Bound To Don Navarro

CHAPTER 4

CHAPTER 4

BELLA

Zoren took one slow step toward me, water still dripping down his tattooed chest. His dark eyes burned into mine. The towel hung low on his hips, barely covering anything. My back hit the wall before I even realized I was moving.

He pinned me there with his body. One strong hand pressed against the wall beside my head. The other gripped my waist, fingers digging into the tight black dress.

“Running into my room like this,” he said, voice low and rough. “Breathless. Curves pressed against me. You really want me to believe it was an accident, darling?”

I pushed against his bare chest, but he didn’t budge. His skin felt warm and hard under my palms. “Get off me, Zoren! I told you, Elena was chasing me. I didn’t know this was your room!”

He leaned in closer. His breath brushed my ear. “Elena can wait. Right now I’m thinking about how good you feel trapped against this wall. Thick thighs, big soft t**s pushing up against me… I could slide my hand under this dress right now and find out how wet you already are.”

My face burned hot. “You’re sick! I’m not your toy. Let me go or I swear I’ll scream loud enough to bring the whole house running.”

Zoren chuckled, deep and dangerous. “Scream then. My men know better than to interrupt me when I have something I want.” His thumb traced the curve of my hip. “Tell me, Bella… if I dropped this towel, would you look away? Or would those pretty eyes stay right on me while I press you harder against the wall and f**k you right here?”

I gasped and shoved him again. “Stop talking like that! You kidnapped me. You don’t get to say filthy s**t and think I’ll melt for you!”

He smirked wider. “Oh, but you are melting. I can feel your heart racing. Your body knows what it wants even if your mouth keeps lying.” His hand slid lower, almost to my ass. “Say the word and I’ll bend you over that bed and show you exactly how a real man handles a woman like you.”

That snapped something inside me. I brought my knee up fast and caught him right between the legs. Not hard enough to drop him, but enough to make him grunt and loosen his grip.

“f**k you!” I yelled. I ducked under his arm and ran for the door. “Stay away from me, you perverted asshole!”

I yanked the door open and bolted down the hallway. My bare feet slapped the marble as I sprinted back toward my guest suite. Zoren’s voice followed me, half-laughing. “Run all you want, darling! You’ll be back in my arms soon enough!”

I slammed my own door shut and locked it, breathing hard. My hands shook. I pressed my back to the wood and slid down until I sat on the floor. “What the hell is wrong with that man?” I whispered. My body still tingled where he had touched me. I hated how much I noticed it.

The rest of the day passed slow. Maids brought lunch and left without a word. I stayed in the room, pacing and thinking about escape plans. When evening came, the house got quiet again. I changed into the comfy clothes they left me — soft shorts and a tank top. I sat on the bed, planning my next move. Maybe tonight I could try the garden door again.

A soft click sounded at the door. I thought it was a maid. But when it opened, a man I had never seen before stepped inside. He wore dark clothes and held a long knife. His eyes were cold.

He closed the door behind him and smiled. “Time to clean up loose ends, girl.”

My heart jumped into my throat. “Who sent you? Elena? Get out of my room right now!”

He raised the knife and came at me fast. “No more talking. Boss should have killed you at the dock.”

I grabbed the nearest thing — a heavy metal lamp on the nightstand. I swung it with everything I had. It cracked against the side of his head with a loud thud. The man stumbled, blood already running down his face.

“You b***h!” he snarled. “I’ll cut you open!”

I didn’t stop. I hit him again, harder. The lamp broke in my hands. “Stay away from me!” I screamed. “I’m not dying tonight!”

He lunged with the knife. I dodged and grabbed his wrist. We crashed into the dresser. I was stronger than he expected. With a yell I twisted his arm and slammed his head against the wooden edge. He dropped the knife.

I snatched the gun from his belt before he could recover. My hands shook as I pointed it at him.

“Drop it!” I shouted. “Don’t make me shoot you!”

The man laughed through blood on his lips. “You don’t have the balls, fat ass. Elena said you’d cry like a baby.”

Rage boiled up inside me. I pulled the trigger. The shot was loud. He jerked back. I fired again. And again. And again. Five times. Six. The gun clicked empty.

He fell to the floor in a heap. Blood sprayed everywhere — on the walls, on the carpet, all over me. Warm red streaks ran down my black skin, soaking my tank top and shorts. It dripped from my arms and face.

I stood there breathing hard, staring at the dead man. The room smelled like gun smoke and blood. My hands still held the empty gun tight.

A strange feeling washed over me. Power. Real power. For the first time since they dragged me from the gallery, I wasn’t the scared little hostage. I had fought back. I had won.

I looked down at my bloody arms and smiled slowly. “You thought you could just walk in here and kill me?” I said to the body. “Wrong. I’m not some weak girl you can throw away. I just ended you. Me. Arabella Moreau.”

I stepped closer and kicked the knife away. “Tell Elena when you get to hell that I’m not going anywhere. If she wants me dead, she can come try it herself next time.”

My heart pounded, but not with fear. With excitement. The blood on my skin felt warm and alive. I wiped some of it across my cheek like war paint.

“I like this feeling,” I whispered. “The power… it feels good.”

Footsteps pounded down the hallway outside. Voices shouted. Guards. Probably Zoren too.

I didn’t drop the gun. I held it tight and stood tall over the dead man, my black skin shining with his blood.

Let them come.

I was ready.

The door burst open. Zoren stood there, eyes wide as he took in the scene — me covered in blood, the body on the floor, the empty gun in my hand.

“Bella…” he said, voice low.

I looked straight at him, chest rising and falling fast. “He tried to kill me. I stopped him. And if anyone else comes for me tonight, I’ll do it again.”

Zoren stepped inside slowly. His eyes moved over my bloody body with something dark and hungry. “Darling… look at you.”