Page 170 of To Catch a Sub

“Not anymore,” Landon agreed.

Colette frowned in confusion. What did that mean?

“It doesn’t matter if you take her for a little while.” Damien stared at Colette. “She’ll always belong to me.”

“She doesn’t belong to anyone.”

“Wait until you try to fuck her.” Damien grinned. “Once you see her naked you’ll know who she belongs to.”

Landon punched him. Punched him hard enough his head snapped back, and for a horrified minute, she worried Landon had killed him.

“You’re a dead man,” Landon snarled. “Except before I kill you, I’m going to make you hurt.”

Damien shook his head, then lunged at Landon, who stepped out of the way, smashed his fist down on the back of Damien’s neck, sending him to the ground.

The men watching started to shout at Damien. Andrei turned and snapped at them in the same language.

Landon put a big booted foot on Damien’s back, and gravel crunched as he applied pressure and ground Damien against the driveway. Damien’s shoulders strained as he planted his hands and tried to push himself up.

“Everything you did to her I’ll do to you, tenfold.” Landon’s voice was cold and flat, and there was something terrible in his eyes.

She didn’t want him to do this. Didn’t want to be the reason this law-abiding, good man beat someone to death.

Colette slowly backed up, until her feet were on grass not gravel. Good.

Landon backed off and Damien got to his feet, managing to land a blow to Landon’s jaw. Landon saw it coming and pulled back, not taking the full force of the blow.

Landon was trying to make this a fair fight, she realized. Because, though she didn’t doubt his willingness to kill for her, cold-blooded murder was anathema to him.

She waited until their circling had positioned the men with Damien’s back to her where she now stood in the deep night shadows under a large tree. He was between her and Landon. Andrei was to the right, watching carefully, one hand hovering near his hip where she assumed he kept a knife.

Colette gasped, making the sound as loud as she could.

Damien whirled around. He smiled when he saw her standing there alone.

Behind him, Landon’s eyes widened in panic.

Both men started running at the same time, but Damien was closer. Landon’s longer legs closed the gap, but not enough.

Colette raised her hands to shield her face, but didn’t fight when Damien gripped her, shoving her back against the tree. His hand clamped her throat, and he turned to look at Landon, who skidded to a stop.

“Another step and I crush her neck. I’ll break the bones. Even if I let go, she won’t be able to breathe.”

“Release her, and I’ll let you go,” Landon said slowly, but his eyes were dark with rage, and just a hint of panic.

Colette could just barely breathe, but she focused on pulling and pushing air in and out of her lungs as she waited for the right moment.

Landon’s gaze flicked from Damien to her.

She smiled.

Damien was saying something disgusting and disturbing, but she wasn’t really listening. Watching Landon trying to figure out why she was smiling made her heart sing, and her smile widened as his eyes narrowed slightly.

Damien’s attention pivoted back to her, and she jerked her gaze away from Landon. Damien pulled her forward only to slam her back against the tree.

“I’m going to leave, and I’ll take you with me, wife. You’ll be my insurance. And something to play with while I travel.”

Damien never questioned why she still had her arms raised, hands by her head. Maybe he was just so used to seeing her like that, it never occurred to him it was odd.