Chapter 622

Hannah worked furiously at the knots biting into her ankles, her trembling fingers moving faster than her pulse. She forced her tone to stay calm, hiding her panic behind a brittle laugh."You don't understand-it's even more thrilling when you can't see a thing."

She needed Rodney to be unaware of her movement.

The instant the rope slipped free, she braced herself, muscles coiled, ready to spring from the bed and bolt for the door.

But Rodney, with that maddening grin stretching across his face, handed her a belt."Here, take this-let's make it rougher. Hit me with it."

Her stomach twisted, but she steadied her grip and swung. The belt cracked through the air like thunder,snapping against his bare back with brutal force.

A low,guttural moan rolled from Rodney's throat. "Yes! That's it-harder!"

Keeping her movements rhythmic, Hannah swung again and again, all the while shifting her weight toward the edge of the bed, inching closer to freedom.

At last, her fingertips brushed the cold metal of the door handle. She seized it, twisted hard-nothing.It rattled but refused to budge.

She turned again, desperate, but the mechanism wouldn't yield. A wave of hopelessness crashed over her.

Rodney, weary of the pretense, suddenly tore the blindfold from his eyes. When he saw her by the door,his grin only widened into a cruel sneer. "Trying to run off, huh? Cute-but pointless."

He rose unhurriedly, the towel around his waist falling to the floor as he stepped forward, shamelessly exposed. "This door's special. Without my voice command, it stays locked. So don't waste your energy."

A lewd laugh rippled from him as he advanced. "Forget the belt. Now, it's time to strip you."

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Hannah backed away until her spine struck the wall.

Rodney reached out and tore the belt from her waist with a sharp yank."That's one piece gone," he announced triumphantly.

He ripped off her blazer next. "Two."

When his hands lunged for her shirt, her gaze darted toward the fruit knife glinting on the table. In a single motion, she lunged, seized the knife, and pointed its tip at Rodney, her voice trembling with rage."Don't take another step! I swNear, I'll gut you!"

Instead of fear, his eyes gleamed with perverse delight. He licked his lips and whispered darkly, "Blood?That makes it even better. I wonder if yours tastes as sweet as you look."

The drug coursing through Hannah's veins drained her strength. Her limbs felt heavy, her balance unsteady.She'd once trained in judo, but whatever power she had left wasn't enough to stop him. He deflected her attack with cruel ease.

Still, she gripped the knife tightly, her glare burning. "Rodney, you don't know who you're dealing with! I've never let anyone touch me against my will. If I have to die doingit, I'll take your manhood with me! Want to find out if I mean it?"

Her words were armor, stalling him, praying that Vincent might somehow sense she was in danger and come for her. But she quickly quashed that thought. How could he possibly come now? Having lost memories of her, he rather disliked her now. She made up her mind. If she couldn't flee,she'd make sure Rodney remembered her in pain.

Growing thrilled by her words, Rodney lunged."Let's see who wins-your knife or my desire."

His strength overwhelmed her. He grabbed her shoulders roughly, his breath hot against her face. "You drive me insane. Just the touch of you turns me on."

She gasped, twisting away, but he ripped at her shirt, tearing fabric and skin.

"Let go, you bastard!" Hannah screamed, stabbing desperately.

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The blade plunged into his side, but didn't go far due to her weak arm.

Rodney winced, groaning. Blood welled up, bright and slick. He stared at it, then dipped a finger into the wound and licked it. "Tastes sweet enough."

He lunged again, ripping at her clothes with renewed fervor.

Hannah, trapped in panic and despair, swung the knife downward with a blind, savage motion.

A strangled howl tore from Rodney's throat-raw, piercing, agonized. He stumbled back, clutching his groin,eyes rolling with shock and pain.

Hannah seized the moment, staggering away. Her legs nearly gave out, and she caught herself against the wall, breathing in ragged gasps. Her vision swam, the room spinning like a carousel. Darkness crept at the edges of her sight.

She forced her teeth into her lip and, in a desperate act to stay conscious, gripped the blade itself.Pain lanced through her palm, blood dripping to the floor-but the sharpness snapped her back to reality. The knife trembled in her grip, bloodstained and cold, its tip pointed squarely at Rodney.

He writhed and then straightened with effort, rage twisting his face. "You filthy bitch, how dare you hurt me?I'll make you pay!"

Hannah pressed her back to the wall, whispering to herself through gritted teeth,"Stay awake... Don't black out now... Get out of here."

Just as Rodney's hand was about to grab her again, a deafening crash exploded from the suite's entrance.