Page 35 of Fated By Fire
Alive?
Shit!
I clench my jaw. “And if I don’t?”
His smile returns, colder than before. “Then you’ll learn just how deep the rabbit hole goes.”
“Rabbit hole?” I grin. “I didn’t realize I’d stumbled into a petting zoo.”
The back of his hand hits my face before I realize what’s happening. My head snaps sideways, and I grunt, my teeth tearing into the inside of my cheek. Warm copper floods my mouth.
Shit!
I blink a few times, trying to clear my head. My ears are ringing, my cheek flaming where his thick hand connected with it. I swallow down blood, fear flaring hot and alive in my gut.
“Would you like to try that again?” he smirks.
“It’s just… just a consulting company,” I choke out, all pretense of defiance abandoned. I’m no coward, but I know better than to poke the bear.
“What consulting company?” he barks. “What’s their name?” He raises his hand and I flinch.
Before I can respond, a violent crash echoes from the hallway, followed by the sound of running footsteps. The man’s head swivels toward the door, his body tense as a rattlesnake. He turns back to me, his expression darkening. “This conversation isn’t over.”
The door bursts open, and Caleb storms into the room. His usually immaculate suit is disheveled, his dark hair mussed as if he’s been running. His golden eyes are blazing with fury, and the air around him feels charged, like a storm about to break.
“Release her,” he growls. The edge to his voice makes the hair stand on my arms.
The man—my captor—lets out a low chuckle. “Oh, look who’s here to save the day. I was wondering when you’d show up.”
Caleb’s gaze flicks to me, and for a moment, the fury in his eyes softens. “Are you hurt?”
I shake my head, though the pain in my cheek begs to differ. “I’m fine. Just get me out of here.”
Caleb turns back to the man, his expression hardening. “You’ve made a grave mistake, Steele. She’s under my protection.”
I am?
My eyes widen, but I keep my mouth shut. Who am I to question the guy when he seems to be here to save me?
The man called Steele smirks. “Protection? When did this happen, Craven?”
“That’s none of your concern.” Caleb makes as if to move around Steele, but the older man blocks his path.
“I knew there was something different about this girl when I saw you drooling over her photo. And now here she is. With you oblivious while the Heartstone is in danger.”
“Get out of my way,” Caleb snaps. He takes a step forward, his hands clenched into fists. “You don’t know what you’re dealing with.”
“Oh, I know exactly what I’m dealing with: a pathetic pup who could never fill his father’s shoes in a thousand lifetimes.”
“Leave my father out of this,” Caleb snarls. His hand is on Steele’s shoulder.
The man shrugs away. “You think you can win, Craven? You have no idea what’s coming.”
“And what is that supposed to mean?”
“It means we’ve been watching you. For years. And we have found you lacking. The time for change is coming.”
Caleb’s lip curls, the expression on his face making my blood run cold. “Don’t play games, old man. You don’t have the power you think you do.”
