He Took My Vengeance to Covet Me

Chapter 3

My eyes flew wide as paralyzing fear rooted me to the spot—that bullet was embedded precisely where my forehead would be. Pandemonium erupted behind the glass as the guards swarmed in, frantically ushering Ethan to safety.

Ethan snapped something at his adjutant while jabbing a finger at the lodged bullet. The man lunged forward, straining to dislodge it.

But the damned thing clung stubbornly—no matter how hard he pulled, it didn't budge. Seething, Ethan shouldered the adjutant aside and took matters into his own hands.

Still, the bullet refused to move. His fury hit a boiling point. With a guttural roar, he wrenched a hunting rifle from a guard and smashed its stock against the glass—Bam! Bam! Bam!—until hairline fractures radiated from the impact.

My heart leaped. "Harder! Just a little more and you'll see me!" I screamed.

But he didn't notice the cracks. To him, it was just a wall. With a final snarl, he flung the rifle down and stormed off.

I pounded at the fissure with bloodied fists, refusing to stop even as my knuckles split. Then the cellar door crashed open—Anthony staggered in, reeking of alcohol, and hauled my crumpled form off the floor.

"Don't touch me!" I spat, my voice razor-sharp with disgust.

He ignored me, crushing me against his furnace-hot chest. "Stay," he rasped.

I twisted in revulsion—Drop dead, I thought, wishing his fever would consume him.

The door burst open again. Lucas Cooper, Anthony's adjutant, barreled in, grappling to pull him away. Anthony's fist lashed out—c***k!—sending Lucas sprawling. Purple welts flowered across his cheek before he even hit the ground.

"Out." Anthony's voice was Arctic steel.

Lucas looked deeply aggrieved as he set down the medicine and left in a huff.

The scuffle had sent me sprawling to the floor, but Anthony rushed to gather me into his arms. I thrashed wildly, limbs flailing. "Anthony, don't you dare touch me!"

His lips twisted into a pained grin. "Winnie, don't hate me. I just... love you too much."

Ignoring my struggles, he crushed me against his chest, muttering feverishly.

"Winnie, I fell for you the moment I saw you at that ball three years ago. I had your background checked—discovered you were deliberately getting close to me. You can't imagine how giddy it made me."

"Even when I realized your only goal was to kill me... I was still ecstatic."

I stared at him in disbelief. I'd assumed he'd only investigated me after Ethan defied the family to marry me.

But no. From the very beginning, he'd seen right through me.

Disgust twisted my face before I let out a bitter laugh. "So you just watched me make a pathetic joke of myself, putting on this ridiculous spectacle for you?"

"No! It wasn't like that, Winnie!" His voice cracked, raw with desperation.

He forced me to meet his gaze—eyes bloodshot, drunkenness stripping away his usual cold facade. To my shock, raw pain flickered in those depths.

"Back then, I thought... as long as I could keep you by my side, it didn't matter how. I'd burn the world for you."

"But that bastard Ethan!" His grip turned vicious. "He stole you while I was deployed north! Do you know what I did when I got recall orders? Rode three horses to death! And when I finally kicked open your balcony doors..."

His voice shattered. "There he was my own brother between your thighs, reducing you to shuddering pleasure!"

As if reliving the moment, his hands roamed my body unchecked—terrifying in their ease. My struggles only fueled his hunger, every bite and lick spurring him on. The more I thrashed, the more his arousal pressed insistently against me.

When the heat of him seared where I was most vulnerable, his ragged groan scorched my ear. "Winnie... now you're mine."

He drove his hips forward, pressing against my entrance. The throbbing ache between my legs made my scalp prickle, forcing broken whimpers from my lips.

"Ah... stop..."

My fractured resistance only egged him on. With a savage thrust, he was about to take what he wanted...

"BANG!"

A deafening gunshot shattered the silence. Anthony instinctively released me, snarling as he spun toward the sound. The bullet tore through the massive glass panel, splintering it along the existing cracks. The entire structure exploded into glittering fragments, raining down in a deadly cascade.

On the other side stood Ethan, face contorted with rage, a still-smoking revolver in his grip.

Gathering all my strength, I shoved Anthony off and bolted toward Ethan.

"Winnie!"

Anthony's voice hissed after me like a vengeful spirit. My entire body shook as I ran, dodging lethal shards that momentarily blocked his path.

"Ethan! Help me! Anthony's lost his mind—he was going to..."

I crashed into Ethan's chest. He dropped the revolver and wrapped me tightly in his military coat. Clutching him, I sobbed uncontrollably as Anthony staggered forward—bare-chested, still buttoning his pants—his gaze ravenous with possession.

"Ethan," he spat, "that's my woman."

Ethan's face turned stormy. "She's my fiancée, Anthony. Get your drunk ass out of here."

My fingers twisted into his uniform, knuckles white. Sensing my terror, Ethan whispered into my hair, "I've got you, Winnie. No one lays a finger on you."

