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“I’m good.” Now is definitely not the time for me to be sucking on Cooper’s neck. I need him to stay focused, and I’m nearly certain that if I bite him, Monroe, Knox, and Sawyer will also lose their focus. They can’t help it.
“Are you sure? You’re sniffing me.” He adjusts me in his arms, changing my position until I wrap my legs around his waist.
“Because you smell. I mean...fuck. Why do you have to point it out?” I can’t stop laughing with my words, embarrassment rushing through me. Now is not the time for me to lose focus either. Bastard.
“My state of filth didn’t bother you when we first met,” he teases, relaxing his muscles.
I groan and bury my face into the crook of his throat. He’s right about that. But this is different. I don’t want to explain it either.
“We’re almost there. Good job at keeping Hayley calm. She didn’t even notice the heads flying.” Monroe materializes behind Cooper, grinning at me with blood spattering across his face and soaking his beard. It looks like he bit a couple of people, and I don’t like the fact that others’ blood is on him either. What the actual fuck? Something like this wouldn’t have bothered me before the same way it does now.
At least it’s not human. That makes it a teensy bit better.
“Both of you shut up and pay attention. There’s—” Sawyer can’t get the words out as a car screeches from the parking structure in front of us, nearly taking us out.
Sawyer jumps on the hood, holding on as the driver stomps the brakes, trying to send him flying off.
“Fuck. Run!” Knox throws his arm out and steals me from Cooper, not giving him a chance to run with me. He’s going possessive, and only trusts my safety in his arms.
“They must’ve fucking settled their disagreement. They took the back road into this damn place. I thought it was blocked off.” Monroe aims his gun, shooting it at the window of Lawrence’s vehicle.
Fear tightens my chest, and I squeeze my eyes shut. They shouldn’t be here. They should’ve killed each other already. And now, it looks as if Alexander and Lawrence have teamed up because they share the car. The three other vampires ride in the back as well.
Oh fucking no.
No. No. No.
Lawrence flies at me and Knox, knocking Sawyer out of the way with a swing of his fist. I scream at the force of Lawrence’s body ramming into me, and pain swells across my back and spine.
We tumble over the ground, and Knox skids, probably getting road rash in the process. He grunts but doesn’t complain, and he doesn’t loosen his hold either.
“Listen very carefully, Hayley. I don’t have an alliance with Alexander, but you need to act as if I do. This is all part of the plan. I’ll be taking you to the Aris. Do you understand?” Lawrence growls, shoving his hand against Knox’s chest hard enough to pierce his fingers into his skin.
Panic rises inside me, and I grab Lawrence’s wrist. “Don’t hurt him. If you hurt him, I’ll kill you.”
“It must look authentic. I need the Bella Crew to act as if they’re not on my side.” Lawrence bares his teeth, threatening us with another growl. “If you don’t let her go, I’ll end you. I don’t need the weakest link.”
Fuck. I’m insulted, but there’s nothing I can do.
“Take me as a prisoner. It’s the only way.” Knox refuses to let me go, and I try not to lose control.
“Then you’ll be treated like one.” Lawrence hooks his arms around both me and Knox, using his super-strength to pull us from the ground.
The world blurs as he relocates us and throws us into the back of his vehicle. He punches Knox hard enough to knock him out, and he slips into the front seat.
Sawyer and Monroe yell out, but Alexander blocks their way. They all blur in a fight until Lawrence hits the accelerator and sends us barreling forward.
I watch Alexander grab Cooper by the throat and drag him away, leaving Sawyer and Monroe chasing after us.
I hold my arm out of the window, waving and clanking the jewelry I haven’t taken off. I press my finger to the button, opening the line, but I keep it muted.
Lawrence flicks his gaze to the rearview mirror. “This is going to be a hostile takeover, Hayley. Alexander believes we have a truce. We’re going to put on a performance, initiating this new alliance. And when we do, you’re going to show him your true nature. You’re going to eat his heart.”
Chapter 21
SAWYER
The Aris
