A Hurt So Sweet: Complete Dark Bully Romance Series Box Set: Elite of Eden Falls Prep

by Isabella Starling

  My heart soars and falls in a matter of seconds.

  "Lily Anna." Dex grabs the girl firmly by her shoulders, making her look up at him. "Tell me where Reign is, and I'll help you."

  "He's so close, Dexter. Dexter Jr. That's his real name. He's so very close..." She seems delirious, and I have no way of knowing she's telling the truth. But my heart hopes anyway, just as it has been hoping for the past six years.

  "Where?" Dex shakes her. "Tell me where."

  "And then we'll be together?" she asks hopefully.

  "Yes," Dex grits out. "Where's my kid?"

  She points down the cliff and I retch, fighting back sickness.

  She didn't, she couldn't, she wouldn't have.

  But then I remember how she climbed up. I try to recall the shore beneath the Manor. There's a beach on it that's only accessible by boat...

  Trying to be as quiet as I can, I move past the boathouse. If Lily Anna turns around now, she'll see me. But I need to fucking know.

  I lie down as close to the edge as I dare and stare down.

  It's a dark, deep night, and the sound of waves crashing against sand and rock is overwhelming.

  There's a canu pulled up to the shore. Am I imagining it, or is there something huddled over in there?

  I let out a sob, forgetting I'm supposed to be keeping quiet. Lily Anna whips around, her eyes turning crazy when she sees me.

  "What the fuck is this bitch doing here?" she snarls, marching toward me. "Get away!"

  Dexter catches her before she can lunge at me, restraining her hands behind her back.

  "Father!" I scream. "Father! Come here!"

  Lily Anna roars with displeasure as Emilian runs up to the cliffs. He stops, frozen, when he sees his obsession in the flesh.

  "Lily Anna." His voice is ignited with desire. It's disgusting. The man is sick.

  "Hold her," I demand. "Dexter, get someone down to that beach! I think she kept Reign there."

  Dexter and Father switch places. Emilian looks mesmerized, and Lily Anna begins to trash wildly in his arms as Dex runs off, calling for backup. I stare down at her, then launch myself forward, attacking her. I slap her, pull her hair, scratch and scream, and she resists as best as she can while screaming bloody fucking murder.

  It takes ages for Father's voice to ring in my ears.

  "Stop it, Pandora! Stop! Stop this!"

  I turn to face him, my face pale and my cheek bloody where she bit me. The fucking bitch is as feral as an animal.

  "You're just trying to protect her," I hiss at Father. "You're still fucking obsessed!"

  "Daddy." Lily Anna starts to wail pathetically, and I watch in disgust as she plays yet another role for Father's sake. "Please, Daddy. She hurt me, I'm hurt. Help me, Daddy."

  "You're fucking disgusting," I tell her, shifting my attention back to Emilian. "And you're no better. Don't even think about letting her go, or I'll-"

  We hear something loud then. A helicopter hovers behind us, and I watch Dexter climb on board. Father, Lily Anna and I watch the helicopter go up, then descend to the beach beneath us. My heart pounds with nervous anticipation.

  "He's my son now," Lily Anna tells me with a wicked smile. "You'll never be his mom now. This will never be home. I ruined him. Tainted him. I took him from you."

  "Shut the fuck up." I'm calm, but she's one insult away from me killing her with my bare hands. "Reign was never yours."

  "His name," Lily Anna hisses. "Is Dexter Junior!"

  With a wild scream, she thrashes against Emilian so suddenly, it startles him. The old fool lets go of her and she takes off running. But it's not going to work. Not this fucking time.

  I'm fast behind her, knocking her to the ground. I grab her by the hair and she's forced to stop resisting as I drag her to the edge of the cliffs and make her look down.

  "See that? You were supposed to die there," I tell her. "You should have died there. And now you will. Jump, Lily Anna. Reign's mine. Dexter's mine. I fucking win. It's over."

  She screams as I get up, and Emilian reaches us, helping her get up.

  I watch him with disgust as the helicopter comes up again. My heart skips a beat. I can't leave Lily Anna now - I'm afraid Emilian will do something stupid like let her go.