Anthony drew his pistol, pressing the barrel to Ethan's temple. "Give her to me. Now," he growled, "or I blow your f*****g head off."

I bit down on my lip so hard I drew blood, my fingers clenched white-knuckled as raw terror seized my body. Cold sweat poured down my back. My trembling lips had just parted to speak—c***k!—the muzzle of a Gatling gun swung toward Anthony. "Do you really think I'm afraid of you?" Ethan's voice cut like a blade. I shrank deeper into Ethan's arms, shaking like a cornered animal. Across from us, Anthony's eyes burned crimson as he faced off against his brother, the tension so thick you could choke on it. With a cold, mocking laugh, Anthony suddenly pivoted and fired at the lieutenant holding the Gatling. The gunshot echoed through the air, followed by a scream of raw pain. The heavy Gatling gun crashed to the floor with a metallic thud, the metallic tang of blood filling the air. Ethan's guards reacted instantly—a dozen rifle barrels snapped up, trained on Anthony. One word from their commander, and he'd be Swiss cheese. "She belongs to me!" Anthony roared. Ethan's arms tightened around me. "You really think I won't put a bullet in you?" he growled. Anthony's mouth twisted into a feral grin. "Go ahead! Pull the trigger!" he taunted. "I dare you!" Every soldier froze, fingers tense on triggers. One wrong move and they'd all be accomplices to murder. Then Ethan's grip loosened. Anthony threw his head back and laughed. "Should've handed her over sooner, little brother. Now your men see what a pathetic..." His hand shot out to grab me. "No!" I begged, locking desperate eyes with Ethan. "Don't let him take me..." c***k! Ethan moved like lightning—the rifle butt connected with Anthony's skull with a sickening crunch. His smirk froze mid-laugh as he collapsed like a felled tree. "More mercy than you deserve," Ethan spat, eyes dark with fury. My vision swam, then everything went black as I slumped unconscious in Ethan's arms. Somewhere in the haze, I heard his lieutenant's voice—Ethan's own cousin, his most trusted man. The words slid off me like always. He wouldn't be the first man to say such things.

And God knows he wouldn't be the last.

Being a woman is the hardest thing in this world. If you're ugly, you're enslaved and scorned. If you're beautiful, you're called a slut.

It's these men who can't control their animal urges, yet women always bear the blame. This warped thinking has poisoned society for centuries.

What a sick f*****g joke.

"Worth it? Of course she's worth it." Ethan's voice cut through the air. "Look how obsessed Anthony is with her—she's my perfect weapon against him..."

My head exploded with a deafening buzz, drowning out his words. But their conversation kept reaching my ears.

"Ethan, you've played the long game. I always wondered why you'd have me spill wine on her three years ago if you loved her so much."

I used to think the half-brothers were nothing alike. Anthony, that aristocratic madman. Ethan, the handsome but brooding one. Polar opposites—you'd never guess they shared blood.

Or so I thought. Now I see the truth—they're both f*****g insane!

If Anthony's madness burns like fire, Ethan's festers in the shadows. One operates in daylight, the other in darkness.

That night three years ago, I'd meant to seduce Anthony. But Ethan set up that humiliating wine spill. Just as I stood there dripping and vulnerable, he appeared like some white knight.

Had Anthony not unleashed that spectacle last night, I might never have pulled back the curtain on this charade.

His acting was flawless—I'd actually bought that weak, gentle act. Even when I calculated every move to manipulate him, part of me had cared.

Turns out I was the pawn.

At the sound of footsteps, I curled tighter on the bed, pretending to be asleep. Ethan sat beside me, his voice soft as poison. "Winnie, I never wanted you to find out like this... but you already know, don't you?"

I opened my eyes, burning with hatred. "Why?"

He smiled that wolf-in-sheep's-clothing smile.

"Winnie, you wanted him dead, and so did I. I simply let you do what you desired—was that wrong?"

His eyes shimmered with false innocence, as if I were the one being unreasonable all by myself.

All this time, I'd played my part in his game, fooled by his status and the illusion of his love. But now I understood my place in his heart—a weapon to use, a toy to own, but never a person.

"Winnie."

His voice turned low and rough, that familiar sign of his arousal. He pulled me close, nipping at my earlobe as his breath grew uneven. "Even if I used you," he whispered, voice heavy with want, "I did love you. Truly."

I let out a bitter laugh. "Love me? Spare me the sweet talk, Ethan. You care only for power. I'm just a tool to you."

Rage flashed in his eyes. With one sharp motion, he tore my skirt open. "Who else can protect you now, Winnie? Hmm?" His voice dripped with venom. "Do you know what they call you? Some common slut everyone's had a turn with. And yet you still dare to refuse me?"

His act of chivalry dissolved completely.

"Stop! Ethan, don't...!" I thrashed under him, but his grip was unyielding. "You're no different from that madman Anthony!"

He pinned my wrists above my head, fingers digging into my skin. "Winnie," he snarled, "do you really want to test me by bringing him up now?"

In that moment, I realized—both men were monsters. But if I had to choose, I'd rather survive under Ethan.

