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62. Close to Freedom
Last Updated:
2024-10-29 19:42:56
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CAGED- A Dark Billionaire Captive Romance 63. Conflicting thoughts
AntonioI stalked inside the bedroom, unable to look at her any longer after what she just said to me. My rage knew no bounds at that moment. I was so fûcking furious but I didn’t know at whom. It wasn’t her, that much I knew. It was definitely me though. Fûck. Fuck. Fûck.The look in her eyes... I wish I could forget it. It unsettled something deep inside me. It made me insane to even think about what she said. What she must’ve gone through.There was a time in the past when I had kîlled and tortûred men for just looking at my sister wrong. And then I had protected Giana, kept her safe by any means possible. But knowing, and now having an understanding of what happened to Erica, it was making my blood run hot and cold.A part of me wondered if it’d have been better to not have known anything, even the glimpse she gave me to her demons was unsettling. Because I was starting to think the more I knew about her the more complicated she’d make my revenge. I was ready to kîll her at the en
CAGED- A Dark Billionaire Captive Romance 64. With gûns blazing
EricaAs Ephraim guided me back inside the hotel, the doorman opened the door for us and I opted to look anywhere but at his face, god knows what he must be thinking. But I should’ve looked down instead as my feet tangled in the decorative rug and I almost fell face first on the marble floor as my ankle twisted.This time Ephraim wasn’t there to catch me but someone sure did. And his words made me stiffen as he said, “Better luck next time.”Ephraim grabbed my elbow and pulled me away from Elijah but I couldn’t pull my eyes off him as he winked at me before he turned away. “Shit. Are you okay?” Ephraim asked.“Yeah,” I nodded, absently. But when I took a step forward, I winced in pain that shot through my ankle.“Yeah, you look okay.” Ephraim drawled and in the next second he was picking me up in his arms.“You don’t have to do that!” I gasped.He just shook his head. “I am not letting you limp all the way to our breakfast table.”So that was how I found myself being carried around th
CAGED- A Dark Billionaire Captive Romance 65. You're My Business
Erica As Antonio came to a stop near our table, his golden gaze narrowed on my leg in Ephraim’s lap. And even though I refused to look at him, I could feel his eyes on me, taking me in. “When did you come back?” He asked Ephraim. I busied myself as I poured a glass of orange juice for myself even though I didn’t want to drink it. “Not long ago.” Ephraim replied. “One would think you'd come straight to me instead of having breakfast with my captive.” “I was hungry and so was she.” I was inwardly impressed to see Ephraim talking back to Antonio, to be honest. I didn't think he had it in him. “Funny. One would think you should be more interested in getting a shower and washing off the night you must’ve had.” Antonio drawled, his fingers ticking away at his side. Tip. Tip. Tap. Tip I felt Ephraim stiffening before he looked at me. And it took me a moment to understand but I realized what Antonio meant by his cryptic comment. I almost wanted to laugh out loud at the prospe
CAGED- A Dark Billionaire Captive Romance 66. Someone at my mercy
AntonioI have come across many men who hold grudges as far as to sabotage the lives of their opponent. And I’ve had fair share of such men and yet none of them had managed to slip under my skin, not like Erica. It has been four days since we came to the castle from Milan and she had shown her contempt towards me at every turn she could, that too while keeping silent. And I was impressed by her tenacity. She hadn’t spoken a word to me, at least not one that wasn’t forced with a threat hanging over her head. It was in several ways that she let me know how much she hated me. If she was sitting in a small library and I’d enter, she would stand up from her spot on the high back chair and leave without a word. If she was having a late breakfast at the dining table— because she had quite clearly told Mario that she wouldn’t be joining me and Ephraim for our usual breakfast on the terrace, and I didn’t force her— and I stepped in the hall, she would stand up and leave her half eaten breakf
CAGED- A Dark Billionaire Captive Romance 67. For a Punishment
AntonioAfter finishing my drink and locking my office, I made my way downstairs to the dining hall and looked around for a second before I pressed my fingers along the lines near the mantle for the secret passageway. The wall gave away and a set of stairs that would leave downstairs to the old cellar appeared. I stepped inside and made sure to secure the opening. There was a low warm glow coming from the single bulb downstairs that gave enough light to see the shadows of the steps as I descended the stairs.When I came downstairs and passed the two doors that remained closed unless I had someone to törture to deàth for information. The third door was open from which the light was coming and there in the middle of the only large room here stood Ephraim.With his head down, hands behind his back he was a perfect picture of someone who was about to be disciplined. I saw the way his muscles rippled as he heard my footsteps. I wasn’t trying to be silent and he wasn’t trying to appear unfa
CAGED- A Dark Billionaire Captive Romance 68. Monster, am I?
