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A cold hand clamps onto my stomach and the vampire grabs the side strap of my bikini bottoms, tearing the fabric. I shriek and flail, kicking my legs and fighting his strength the best I can.
What the fuck is going on? Where is Alexander?
I then realize that the cameras have been ripped from the walls and another vampire—one of their security guards—blocks the door.
“Be a good little bitch and hold still. If you don’t stop fighting, I’ll make it hurt. Your master said we can do whatever the fuck we want as long as none of the females die.” He growls in my ear and brings his hand up to my throat, cutting off my airway.
I try to open my mouth to scream, but I can’t. The edges of my vision shadow, and I focus on the bloody floor. This is beyond punishment. This is cruel torture and the worst thing Alexander has ever put us through.
I tense, feeling the vampire’s other hand rip at my other side strap, scratching my skin in the process. Tears burn my eyes, and I hope he kills me before anything else. I won’t stop fighting. He’s going to destroy me.
A loud gunshot rings through the air, and the vampire roars and drops me to the floor. I hit my palms to the carpet and claw away, rubbing my knees on the coarse material. My hands slap against a pool of blood, and all I can think about is finding somewhere to hide.
“Fucking get down! Don’t fight or we’ll take all of your damn heads.” Something thuds to the carpet, and I whip my attention to Sawyer’s bellow as he tosses the head of the Greys’ security guard on the floor.
“This is a private party—” The wild-hair Grey coven brother screams, his voice turning from sharp to muddled.
I gawk in shock, my whole body trembling as Knox cuts out the man’s tongue and then shoves it back in his mouth and forces it down his throat. Mr. Grey’s face turns red, and he snaps his fangs, trying to cough it back up.
“Like I said. Fucking get down!” Sawyer shouts again, aiming his gun at the ceiling. He pulls the trigger, sending dust raining over him. “Time is up, gentlemen.”
The coven leader straightens his back, scowling. “Where is Alexander Aris? This was his gift to us. If this was a setup, he will have a huge problem on his hands.”
Sawyer flicks his attention to Monroe, pulling a blade from a hidden holster in his jacket. “A problem, huh? Is that what you think? The only problem I see is you thinking you could get away with pulling this kind of bullshit.”
“The girls are ours for the night. We have done nothing wrong,” Mr. Grey continues to argue. “Now, I’d advise you to leave us be.”
Monroe tips his head back and howls a laugh. “Leave you be? Are you shitting me? The only thing I’m going to do is teach you what happens when you think you’re some kind of entitled prick who wants to wet his dick in something that doesn’t belong to him.”
A shadow falls over me, and I flinch in fear. “Hey, Ruby. You okay?” Knox whispers, squatting down beside me. “Here, take my jacket.”
The tough leather material engulfs me as he drapes his jacket over my back, covering up my exposed body from my ripped bottoms. He doesn’t touch me or try to lift me up, waiting in silence for me to make the first move. Like his closeness screams safety, I hold my arms up and let him help me stand. I find myself pressing into him, hugging him like he’s the only one who can ensure protection.
“I’m sorry that asshole hurt you,” he murmurs, stroking his palm over my back.
“He tr-tried to rape m-me,” I say, my voice shaking. “I didn’t want to. That’s not in the rules.”
Knox growls, easing back to look into my eyes. “He’s going to pay for that.”
My lip quivers. “No, I will. Master Aris will make my life hell. He didn’t even let me wear my wig. He was trying to punish me.” I don’t know why I say it or why I bring it up, but it’s like I need to say the words out loud, so I know that it’s not in my head. “I’m dead. He’s going to take my final donation.”
Knox intakes a sharp breath, his eyes flashing silver with his anger. It wouldn’t be the first time Alexander drained a performer. Even though I’m a headliner, it doesn’t make me safe. It makes things harder. Every one of us is replaceable. My mom is the biggest example. She used to be a performer before she had me. I can’t remember much about her, but Opal keeps a collection of pictures in her room of all of the past performers. All I know is that she did something that tested Alexander too much. It’s one of the reasons why I carry this life-long fear.
“Can you stand okay?” Knox asks, turning his attention to watch Sawyer and Monroe force all of the vampires into a line against the wall.
Even though there are seven of them—the Greys and what’s left of their security—they don’t fight. The Bella Crew must be more powerful if that’s the case. No vampire ever backs down otherwise.
I bob my head and ease away, showing him that I won’t fall over in hysterics. Now that I’ve caught my breath, my body turns numb to everything. My mind shuts down, and all I can think about is the sensation of sticky blood under my feet.
“Go to the others and wait in the room. We’ll be done and get you out of here real quick.” Knox motions to the archway leading to the suite bedroom.
Topaz and Emerald cling to each other, their shoulders shaking with their silent sobs. Quartz’s dead body remains on the floor a few feet away, and Pyrite kneels beside his fallen friend. I swivel on my feet and meet Knox’s gaze, shaking my head. I don’t want to go to the room. I want to stay here with him.
“I want to stay,” I whisper, looking past him at Sawyer and Monroe glowering at the group of vampires. Shifting, I flick my fingers at the others. “Go into the room and call Opal, okay?”
Topaz and Emerald grab onto Pyrite and pull him with them, closing the bedroom door and cutting them off. I wring my hands together, feeling the heat of everyone’s gazes on me. Tugging the jacket closed, I inhale a soft breath of Knox’s scent, letting it settle my nerves.
“You sure you want to be here, little bird? You know what happens when someone fucks up and does something we don’t like,” Monroe says, raising his eyebrow.
