My Stepbrother, My Damnation

Never

Lina’s POV

Something felt wrong. Way too wrong.

It wasn't just because of how deafeningly quiet the room was. My consciousness had fully returned, yet I stubbornly refused to open my eyes. My brain rapidly pieced the missing memories together—I had been abducted twice in a single day. The first abduction happened when Ma dramatically dragged me from the police station, and the second, infinitely more infuriating one, was orchestrated by Princeton. That arrogant bastard had never taken no for an answer.

Back when we were dating, my body would instantly lock up whenever he touched me, prompting me to withdraw. He always refused to respect my boundaries, completely hell-bent on forcing things, which was exactly why I broke up with him. You would think a messy breakup combined with my sudden move to LA would get him off my back, but he had tracked me down anyway. Ugh.

The kidnapping wasn't completely unexpected, but the absolute silence surrounding me was baffling. Where the hell did Princeton take me? Why did the air feel so heavy? And most importantly, why did the room smell distinctly like Riven?

Finally, I allowed my eyes to flutter open.

"Hmm," I winced, a dull ache pounding right behind my temples.

I attempted to sit upright and discovered, shockingly, that my wrists were completely free. I brought my hands up, studying my skin in the dim light. I had definitely been chained to the mattress earlier. The metal links no longer trapped my wrists, but their dark, bruised imprints were entirely visible against my skin. Something major had happened while I was unconscious. But what?

My gaze drifted up to the wide stone ceiling, then across the overly large bed, and I took a sharp breath.

"Is Riven haunting me or something?" I murmured, forcing my weak bones to move.

The moment I swung my feet over the edge of the mattress, my toes sank into a thick, blood-red carpet. Princeton absolutely despised carpets. I knew the man I once dated, and this lavish room wasn't his style at all. The dark, opulent décor would never belong to him. Heck, even the light fabric shirt I was currently wearing didn't belong to me.

And then there was the scent. It undeniably belonged to Riven.

Everything about my surroundings screamed his name. Since I wasn't bound like a typical captive, the realization hit my stomach like a lead weight. Did Riven save me?

My eyes popped and my heart raced at the sudden conclusion. "But how—"

I cut myself off when a strange noise echoed from somewhere down the hall. I scanned the bedroom one last time before creeping silently toward the door. As I drew closer, the sound grew louder and more distinct. It was the wet, rhythmic sound of flesh violently hitting flesh.

But it wasn't a fight. It sounded like an execution.

"What is going on?" I muttered through chapped lips, my eyebrows knitting together.

I reached out and turned the doorknob, stepping into the hallway as pained, agonized groans filled the air. I ignored my unsteady knees, following the gruesome noises toward a heavy metal door at the very end of the corridor. It was left slightly ajar, allowing a harsh beam of light and a chorus of wretched cries to bleed out into the hall.

I gave the metal door a firm push, and the sounds amplified instantly. My attention immediately zeroed in on a concrete underground boxing ring, its gray walls heavily sprayed with fresh crimson. Overhead warehouse lights bathed two bodies in a harsh glow—or rather, one dominant body and what remained of the other.

The battered body belonged to Princeton.

My breath hitched, my blood turning entirely cold as I stared at Riven. It wasn't the first time I had seen him shirtless, but seeing him completely slick with sweat, his heavy muscles corded tight beneath his skin like a predator, made my chest tighten.

Princeton’s body was a canvas of pure destruction. His boxing gloves dripped with his own blood, and dark beads of red leaked from every visible inch of his torn skin. He staggered weakly against the ropes, completely unable to defend himself, yet Riven stepped forward to deliver another blow.

"Oh, f**k!" I gasped as Riven threw a brutal punch directly into Princeton’s face.

The impact was entirely too violent for a standard sparring match. Riven was actively dismantling him.

"You're going to kill him!" I screamed as a fresh spray of blood erupted from Princeton’s head.

The i***t was too dazed to even collapse to the canvas. His deadweight body simply bounced off the elastic ropes, and Riven raised his fist to strike again.

"Riven!" I half-yelled, half-gasped, my eyes locking onto the blood splattered across Riven's torso.

The devil rarely got distracted while punishing sinners, but Riven did just that. He completely ignored my shouts, refusing to even glance back at the doorway.

Tch.

Driven by pure adrenaline, I sprinted toward the ring, ducked under the ropes, and slid my body directly between him and Princeton. "You'll kill him!" I shouted, spreading my arms wide to shield my ex.

"L-Lina?" Princeton croaked weakly behind me. From the corner of my eye, I watched him sag against the turnbuckle, coughing up a thick mouthful of blood. He looked utterly pitiful.

"Out of the way," Riven commanded. His eyes narrowed into thinned, menacing slits.

