabella with a single shot. He went down instantly, taking Bella with him. Vincent lunged at me but I was stronger and faster, and I grabbed his neck with my bare hands, cutting off his air. He went to his knees immediately, grappling at my hands, trying to pry them off. “You were the reason why I was left alone in this world. Your greed and your jealousy,” I seethed through gritted teeth, squeezing with all my strength, taking pleasure in the fear that bloomed in his eyes. “It wasn’t enough to leave me without my parents. You had to come and take her too.” Blood vessels burst in his eyes and his lips started to take on a hue of blue. I glared right into his eyes as the light started to leave them. “You will never take anything from me again.” With that said, he finally stopped struggling and went limp in my grip. I felt the moment when the light left his eyes and life drained out of him.

I dropped his dead body to the ground, and I stood, frantically looking around for Bella. She was on her knees a few feet away, eyes wide and tearful, a deer in headlights expression etched onto her face. She had splatters of blood on her but I knew that they were from the dead man who had previously held a gun to her head. Logan stood behind her, his cell phone to his ear. I could vaguely hear him speaking with my security before calling the cops. I just stood there, rooted to the ground with my dead uncle at my feet; my heavy breathing and pounding heartbeat filled my ears. I never took my eyes off my Angel’s. I was terrified of what she had just witnessed and what she must be thinking of me right now.

I trudged over to her slowly before falling to my knees in front of her.

CHAPTER 7 *Annabella*

Griffin’s expression was one of pure agony as he dropped to his knees in front of me. Everything had happened so fast. I could still feel the splatters of warm blood. When his eyes met mine, the turmoil and sorrow I saw in them were my own undoing. He looked so lost and so alone. I still remembered the words he had uttered earlier, “you were the reason why I was left alone”, and I wanted him to know that he would never be alone again. Without hesitation, I threw myself at him. Catching me, Griffin pulled me onto his lap and I clung to him, breathing in his musky scent. He buried his face into my neck and I could feel him shaking, his breathing hard and uneven. I held him tighter to me, letting him know I wasn’t going anywhere.

“It’s okay, you saved me,” I tried to assure him, I could hear the shakiness in my voice.

Slowly, he got to his feet with me still clinging onto him like a money and started barking orders at Logan.

“Call my lawyer. Get this shit cleaned up and I swear to fucking—” I felt a tremor of pure unadulterated rage shake through his body. It was practically pouring off of him in waves. Peeking out from within his embrace, I took a glance around the room. Bodies littered the floor, blood slowly seeping out of the bodies, coloring the pristine white marble floor a crimson red. I could see many of Griffin’s helpers standing around, drawn by the commotion and gun shots, with looks of shock etched onto their faces.

Loosening my tight grip on Griffin a little, I leaned back slightly to look at him. Maybe I could try and calm him down a little. His hold on me tightened as I moved away and he let out an actual growl.

“Griffin,” I whispered, trying to get his attention on me. “Please get me out of here.”

Nodding, he turned and took the stairs two at a time. Stopping at the top, he commanded, “Logan, no one is to come into my room. I don’t give a fuck who they are. I’ll be back shortly once I take care of my Bella.”

A grin came to my lips at his possessiveness. Making his way down the hallway, Griffin headed straight through our room towards the master bathroom and into the shower. I let out a slight scream when the icy, cold water hit me. Before I could protest, Griffin’s mouth was on mine, dominating me. His kiss was hard, consuming, and filled with so much need that I found myself matching his passion.

“I almost lost you,” he rasped in between kisses. “I can’t lose you, Angel. I’ve only just started to live. I can’t go back to the dark.”

“I’m here, Griffin. I’m not going anywhere. You’re not alone anymore. I’ll always be here with you.”

“I have to get you clean,” Griffins rambled on, as if talking to himself.

Dropping my feet to the ground, I started to unbutton his soaked shirt, sliding it off his shoulders before letting it hit the shower floor. Placing both his hands against the wall, towering over me and caging me in, his rapid breathing finally started to finally slow. I continued to undress the both of us until we were completely naked. Grabbing the soap, I washed and scrubbed away the remaining blood.

“I’m so sorry, Angel. I should have told you the truth about you not being mine. I just…I couldn’t. I—”

“You need me.” It wasn’t a question. Leaning forward, I traced the scars that ran up his body with my fingers. I heard him take in a sharp breath but did not say a word. I peppered kisses on them, stopping to drag my tongue along one. Rising to my tippy-toes, I took one of his nipples into my mouth and started to suckle gently. Nipping at it with my teeth before soothing it with a lick, he jerked back.