Free A Chance in the Night by Kimberly Van Meter

“She terrorizes him with impunity. You do nothing to stop her from hurting him and at the very least you ought to protect him because he’s your only flesh and blood.”
    Belleni’s stare narrowed at her impassioned statement and she knew she’d pushed too hard. “Perhaps Nico should not stay here tonight. You seem over-wrought,” he said harshly. “Vivian is right, you should be resting.”
    No! She slid her tongue across lips that had gone numb and fought the rising panic that Belleni might force her to rouse Nico from his dreams to drag him crying back to that house where he went to sleep afraid each night because Vivian refused to allow the boy a nightlight in spite of the fact that he was terrified of the dark. She told Skye a boy with Belleni’s blood should fear nothing, least of all a few shadows. Then she’d accused Skye of coddling him.
    “I misspoke,” she whispered, choking down what she really wanted to say which was that she wished with the power of a thousand suns that Belleni would die a miserable death alone and afraid so that he could reap all the misery he’d sown his entire life. Tears pricked her eyes and she tried to hide it but Belleni sensed her pain and drank it like ambrosia. His finger caught her chin and pulled her to him. “Please, Belleni, don’t take my son from me. He’s so little…he needs me,” she heard herself plead, hating his power over her.
    He smiled, true pleasure reflecting in his eyes. His gaze traveled the planes of her face as hunger gathered in his cold stare. “ I need you, my darling,” he murmured, sliding his finger down her neck to the valley of her breasts. “You intoxicate me. Even pregnancy did not dull your beauty. In fact, you bloomed like a winter rose in a hothouse garden whereas most wither and become ugly. Your body is still ripe and your breasts are still lush and firm,” he said, his breathing quickening, nauseating her, as his hand reached over to cup and knead the flesh through her shirt. Don’t touch me. I hate you. She closed her eyes against the feel of his hands on her body. His touch became impatient as he withdrew and gestured for her to undress. “It’s time we get reacquainted, my love,” he said, beginning to unbuckle his pants.
    “I—I can’t,” she stammered, surprising him with her refusal. She knew if he touched her again she’d scream. “The doctor said I can’t have any physical activity until my rib heals or…I could be down for another few weeks.”
    She drew faint satisfaction in watching his lust fade as his business sense took over. He grunted his displeasure but righted his pants with a glower. “I will see that pig who did this to you punished beyond his worst nightmare. Vincent gave him but a taste of what will happen next,” he promised, though she held no illusions he was making a grand gesture on her part. He was angry at being denied and he needed an outlet.
    She nodded and smiled her relief, which was genuine. “Thank you, Belleni,” she murmured, her voice shaking a little as the adrenaline drained from her body. It was only a brief reprieve, she knew, but it was something. Belleni went through periods where he couldn’t get enough of her and then he would abandon her and put her back in the stable, almost as if he were punishing her for his obsession. It would seem his desire for her and her alone had returned, and she would only be able to put him off for so long. But she’d take the short respite wherever she could find it.
    He climbed to his feet, adjusting his clothes with short, clipped movements, betraying his simmering agitation. “This fighting between you and Vivian must stop,” he advised her sternly. “I don’t have time to referee your silly arguments.”
    “She hates Nico,” Skye said, unable to hold her tongue. “Nothing she says comes from a pure place in her heart. How am I supposed to trust her around him?”
    Belleni was silent for a moment, then said with something that