Hunter chuckled, and it sent chills down my spine. “I could have taken you that first night I arrived in town, but after I turned your shitty little apartment inside out, I thought I’d have some fun with you instead. Maybe play with you a little before Adrian gets his hands on you.”
I stood my ground and narrowed my eyes. “I’m not going back to him.”
Hunter tilted his head down slightly and grinned. “We’ll see about that, cupcake.”
I didn’t wait to see what he said or did next. I turned and ran toward the back offices of the bar. I had to get out of here.
Pushing through a crowd of customers, I spotted Jenny, another server. She balanced a tray on her hip and took orders from a few customers at a table to the right of the hall.
“Jenny!” I approached her. “There’s been an emergency. I have to leave.”
“What are you talking about?” Jenny pushed her black bangs out of her eyes. “You can’t just leave. We’re already short-staffed.”
I glanced back at Hunter, who stalked me through the bar. He pushed his way through a small crowd, closing the distance between us. His grin widened into a sneer.
“I’m sorry,” I told her. “You have to cover for me.”
Jenny sighed. “Fine, but you owe me.”
“Thank you,” I said, already running to the back hall and into the breakroom where my purse and keys were. I stuffed my keys into the pocket of my apron and continued toward the back door.
My sneakers shuffled across the concrete floors. I pumped my arms, nearing the exit door, but a large hand palmed the back of my head and yanked me backward by my hair. My scalp burned as I stumbled back into a hard chest.
“Caught you,” Hunter said mockingly right into my ear.
Suddenly, he flipped me around, wrapped his hand around my throat, and slammed me against the closest wall.
I gasped at having the air knocked out of me.
Hunter laughed as I struggled against his hold, kicking and scratching, trying to get free, until something sharp poked me in the stomach, and my body went rigid.
I chanced a glance between us to see his pocketknife aimed right below my ribs.
Shit.
“Did you really think you could get away from us that easily?” Hunter asked and laughed again. “Adrian owns you. He always has. You can’t escape him.”
My body heated at his words as the fear I had felt quickly turned to rage.
I’m not some useless object. Adriandoesn’town me.
“I’m not Adrian’s property,” I said, my voice strained from his fist around my throat. “I never was, but you, on the other hand,” I scoffed, “you always did whatever you were told, like a good little dog.”
“Bitch!” His eyes flared with anger.
I was only offered a little reprieve from the pressure around my neck before his palm connected with my cheek. My head whipped to the side from the force, and a stinging pain exploded across my face. My lip throbbed like it had been split open, and when I flicked my tongue out, I tasted blood.
Hunter’s hand returned to its place around my neck and kept me pinned against the wall.
“Just wait until I get you back to Adrian. I don’t think he’ll be too happy to know who you’ve been fucking. Didn’t he tell you not to go to the police? Maybe I’ll pay your little boyfriend a visit next, or maybe that hot piece of ass he calls a sister. That’ll teach you some obedience.”
No!I struggled against his grip that crushed my throat.
“Tell me where the dagger is,” Hunter spat in my face and released his hand just enough for me to answer.
“I don’t have it,” I rasped.
Hunter choked me harder, slamming my head against the concrete wall behind me, and I saw stars.