EricaIt's been four days since we came back from Milan, since that horrifying experience that Antonio forced me to go through, but my anger on him was still a breathing and pulsing thing between us. And I was too happy to take cover in itI wasn’t going to forgive him, although I knew that he had attempted to apologize to me as much as a man in his position could. But I didn’t care, I was just counting his sins against me and then before I leave I’ll make him pay for them all.Until now I had ignored him and kept my distance from him, not even staying in the same room with him, but I knew sooner than later I’d have to face the devil. And the worst thing was, half of the reason behind me keeping distance from him was the effect of him over me. Even though I was furious and hurt from what he made me go through, I knew that my body was still hungry and begging for what kind of pain and pleasure he could bestow on it. Apart from what happened after the dinner on the hotel terrace, that e
CAGED- A Dark Billionaire Captive Romance 69. Bound at his Mercy
EricaSummer was right. My curiosity always leads me where I shouldn't be.I never would've thought I would be standing here and defending Ephraim while asking to have the punishment for myself. I didn't want Ephraim to get punished because of me, because Antonio didn't like that his supposed captive was favoring Ephraim. I didn't want someone else getting punished because of something I did. Especially Ephraim because he had been nice to me, unlike the arsehôle standing in front of me.But then there was this perverse side of me that perked up when his predatory golden gaze fell on me after my demand to exchange places with Ephraim. And as much as I hated Antonio for hurting Ephraim because of me, I also wanted to be the one at the receiving end of that pain. It had been too long since I felt the sharp edge of the blade, and red lashes marking Ephraim’s chest and back were calling to me like a flame to a moth.“Think again, Erica. It’s not a blade that you can control and mark your s
CAGED- A Dark Billionaire Captive Romance 70. Punished and Hurt
Erica“Ready?”“Yes.”But I wasn’t ready.Even before the sound of the whip cutting through the air could register in my mind, I felt the biting pain of it on my back as the whip left a burning trail on my flesh.My lips parted and an involuntary scream left my lips as I sucked in a lungful of air or tried to, but it seemed the pain travelling through my skin, deep into my flesh and settling in my bones wasn’t allowing me to do so.“Hush...” Antonio whispered into my ear, his big hand caressing my hair as his other hand curled around my waist. “Don’t let it consume you, let it be a part of you.” The back of his knuckles slid down my spine, making me arch my body, my breasts thrusting out.And I realised with not a little bit of surprise that shook me, that my nîpples were hard against the fabric of my brà. His palm spread on my stomach settled warmth inside me and I felt myself tingle like his touch set the butterflies free. His thumb caressed the inside of my brà, and a soft gasp lef
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CAGED- A Dark Billionaire Captive Romance 145. The World Stopped Spinning
Ephraim“Your job is to do whatever I tell you to do. Protect her.”I gritted my teeth at his absurd command, all these years I had been his shadow, spent all my time protecting him whenever he stepped out of that castle where he lived like a recluse. And now here he was telling me to protect her but not him. I’d have protected her but not at the cost of him, not if it meant letting him be in danger.I pressed on the accelerator as the car that was following us came to the side and slammed at the back of ours, for a moment I lost control of the steering wheel and the car tilted to the one side. I glanced in the rear-view mirror to catch Antonio cupping Erica’s head to prevent her head from slamming into the wind
CAGED- A Dark Billionaire Captive Romance 144. Protect Her
AntonioMy office door opened with a bang for the second time that day and Ephraim stood there with Thor barking behind him. Before I could really give him a lashing to remind him of his place and for letting that dog into my office, I noticed the set of his jaw and the paleness of his face and without a second thought, my mind went straight to Erica. “What is it?”Instead of answering me, he asked, “Have you talked to Erica?”Even though I had wanted to call her, I hadn’t. And it was his fault. Because Ephraim’s words had unsettled me and I didn’t want to prove him right so no matter how much I was tempted to call her, I had refrained but now as I saw the expression on Ephraim’s face I regretted not doing so. And more than that as I slipped out my phone and dialled her number I regretted not putting a tracker on her phone after she broke the bracelet when the call ended without ringing on the other side.I had wanted to give her some privacy to talk to her family and it was the reaso
CAGED- A Dark Billionaire Captive Romance 143. I don't feel so good
EricaI excused myself from the table to go to the bathroom, I wanted to ask Riley if she wanted to join me but she was busy talking to the guy sitting opposite her. But just as I took a step away from the table, Leo also stood up. I asked, “Where are you going?”“I’ll walk with you.”“Oh, you don’t have to.” I said, feeling embarrassed that he could easily read how I was hesitant and felt a little out of place here which was why I needed company to not look like a lost child.He ignored me and grabbed my hand as he made his way to the left side of the sitting area of the cafe where there was a door that led to a mildly lit corridor and pointed out the washroom for me. He said, “I know that your bodyguards aren't here today, so it’s understandable if you don't feel okay to roam around the unfamiliar place all alone.”I never thought about it in such a way but I guess I was almost carefree at the base level knowing nothing would hurt me, for instance no masked man would materialize out
CAGED- A Dark Billionaire Captive Romance 142. We're not in love
