Page 38 of Ash Storm

Reka

In Reka’s mind, she stepped on the men’s toes, rammed her knees between their legs, shoved her fingers hard against their throats, and ran.

In the real world, her muscles were jelly. She staggered, barely able to hold herself upright, as Junior and another guard delivered her to what she assumed was the Roman Stallion’s room.

One man knocked briskly. The fighter was quick to open the door. He must have been waiting right behind it. Reka looked up—and up. This close, the man was much bigger and much scarier looking than she’d imagined.

He was still wearing jeans, but he’d put on a gray shirt that clung to each and every one of his muscles. His feet were bare.

Reka shook herself. This wasn’t the time to appreciate the male form. She needed to be looking out for weaknesses—anything she could use against him. She wouldn’t let him touch her.

His hair looked different. She realized he must have showered in the time it’d taken them to bring her up here. His hair was wet and spikier, no longer gelled to the side as it had been earlier. His lower lip was swelling, where he must have taken a hit. The knuckles on his right hand were red and swollen.

I hope it’s painful.

His brown eyes roamed her body appreciatively.

“I made a good choice,” he said, more to himself than to anybody else.

And the sudden thought struck her, that maybe he didn’t realize she wasn’t here willingly. Maybe if he knew she was here against her will …

“Please,” she begged quickly, her voice thready. “Please let me go. I’ve been kidnapped.”

“Shut up, bitch,” Junior said, shaking her by the elbow.

Reka whimpered.

The fighter’s jaw was set hard. He stared intently at the spot where Junior’s fingers were pressing into her flesh.

Hope flared inside her.

He didn’t know.

He thought I was here willingly.

He’s going to—

The fighter’s eyebrows arched up, looking at Junior. “Do you have anything to gag her with?”

Reka’s eyes filled with tears.

No.

And she’d become used to the feeling of fear that had been with her ever since she’d woken up in this place. But this was the first instant she’d felt absolute hopelessness.

“Never mind,” he said, waving Junior away. “I’m sure I’ll find something. Thanks for bringing her to me.”

“She’s a feisty one,” Junior said menacingly. “You sure you don’t want us to tie her down?”

“You’re eating into my time. Just get out of here,” the fighter said. He touched his crotch lasciviously. “Unless you want to stay and watch.”

The two guards grumbled something in Turkish and departed.

As soon as the door closed, the man walked up to a heavy dresser lying against the wall. His thick muscles bunched as he pushed it against the door.

“There. Now no one will bother us.”

Reka shivered. There was no way she’d be able to move that on her own.