  We all watch the helicopter land. I see Dexter, and he's holding something in his hands. A blanket, perhaps the same one that was in the canu... I feel so scared, so afraid of hoping it's him. I know this is it. I know there will be no other chance.

  "Pandora!" Dex yells out from the helicopter. "Pandora!"

  I run towards them, covering my ears as the helicopter touches ground. The wind hits my skin with its gusts and I duck down, waiting for the propeller to turn off. Dex is running to me now, still clutching the blanket.

  Except it's not a blanket.

  It's a small boy of six years old, a boy who was born to reign over Eden Falls.

  I collapse to my knees just as they reach me. The boy is crying softly, and Dex lowers the blanket to show me his face. My heart stops again. I look at Dexter, and he smiles, slowly but surely.

  It's our son.

  "Take him to the house," I tell Dexter. "Have them take Lily Anna."

  He nods, kissing me on the lips before putting the boy down. Lily Anna sees our reunion, and can't keep her dirty mouth shut.

  "Now you know, Dexter," she says viciously. "You only have to take one look at him to know. He's not your-"

  "Shut up." Dexter's voice drips with venom. He puts the boy's hand in mine. I shield the child against my body, muttering soft nothing as Dex approaches his former fiancée and lets her know what he really thinks of her. "You're a killer. You killed my parents. You killed Lai. And I hope you kill yourself, too."

  She whimpers at the cruel sound of his words, but he turns around, gently taking Reign's hand and smiling to reassure me. The boy doesn't look over his shoulder. He gives me an uncertain smile as Dexter wipes a tear away from his cheek and leads him away from the chaos.

  I'm so emotional I'm afraid I won't be able to have my final revenge, but I've been waiting too long for this to give up now.

  "Father!" I call out. "Come here."

  He glances between Lily Anna and me just as a red dot appears on Lily Anna's face.

  "Don't go," she begs him. "Don't go, Daddy..."

  But Father isn't that dumb. He pulls back, knowing they have a gun on her and could shoot her any second. Fucking coward.

  He comes to stand behind me and I face Lily Anna triumphantly as she stumbles back, realizing there are now several red dots following her every move.

  "Pandora!" she cries out. "Tell them to stop... No! Don't hurt me!"

  "Fuck you," I spit out. "Remember what I told you. It's over. It's my game. Checkmate, bitch."

  Her bottom lip wobbles and she stomps her foot. A brat to the very end. She glances between the men in uniform running up now, and the cliff. She goes closer to the edge.

  "Lily Anna, no!" Emilian cries out.

  She takes a look at her father. Then at the cliffs. She knows this is her choice now - either she lives with Emilian, her living nightmare, or she dies by her own hand.

  She stares into my eyes. Then she lets herself fall.

  I smile in tune to Father's screams of despair.

  I don't wait to see what happens next. I turn on my heel and walk back to where my husband and son are waiting. My hand hovers over my belly, and I smile to myself.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Pandora

  My heart has never felt so full. I feel delirious as I sit at the breakfast table the next morning, watching Reign devour his breakfast.

  "What's this?" he points to his food.

  "It's eggs, honey," I tell him. "And some cheese and veggies. It's yummy. Why don't you try it?"

  He knits his brows together, appearing uncertain, but then loads his fork up and tastes the food.

  "Good," he declares, and I realize now that I have him back, my heart will be fuller
every day I spend with him and Dexter.

  There was no doubt in my mind when I saw Reign about who his father was. Dexter told me last night he thought the same. I watch Reign eat his breakfast just as Dexter strolls in the room, talking on his phone.

  "Yes, yes, that's fine. Call me with updates," he mutters, ending the call and smiling when he sees us at the table. "That was your father."

  "Is she alive?" I ask, my voice heavy. By some miracle, Lily Anna landed on a rock about a third down the cliff. The rock blocked her fall, but also broke both her legs. But the worst part was the root that pierced her body, rendering her unconscious. I don't know whether I want her dead or alive, but one thing's for sure. If she survived that fall, she'll be wishing she was dead.

  "Yes," Dex nods, glancing at Reign. "In a chair, though."

  I nod, knowing he doesn't want to upset Reign. "Forever?"

  "Likely." Dex is about to go on when he notices Reign glancing between the two of us. "You okay there, kid?"