I stopped resisting. My legs curled around his waist. "I don't like it when you're rough," I murmured, sugar-sweet and pleading. His grip loosened just a fraction.

The storm passed. His kisses turned possessive, demanding. As our lips met, his fingers pressed insistently against the damp fabric of my panties. I gasped, my hips jerking against him helplessly.

"Winnie, how far did Anthony go with you these past few days?"

My instincts screamed in warning. I couldn't meet his eyes, summoning tears to my cheeks instead.

Ethan propped himself up, thumb brushing away my tears with deceptive gentleness. "I don't blame you, little one. Just tell me—what exactly did that bastard do to you?" His voice dropped to a dangerous purr.

"He..." The memory of Anthony's violation stuck in my throat like broken glass.

Cold fingers forced my chin up. "Use your words, Winnie." Seeing no immediate fury in his gaze, I let out the most broken whisper I could manage. "He... licked me. Said he'd watched you do it... many times."

His arm turned to steel beneath me—I could practically hear his self-control cracking. Then without warning, he shoved my skirts up and buried his face between my thighs. "Let me cleanse his filth from you."

The first swipe of his tongue sent electric pleasure shooting through me. "Ethan!" My back arched off the bed as he explored every fold with torturous precision. "It's too... ah!"

He chuckled against my skin, the vibration making me jerk. "Quieter, darling. Unless you want my dear cousin next door to hear every wanton moan." His fingers joined the assault, thrusting deep before withdrawing in cruel rhythm. He knew my body better than I did myself—bringing me to the brink only to abandon me each time.

I trapped his wrist between my thighs. "Please... let's go home." Pressing my hips into his palm, I felt his resolve waver and seized the moment to wrap around him like clinging ivy.

He stood abruptly, carrying me toward the exit. I gasped—his earlier roughness had left my qipao in ruins, the torn silk gaping open to reveal far more than it concealed. "Don't fret," he murmured against my hair. "They'll keep their eyes shut if they value them."

The guards at the doorway froze as we emerged, their gazes drinking in my exposed skin until Ethan's lethal warning cut through the air. "One more look, and you'll say goodbye to those useless eyes."

The sentries snapped their eyes shut in terror, though the unmistakable tents in their trousers refused to subside.

Ethan's teasing voice whispered against my ear, "My Winnie is truly irresistible. Just one glance at you has them straining against their uniforms."

My face burned crimson. Never had I imagined Ethan had such kinky tendencies. I tugged at the tattered remnants of my qipao, but it was futile—covering my left side only exposed the right.

Humiliation burned through me like wildfire. Clinging desperately to Ethan's neck, I purred with false sweetness, "Ethan, when they stare... it's your loss."

His eyes glinted with dark amusement as he chuckled, "Winnie makes a fair point. Very well—let's find somewhere more... private."

He carried me toward the military headquarters' rear mountainside, where shoulder-high thickets formed a dense curtain—perfect for concealment.

I clamped my mouth shut, afraid to speak. With Ethan's mercurial moods, any misstep might plunge me into deeper disgrace.

My silence seemed to provoke him. His voice turned razor-sharp, "No words, Winnie? Does this place displease you? Shall we return to the barracks instead? You do adore an audience, don't you? Why else would you let Anthony f**k you up against that glass for all to see?"

What?

The glass wasn't one-way after all? Had Anthonylied?

Ethan lowered me onto the damp, leaf-strewn ground. The chill sent shivers through my bare skin as he wrenched me onto all fours.

His mocking voice curled around me, "Now, now, this isn't your fault, Winnie. That glass? I had it replaced. Anthonyordered bulletproof one-way panels, but why let him enjoy such luxuries?"

His voice turned jagged. "I supplied fakes instead. While he's busy raging at the Soviet delegates—objective achieved—I never anticipated his madness would stage such... graphic spectacle for me."

His voice took on a sudden, warped edge...

"Do you have any idea how hard I had to claw my palm bloody just to keep from losing control?"

Smack.

Ethan's hand came down hard on my bare bottom, the sharp c***k echoing through the air.

"Winnie, what am I supposed to do? Every last soldier saw you moaning under Anthony's touch—how could I marry you after that?"

Thwack.

Another searing blow landed, sending waves of white-hot pain through me. "If you think I'm tainted," I gasped, "then why won't you let me go?"

His vice-like grip dug into my hips as his voice dropped to a dangerous growl.

"Let you go?"

"Never. You're mine, Winnie. Only mine."

When his voice cracked into something near a roar, I knew he was teetering on the brink of madness. Gasp pressing a trembling hand between my thighs, I whispered.

"Ethan, I kept our promise—Anthony never... never took me there. This place..." My breath hitched as I gestured downward, "was saved for my wedding night."

Completely exposed, his handprints blazing scarlet across my skin, I peered up through a veil of tears—the very picture of ruined innocence. That maddening combination of purity and provocation shattered his last shred of control. With a rough movement, he parted my folds, one insistent finger thrusting deep.