Antonio“Sit down and explain yourself before I lose it.” I said to Ephraim as I entered the study after making sure that Elijah knew not to lose sight of her in any way and also to make sure she doesn't see him, if the former happened I’ll make sure he loses his fûcking life.Erica had asked me to stop sending men with her before too, saying that she felt like the odd one out with all the other students gawking at her because of all the men standing guard. But I had ignored her then because I knew most of them probably already knew who she was with, I was one of the men that people recognised on sight and associating with me puts her at risk so it wasn’t just to prevent her from running but also to make sure no one hurts her. And now I wanted to test her out. To know what she’ll do with her new found freedom that I was giving her. Even though it will be an illusion, for her it will be real enough.As I sat behind my desk, I folded my hands and looked at Ephraim. In the past, there ha
CAGED- A Dark Billionaire Captive Romance 141. Fûck you, Antonio
Antonio“Antonio...”“Mmm?”“There is this new place that has opened up in downtown that everyone is going to after the classes. Can I go?”“Of course. I told you, you can go anywhere you want to go. I’ll tell Ephraim to take you.” I replied, feeling a smile turn up my lips at the way she asked for my permission.She sat up, slipping out of my hold. And even though it annoyed me, I opened my eyes to look at her. Her flawless back was to me and I couldn't help but trail down my fingers on the curve of her spine and smiled when she shuddered. Without looking at me, she said, “I, actually, don't want him to come with me.”I narrowed my eyes on her back. Grabbing the back of her nape, I pulled her back until she was lying and then I sat up on my elbow to look down at her as I asked, “Are you planning to run away?”She rolled her eyes. She actually rolled her eyes and gave me a smile that made my cock hard, again. She said, “If I wanted to leave, I would've left that night.”It was three n
CAGED- A Dark Billionaire Captive Romance 140. I like you, Antonio
AntonioI stood near the windows and looked down at her. Ephraim had given her his jacket that she had wrapped around her to protect herself from the cold. She was looking back at the castle from time to time, and sometimes her gaze would go up to the terrace but she didn't turn to look in the direction of the bedroom which was on her left. And even if she had looked I doubted she would be able to make me out in the darkness of the bedroom.I have no fûcking idea why I said what I said. I didn't know what got into me to let her leave. I just fûcking forced her to go. But when I saw her bandaged hand... I wasn’t lying. Seeing her hurt messes with me in a way I couldn’t explain. It was like going back in the past and seeing all the blood and feeling the pain. Being helpless, that's what it felt like.I wasn't prepared to say any of the things I told her but unlike her I was mature enough to recognise the truth when it smacked me in the face every time I looked at her, kissed her, touche
CAGED- A Dark Billionaire Captive Romance 139. Take your freedom, Erica
Erica“What does that mean?” He questioned, his golden brown eyes frowning down at me. “What are you talking about?”I stared at him for a few seconds, if I didn’t know better I would really believe that he has no idea what I was talking about. The way he looked so confused, like he had done nothing wrong, like he didn’t know what I was talking about, like he hadn’t left me in the bed only to be with her. I swallowed against the lump in my throat as I sat up and slipped out of the bed. Sitting there with him so close wouldn’t give me enough strength to keep my anger. But even while I stood and he sat there on the bed, he was almost my height and just as big.“I saw you with her.” It took more effort than it should have to say her name. “Nicole. The way she was touching you. Kissing you. She kissed you...” I couldn't hide the pain as I said those words. And once again the image of her materialized in my mind, the same image that had been haunting me, that had forced me to slam my fist
CAGED- A Dark Billionaire Captive Romance 138. Confused and Hurt
EphraimErica pushed past me and walked away to the exit I was pointing out instead of going through the one where Antonio was standing close to. Nicole’s eyes met mine, smug and taunting. She said, “You should go after her before you lose his toy. I heard it’s very expensive.”I took a step closer to her and she sucked in a nervous breath. I had never interacted with her, apart from the times when Antonio needed another set of hands in an act that he put up in the club with her as the submissive for the night. “Stay away from her. If Antonio knew what you just did—”“Save your threats, he already made his.” Her nostrils flared as she looked over my shoulder. “I don’t understand what you see in her. She is not even Italian, also he bought her from an auction, how could you take her side over mine when she’s nothing but his sex slave.” “She is anything but that. Did you see her in chains or kneeling at his feet like you did so often?”Anger flashed in her eyes as she glared at me. H
CAGED- A Dark Billionaire Captive Romance 137. We've the same bracelet
EricaI woke up sprawled in the middle of the bed with blankets wrapped around me and sun shining through the parted curtains. Gathering my hair to the one side, I sat up and looked around the bedroom. The basket from which I had eaten number of sweet things was still on the bedside table and it reminded me of how Antonio had fed me the baked soft cookies with his own hands while I was curled up in his lap. I took my gaze off the basket to our clothes that were all over the place last night but now we’re folded and placed on the bench near the bathroom door, but there was no sign of Antonio.Deciding to get up and start the day, I slipped out of the bed and made my way to the bathroom. For the first time, I didn't sleep nakéd after sex and still Antonio had taken me in his arms, surrounding me with his big body as we slept. When I came out of the bathroom, I opened the closet door to find a selection of his shirts but there were a few dresses and jeans and tops too. I picked out a bla
