Chapter 3The Villain's Captive: A Glitch in the System

Ezra stood up and walked toward me. He was steeped in a dark, violent aura—something carved into his bones from years of fighting his way up from the bottom.

He backed me up step by step until I was pinned against the wall.

Then, he effortlessly lifted me with one arm, bringing me up to his eye level.

"Long time no see, Chloe."

This time, I replied, "Long time no see, Ezra."

Ezra smiled brightly, then, without warning, a tear slipped down his face.

He spoke in a tone that bordered on psychotic.

"You finally came back to my world, baby."

With that, he leaned in to kiss me.

Luckily, my reflexes were sharp. I slapped my hand over his mouth just in time.

"Mr. Sterling, three years and you haven't changed a bit. Still dancing on the edge of the law. Do you know what the penalty is for forcing yourself on a woman against her will?"

Ezra let out a soft chuckle and set me down. His 6'3" frame completely overshadowed me.

He easily peeled my hand away from his mouth and pinned it above my head.

His other hand began to wander, igniting fires wherever it touched.

"Stop!" I commanded.

"Impossible."

He looked like an absolute scoundrel.

"Have you ever seen a wolf let go of meat that's already in its jaws?"

Seeing how shameless he was, I went up on my tiptoes and bit hard into his pale neck.

I needed to show him I wasn't just meat waiting to be slaughtered.

The pain made him hiss.

The hand wandering at my waist stopped, moving up to pinch my chin instead.

"Biting again? Baby, you really haven't changed at all. But that's okay. I have a gag at home. We'll put it on you later. And if you still won't behave, I'll tie your arms and legs too."

I could hear the barely contained excitement in his voice; his body was practically vibrating.

But I couldn't help but frown.

I had been forced to wear that gag once before.

Ezra loved beautiful things. In his words, ugly things ruined the mood.

So the gag he used on me was encrusted with various colored gemstones. It looked like a piece of art.

It looked pretty on, but it was heavy, completely immobilized my jaw, and felt like actual torture.

Not to mention how awful it would be with my limbs tied up.

"Put a gag on your mother! Ezra, I'm leaving! Let me go!"

His eyes darkened.

He licked the blood from the corner of my mouth.

And spoke with a bloodthirsty gleam.

"Because I was careless, you left me for three years. Chloe, I won't make a stupid mistake like that again. You faked a pregnancy certificate, so you must really want a child. Then let's have one. It's not hard, baby."