His dark expression didn't scare me. I stood my ground, aggressively returning his icy glare. "If you commit murder, I will personally arrest you!"

That declaration seemed to do the trick. Riven straightened his spine, a dark, wicked smirk tugging at his bloody lips.

"Show me how you'll manage that when you're also dead," he spat, swiftly sliding to the flank.

He lunged forward to bypass me and strike Princeton again, but I instinctively threw my entire weight against his chest. Within a split second, our heavy, frantic breathing filled the small space. Riven's expensive cologne invaded my lungs, completely masking the metallic stench of blood in the ring.

I realized I was completely pinned beneath his shadow.

"I refuse to let you kill him," I whispered, my fingers tightly gripping his bare shoulders. My gaze flicked down to his wounded shoulder, noticing the damage. "And you still haven't treated this."

Riven remained completely wordless, his unblinking stare locked onto mine. He stayed perfectly still for a tense heartbeat before his powerful arm snaked under my waist.

"W-wait!" I gasped sharply as he effortlessly lifted me off my feet.

Instinctively, my hands dug into his shoulders, and my legs hooked around his torso to keep from falling.

"Shut up," he scoffed, his jaw clenching tightly as he turned on his heel.

He was clearly furious, but I felt a wave of relief when he finally spared Princeton from his remaining wrath. I stayed quiet and completely still, allowing him to carry me out of the bloody ring. Glancing over his shoulder, I watched Princeton slump down into a pooling mess on the canvas. At this rate, medical complications might finish what Riven started.

"How did you find me?" I asked, the sound of my voice cutting through the heavy thuds of Riven's boots echoing down the hallway. I lifted my chin, forcing him to lock eyes with me. "Did one of Princeton’s pathetic punches actually hit your brain and make you numb?"

"None of his swings touched me," he countered, his tone dripping with sheer arrogance.

I sneered at his boasting but pressed on. "Then answer the question. How did you track me down?"

"I always keep a very close eye on my properties, darling."

I opened my mouth to fire back a retort, but a sudden chill ran down my spine. I glanced around the new room, thoroughly confused by the tiled walls, massive porcelain bathtub, and rainfall showerhead. Why had he brought me into his master bathroom? And more importantly, why was I still allowing him to hold me like this?

I tried to scramble out of his grip, but Riven was infinitely faster. He dropped me onto the cold floor, causing me to lose my balance and crash directly back against his solid chest.

"Hey!" I snapped, but he completely ignored my irritation.

Riven reached past me and turned the dial, sending a heavy torrent of water raining down into the shower stall. What was wrong with this man?

"His blood got on you. I'm not letting you wear it," Riven stated coldly, answering my unasked question.

"That's still not a valid reason to get me completely soaked," I mumbled, taking a deliberate step backward to escape the spray. I didn't like the sudden shift in atmosphere one bit.

"Aren't you always wet for me?"

I went completely silent, focusing all my energy on finding an exit. Yet with every retreat I made, Riven took a predatory step forward. He kept advancing until his palm flattened against the wall right beside my head, effectively caging me against the tile.

Oh, crap.

"I value what belongs to me," Riven's voice dropped into a low, sinful register that echoed off the walls.

My stomach twisted violently under his intense gaze, a furious flush creeping up my neck. I couldn't tell if it was from the rising steam of the water or the sheer intensity of Riven’s stare.

"I'm not... yours," I managed to mumble, but he simply leaned closer, completely invading my space.

My shoulders locked up, a heavy pressure building in my chest, and he noticed my hesitation immediately.

"I'm supposed to be your stepsister, Riven!" I blurted out, desperately trying to make him pause.

He did pause, but only to pull my hips closer, pressing my chest tightly against his rigid torso.

"They're hard," Riven whispered directly against my ear, the warmth of his breath making my knees go weak.

He raised his hand, casually brushing his knuckles against the thin, damp fabric covering my chest.

"Hm!" A stupid, involuntary moan escaped my lips at the brief sensation. It wasn't even a proper touch, just a fleeting graze.

"Riven... please!" I yelped when he suddenly gripped my hair, gently tugging my head back to force my face up.

Our gazes locked. His eyes were entirely too calm. Slowly, his dark blue orbs dropped back down to my chest.

"You were mine first, Lina. A stepsister? Never," he chuckled, the dark vibration rumbling through my own chest.

His fingers trailed slowly over the thin fabric clinging to my skin, tracing a agonizingly slow path from one point to another.

"Riven..." I whimpered, watching his hands roam.

"Yes, darling," he purred, sinking his mouth directly onto my breast. He cupped me firmly in his palm, and the sheer intensity of his touch left me completely dazed.