Page 48 of Phantom Flower

“I’ve got quite the extravagant exhibitionist taste, you could say.” He let out a cold laugh. “But let’s get one thing straight.”

He stepped forward slightly.

“This—” he said, pointing directly at me, “is mine. He belongs to me. And if any of you worthless fucks so much as breathe in his direction the wrong way…”

His voice turned deadly.

“…I will find you. I will drag you out of whatever hole you’re hiding in, and I will make sure you regret ever opening your mouth. I don’t care who your father is. I don’t care how much money you have. I will break every bone in your body, one by one, and when I’m done, I’ll make sure your family gets to watch what’s left of you beg for mercy. Do you understand me?”

No one spoke anymore.

He turned to me.

Both of his hands came up and gripped my face. He leaned in and pressed a kiss to my cheek.

When he pulled back, his thumb brushed over the spot he had kissed.

“Now scram,” he ordered.

They did not need to be told twice.

People scattered in every direction. Within seconds, the hallway was mostly empty.

The guy on the floor was still unconscious.

I did not know how to feel.

Part of me was mortified. He had just told the entire school that he was the one who had me on my knees in that video. He had made it very clear that I belonged to him.

“You didn’t have to do that,” I said. My hands were still shaking, so I shoved them into my pockets. “You didn’t have to announce it like that. In front of everyone.”

Dimitri tilted his head, studying me.

“I did. They needed to hear it from me.”

“You made it sound like I’m your property,” I muttered. “Like I’m just something you own.”

His eyes darkened.

“You are mine.”

I looked away.

“I didn’t ask you to protect me like that,” I said, even though part of me was grateful. Even though another part of me hated how much I needed it from him.

Dimitri reached out and gently took my wrist, pulling my hand out of my pocket. He looked down at my fingers.

“You didn’t have to ask,” he said. “I already decided.”

I pressed my lips together.

“…My mom. If she finds out about the video… if Daniel finds out…”

“They won’t,” he said, his tone absolute. “I already have people working on it. The video stops spreading today. Anyone who tries to share it again will regret it. Your parents won’t see it. I’ll make sure of that.”

I wanted to believe him. I really did. But I was still scared.

I did not care for Daniel’s opinions, but if he found out, he would make my life hell and my mom would take his side.