Chapter 42
Chapter 42
Athena let her long, fluttery lashes droop, zoning out for a sec before her cheeks started to burn up real fast.
Grinding her teeth, she cursed, “Pervert!” Guys were such douchebag, seriously! Always ready
to get frisky!
The dude lounging on the couch seat lifted a sharp eyebrow and responded in a cool, husky voice. “Yeah, I’m a pervert.”
Using the last shred of his sanity, he made sure Kevin got back to Mystic Ridge Villa safe and sound. And then, when he couldn’t hold back any longer, Athena climbed right on top of him!
Was she doing this on purpose? And then she has the nerve to cuss him out? Just as Athenal was about to bolt from the car, Newman hooked his foot, and with a force at her lower back, she stumbled forward again!
Her ink–black hair cascaded down, brushing against his face, setting his every cell on edge! The car door on the driver’s side shut automatically, and Athena furrowed her brows, asking, “What do you think you’re doing?”
Before she could finish, Newman stood up, his large hand gripping her slender arms, and Athena’s back slammed against the car window.
His fingers, distinct at the joints, dug into the injured part of Athena’s arm, making her gasp for air, her eyes shimmering with moisture.
“Newman, you’re hurting me! Let go!”
Athena kicked out straight at the guy’s chest! She had just seen Newman drive back and had dashed out in her slippers.
Her fluffy slippers thumped against his chest where a perennial wound had reopened, blooming like a rose on his white shirt with fresh red blood.
Athena was stunned for a moment and blurted out. “You’re hurt?”
A stabbing pain exploded in Newman’s chest, his collar flaring open, his eyebrows furrowed tight.
He raised his defiant gaze, eyes scorching as they fixed on Athena.
The slipper was knocked off, revealing her snow–white, slender feet which, to him, seemed like icy sculptures giving off a cool aura.
Sweat beads trailed down his long neck and straight collarbone. Touching Athena’s arm through the fabric, a chill seeped into Newman’s palms.
Why was she so cold all over? Like a freshly white ice–cream straight from the fridge, cool and sticky to the touch.
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“I’ve been drugged,” his voice was so raspy: it was like the deep notes of a piano, hitting the eardrums hard enough to send shivers down the spine.
“If you’ve been drugged, go see a doctor, pronto!” Athena’s words were overlapping with Newman’s arrogantly domineering voice. “You’re the one who pounced on me! Ms. Dempsey, if you’re teasing me, you’re gonna pay the price!”
His tie wrapped around her wrists from a handle above the car door, pinning her hands. Pinned against the window, her back to him, his hot breath crawled into Athena’s ear, the devil whispering.
“Keep quiet; you’re too noisy. Arch your back.”
Five years ago, in bed, she had heard these words countless times.
“Shut up! Don’t make a sound! Your voice is hideous, you know?”
“Turn your back to me; I don’t want to see your face!”
“Arch your back.”
“You fat pig!”
Darkness fell, and Athena didn’t know if it was tears or mist on her face. She bit her tongue, the taste of bloody sweetness spreading in her mouth.
Her whole body was shaking violently, her chest stuffed with cotton, a raw lump stuck in her throat, almost making her puke.
In the reflection of the glass, she saw her own face, tear–streaked and utterly disheveled. She had been naive back then, clueless. Newman was disgusted by her, looked down on her. After her disfigurement, her grotesque face wasn’t even fit to be his plaything.
She was just filthy trash, only good enough to endure the darkest and most depraved side of a man. All her heartfelt love back then couldn’t win a shred of pity from this man.
But now, Athena refused to be controlled by this douchebag! The more she struggled against the tie binding her wrists, the tighter it got, leaving alarming red marks on her delicate, pale wrists!
No matter how hard she fought, she couldn’t break free, resting her forehead against her raised
arms.
“Newman, there’s a camera in the car.”
Her attempt to throw cold water didn’t work; the guy didn’t care.
“This car’s mine; the footage goes straight to my computer. If I release it, you’ll be behind bars. and not just that, the Bradshaw Group’s years of foundation will crumble!”
Athena’s voice was icy to the core, filled with loathing for the man! It was then she heard Newman’s hoarse voice from behind, “Do you know who drugged me?”
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Chapter 42
He said, “It was Anna.”
Athena’s brows twisted, her face pale as a sheet! Newman’s voice was laced with a wicked sensuality. “The Dempsey sisters, one drugs me, the other delivers the cure; huh, the Dempsey family sure know how to play a trick!”
The woman clenched all ten fingers inward, her nails digging into her palms, but Athena felt no pain. Her heart was numb, her blood was cold, and her pale face only showed distress and desolation.
The man leaned in, his warm breath from his thin lips pouring into Athena’s ear.
“Why are you still so cold?” His cool voice carried a laugh, “After all this time, still no sweat?”
Athena’s pupils were dim, lifeless; she didn’t answer Newman’s question, and just asked impatiently, “Are you done here? Newman, are you satisfied? Can you let me go now?”
The man hadn’t had his fill, but his rationality was returning. He reached out to undo the tie.
Once freed, Athena didn’t bother with the throbbing pain in her wrists; she swung at the guy’s
face!
The slap rang out, her palm tingling, and a tiny crack split the man’s lip, oozing dark red blood. But one slap wasn’t enough. Athena noticed a Swiss Army knife clipped to his suit pants. She yanked out the knife and slashed toward Newman’s chest!
His chest wound, kicked open by Athena, had been bleeding non–stop, showing no signs of stopping. Athena only then realized the blood seeping from Newman’s chest wound had trickled down to his waist. How could this guy just ignore it like it’s nothing?
When Athena made the gash on the man’s chest even bigger, blood splattered and landed on the back of her hand, sending a shiver down her spine.
Why was it so freaking hot? This wasn’t the normal temp for human blood.
The dim light inside the car cast a faint shadow beneath the man’s long eyelashes, Blood trailed down the grooves of his abs as he let out a heavy breath, and then shot back at her, “Had enough venting? Wanna stab me again?”
Athena clenched her teeth, “I could flay you a thousand times over!”
Newman scoffed with disdain. He glanced at his watch, “Time to give my son his meds. Once that’s done, you and I will settle the score about Anna!”
He shoved the car door open, ready to leave, but all of a sudden, everything went topsy–turvy. Newman grunted and fell backward.