We don’t even make it downstairswhen lights shine through the broken windows. “Shit,” Peyton hisses. “They’re not supposed to be back yet.”
Panic filters through her voice. She’s genuinely scared, and Ifind myself wondering why she is suddenly helping us.
She doesn’t answer my question, but the look on her face has dread pooling in my gut. “I didn’t know,” she tells me in earnest.
Stepsoutside the front door have me shoving Lyra into her arms. “Get her to Jake,” I demand.
“You have to come too,” she pulls at my arm.
The door creaks as it opens. My heart hammers against my chest. “Go. Take her. Take her to Jake.”
She hesitates for another second before running down the staircase. I don’twait to make sure she makes it to the backdoor. Instead, I provide a distraction. Igrab a brick lying on the floor, then run back to the room I have been kept. Itoss it through the window, the sound of glass shattering rings out.
It’s been a couple of hours since Peyton managed to get away. She jumped into a car outside the building, taking off with gravel flying.
Her brother and his cousin didn’t notice until it was too late. They were toobusy making sure I didn’t go anywhere.
I touch my fingers to my face with a wince. I’d gladly take another fist if it meant Lyra was safe. I’d suffer through anything to make sure she was returned to Jake. That is the only thing that has mattered.
All I can do now is wait. Wait forNiko to come for me. To finish what he started back in Chicago. To take me somewhere I’ll never see my family again. See Jake or Lyra.
I’m resigned to my fate. Not because I’ve given up. I have no intentions of going quietly. But I’m not stupid. I will fight back, but I will lose.
I only wish I knew if Lyra was okay.
Ihear voices. More than just Niko and his cousin.My stomach sinks as I wonder if they’re getting ready to take me somewhere. Or worse.
I close my eyes, trying to hear what they are saying,but it’s pointless. They’re speaking ina language I don’t understand.
A few minutes later,I hear footsteps coming up the stairs. I hold my breath. When the door opens,fear courses through me. My heart feels like Dane is playing drums in my chest.
Nikowalks into the room with fire in his eyes. His stature is domineering and intimidating, causing me to back upinto the corner of the mattress where I’m sitting.
He grabs me by the hair. His breath reeks of alcohol and tobacco as he breathes down my neck.I bite my cheek to stop my scream whenhe tugs my hair harder, licking his way up my face.
“The things I want to do to you,” he growls in my ear. “Fortunately for you, my client doesn’t want you used up, but that doesn’t mean I can’t fuck that pretty mouth.”
I swallow the bile that rises in my chest. Igrip the makeshift weapon in my hand, feeling it break the skin.Bastian’s words replay in my head as he taught Verity and me a few basic self-defense moves. They’re crude, but they stuck.
Nuts and nose.
He moves to take my mouth as my knee comes up. When he doubles over, I bring it up again, connecting withhis nose. I quickly jam theshard of glass from the broken window into the first piece of flesh I can connect with, then take off for the door.
I don’t make it far before a large arm wraps around my waist, bringing me back into the room.“Next time you stab someone, make sure it’s somewhere it does some good.”
A commotion breaks loose downstairs. He jerks his head toward the door, listeningtowhat sounds like a brawl. I use his distracted state todig my finger into the wound at his collarbone.
He lets out a roar, throwing me to the mattress. He comes tome, climbing over my body. His hands grab at the button of my jeans.“No. Stop. Your client,” I slapat his hand and kick at his body.
“Guess I’ll find a new one. Your fight makes you too hard to resist.”
“No,” I scream as he continuesto rip and tear at my clothes.
He bends down, licking the side of my face again. “The more you fight, the more turned on I get.”
He uses his body to press mine into the mattressas I continue to struggle. He leans back, tugging at my jeans. I will my body to still, afraid if I keep moving, it will only help himaccomplish his goal. I close my eyes as the tears spilling blur my vision.
Then suddenly, the hands that have been pulling at me, the body that was restraining my own,is gone.I open my eyes to see he’s across the room. A dark figure I can’t entirely make out,stands with his back to me.