  "Where's Mommy?" Reign asks, batting his long lashes.

  I feel the words like a stab to the back. Mommy. I want to scream. Tell him she's not his Mommy, I am. But I force a smile on my lips.

  "We'll explain everything, darling. She's okay."

  "Will I see her again?"

  My nails dig into my palms painfully. I glance at Dexter for help, and he seems as dumbfounded as me. Is it possible our son formed a bond with a monster? How long will we have to put up with it?

  "Please." Reign is crying now. "I want to see Mommy again. I'm scared."

  "It's okay," Dex says softly, kneeling down next to him. "We'll talk about everything. Do you want to see something?"

  The boy nods, wiping the tears from his face. Dex winks at me, and I follow them down the hall, remembering the first time Dex showed me the nursery he furnished for Reign.

  Since then, he has updated it every year. On Reign's birthday, like clockwork, the room was re-designed with Reign's age in mind. As if he was going to walk into the Manor any time. Sometimes I loved Dex's dedication, sometimes it unnerved me. But today, I was grateful for it. We believed he would come back, and he did. A happy, healthy boy.

  Or is he?

  I shake my head to get rid of the traitorous whisper in the back of my mind.

  He's not a monster. Just because he spent the first years of his life with one doesn't mean he'll end up like her... I hope.

  I swallow as we enter the room. The previous night, Reign slept between us in our bed. I didn't catch a wink of sleep. I was too busy counting my son's thick, heavy lashes. Admiring his rosy cheeks. I'm already as in love as I always knew I would be.

  "Wow!" Reign spins around the room. "Is this for me?"

  "Yes it is," Dex nods with a big grin. "Check out all your new toys. Look at this. It's a real train set."

  "Wow," Reign repeats, sitting down in front of the tracks. "This is so cool."

  Dex joins me and we watch him play with the trains, joining in some time later. We eat lunch a few hours after that. We can't seem to tear ourselves away from our son, but when he can't stop yawning after lunch, we realize he's probably still exhausted.

  Reign doesn't even fight us as we put him down for a nap. He's fast asleep before I close the bedroom door.

  Dex and I are now alone. I lean against the door of Reign's room, exhaling. Dex's palm lands on the door to the left of me and he grins.

  "He's perfect." He cocks his head to the side, sensing that I'm nervous. "You okay, toy?"

  I nod. I agree with him, I'm just overwhelmed by emotion yet again.

  "Let's go to the bedroom," he says, hungrily grabbing my throat and bringing it to his mouth. He bites and sucks on my skin, making me giggle. "I want to fucking devour you, toy."

  "Please," I whisper. "Shhh."

  I take his hand and we run down the hallway to our bedroom. His body comes crashing against mine the moment I close the door behind us. His mouth is fast, desperate, as it latches onto mine and steals kiss after kiss from my lips. I remember the news I need to share with him, fighting the smile off my face.

  "Dex, wait," I say softly. "Please."

  "Why?" he snarls. "I want you naked on the bed. I want to fuck you. Now, toy."

  "Wait." I take his hand.

  "Why are your hands trembling?" He glares at me. "What's wrong?"

  "Nothing." I take a deep breath, guiding his palm to rest over my belly. "Just... feel..."

  He stares blankly ahead until it hits him. Then, his eyes snap to mine and the smile he can't hide begins to tug his lips upward. "Are you..."

  "Yes," I whisper.

  As we look deep into one another's eyes, I see the boy I fought so hard. The boy who loved me even when he hated me. Dexter is a man now, but his boyish charm hasn't gone away. And I realize I'll never stop falling in love with him, over and over again.

  "You're pregnant," he mutters.

  "I am," I smile. "And Dex? It's twins."

  He laughs out loud, shaking his head. It's the most genuine moment of happiness I've seen him have. While saving Reign made him feel like a savior, a superhero, this had made him humble, made him feel like a man. And as his eyes lock with mine, I read all that and more in the silent whisper of his lips. They move to the words, and I repeat the same - I love you.

  We don't need to say it. We never had to.

  The next few things happen so fast I barely get the chance to react. Dexter rips my clothes off and tosses me on the bed like I weigh nothing. I brace myself against the mattress as he climbs on top of me. His smile is devious as he tears my panties off, revealing the round globes of my ass.

