He's My Favorite Punishment, Choosing My Sister is His Crime

Sloane’s POV

I honestly couldn’t remember the last time I wore a fitted dress. Not since Gunner told me I didn’t look as good in one as Brandi would.

Never mind the fact that Brandi had never even worn one. Still, his words buried themselves under my skin and stayed there.

I stopped buying something like that after that.

Tonight, I caught the look in his eyes when he saw me. That flicker of something—recognition, maybe? Admiration?

But then it was gone, and I knew I’d just imagined it.

“Sloane! You look so beautiful!” Brandi said.

“She’s not as beautiful as you in a tight dress,” Gunner quickly cut in. “You’re the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen.”

He really always knew exactly how to twist the knife.

He knew how I felt about Brandi, and still, without any hesitation, he lifted her up and pushed me down—right in front of me.

I held myself together, barely.

I watched him fuss over my sister, hover around her like she was made of glass.

She barely had to say a word—just one look and he was already moving to please her.

I forced myself to walk away, not watch them, not let it sink in.

“Funny,” Brandi said. “You’ve always been close to him, but you never got him. Now look at him—completely, crazy in love with me. And he can’t stand the sight of you.”

I said nothing. But she wasn’t finished. She wanted me to break.

“You’re just like your mom. Nobody liked her either. No wonder you turned out this way. It’s pathetic, really—ah!”

She didn’t get to finish; my hands were already at her throat.

“You brat, you think I’m just going to let you run your mouth like that?”

She looked at me like a wild animal actually laying hands on her again after what Gunner did to my face.

“Sloane! How dare you hit me?! Dad’s not going to let you get away with this, you bitch—”

“No,” I said. “You and your mother are the bitches. Try looking in the mirror sometime.”

But then, suddenly, someone shoved me hard to the floor. I hit the ground, crashing into a vase.

No one heard it; the party was still loud outside.

“You really forgot what I told you, huh?!” Gunner’s voice was low and dangerous.

I looked up and saw it in his eyes—the intent to strangle me.

I shivered before I could stop myself. Remembering the last time he hurt me, fear overcame me again.

But asking me to let Brandi go? Not a fucking chance!

“You don’t even know what she’s done! And you still defend her like she’s—”

“Brandi’s kind!” he said, like it was gospel. “If anything happened, it was probably you. You’re the one who’s got the nerve to do dirty things. She’s not the type.”

He gathered Brandi in his arms, and right before he walked away, he looked back at me.

And I knew I was screwed.

As I expected, on my way back, his men dragged me into some storage room.

Gunner sat in the center like some kind of judge.

There was no warmth in him—just that blade he kept turning in his hands.

“Sir, we brought her,” said one of his men.

Gunner barely acknowledged it; he just kept playing with that knife... until he gave them the signal.

Quiet. Calm. Deadly.

“Strip her. Carve the word bitch into her skin. Let her feel it. Let the whole city know who the real bitch is.”

My lips parted, but no sound came out.

I thought maybe I’d heard wrong. But then I looked at his face and knew I hadn’t.

“The fuck, Gunner,” I whispered. “You’ve lost your goddamn mind!”

“Do it!”

I didn’t believe it… not until his men grabbed me and started tearing at my clothes!

The shame, the horror—it swallowed me... whole.

We were never in love. Sure. But still, I never thought… he could do that to me.

“Let me go!” I choked out. “One day, Gunner, you’re going to find out who she really is! And when you do, I hope you remember what you did to me!”

He just crouched down—that noble body of his—and then he grabbed my throat.

“She had bruises on her neck last time because of you,” he said. “You’re lucky she’s kind. Otherwise, you’d already be a corpse now.”

Staring at this merciless man I loved for eight years, I let all the fury I’d buried deep inside take over.