  "I'm not coming in your pussy tonight, toy," he warns me darkly, and my skin bristles at the possibilities.

  Dex cages me beneath his lithe, muscular body. His teeth dig into my skin. He bites, sucks, licks and teases every inch of my skin, and I do my best to fight the moans escaping my lips. But we both know what he's going to escalate to.

  Ever since we lost Reign, Dexter has been treating my sadness with pain.

  But now that there's nothing to be sad about, I find myself still addicted to the hurt.

  The searing slap of his belt against my skin. The whoosh of the whip through the air. My screams, his groans. It's what I need. What I thrive on. And I made Dexter Booth swear he'll never stop giving it to me.

  My body shivers in anticipation as he parts my ass and I hear him spit. Drool dribbles down my ass, and I clench, my cheeks turning red as he begins to run the clear liquid into my hole.

  "I've neglected your other two holes," Dex mutters. "But we're going to have some fun now. I'm going to make you beg..."

  "Yes, Master," I whisper as I feel him pressing his cock against my tight entrance. His firm hand wraps around my ponytail and he yanks my head back, making me look up and at him.

  "Tell me you want me to fuck your ass," he drawls out, the words deliciously dark and ominous.

  "Fuck my ass, Master." I lick my lips, crying out as he pushes his tip inside me. "Oh god, Master, please..."

  "Beg to be an anal slut," he grunts.

  "I want that." I'm rushing to get the words out, tripping over them in an effort to get what I want sooner. "I want to be your anal slut, Master, please..."

  "A mouth toy," he growls in my ear. "Just your mouth and ass. You can forget about your cunt while you're pregnant. You're only going to get used this way."

  "Master," I cry out in frustration.

  He yanks on my hair harder and I cry out, the sound turning into a moan and making him smirk at me.

  "Beg me." Dex looks like a dark god of vengeance, and I can't resist any longer. "Beg to be an anal slut... a mouth toy... beg for me to lock up your slutty little pussy."

  "Please," I rasp. "Lock me up. Don't touch it."

  "For the whole nine months?" he grins.

  "Y-Yes." I swallow my fears down. "Yes, Master..."

  He pushes his whole length inside me then. The pain is excruciating and de
licious, and my mouth waters as he starts to fuck me. He's gentle but insistent, allowing my ass to stretch so I can fit him in me. He keeps a firm grip on my hair, making me look at him as he fucks me.

  "Such a good toy," Dex mutters. "You're going to get used so hard... You'll regret it all."

  "Never," I hiss.

  "Never?" He laughs, pinching my nipples with one hand while the other wraps around my throat in a deathlock. My eyes roll back. He's cutting off my air supply, and yet I want to taunt him even more. "Never ever ever, toy?"

  I try to say something but it comes out muffled because of the way he's holding me.

  "Can't hear you, toy," he smirks, knowing full well he's the reason I can't speak properly. "Louder."

  I repeat the word, but it's just a whimper now.

  "Louder!"

  "Never," I manage, and he kisses me, his hands going to my tits. My back arches as he twists my nipples, bruising me, hurting me - just the way I love it. I let out a cry as I feel him coming inside me, and as always, feeling him leak his creamy seed inside me makes me tremble with an orgasm, too.

  "My toy," he breathes against my lips as he empties himself inside me. Our eyes connect and we look deep into each other's souls. It feels as if we're becoming one tonight, with the knowledge of another two babies on the way, and our Reign back home. Our family is finally full, and I'm happy.

  But then I remember Reign's beautiful, handsome face. The hurt behind his eyes, the hint of cold darkness I had always sensed in Lily Anna.

  As Dexter holds me in his arms and we lazily roll around in our bed, I try not to think about all the things that worry me about my handsome son.

  He's just a little boy. It's too soon for him to be hurt by Lily Anna's actions. We got him back just in time. She couldn't have spoiled him in the six years she had him. He's pure, innocent. He's just a little boy. My worries are for nothing, and I need to get a grip.

  But I remember Reign's eyes again, and a chill goes down my spine. The blue of his irises is like ice. And I'm not sure whether there's something sinister lurking beneath... Lily Anna's final attempt to ruin our little family.