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My hand is pulling on the leash with each backward step I take until I can’t go any further. I look around for an escape route, already knowing he could easily catch me. My heart pounds double time with the realization that I’m fucked. Ben has over a hundred pounds of muscle on me; he could immobilize me within seconds. The doubling of my heart spikes radically when I watch the evil gleam of his eye, knowing he has won. I’m going to die and no one will ever find my body, just like my mother. Her casket was empty when it was lowered into the ground.
My eyes stay trained to the knife he wields in his hand. “Good news. Since you were my father’s, you get to be my old lady when I bring you home alive.”
“If I had known, I would have never run.” I try to fix a flirtatious vibe to my voice, but it comes out shaky.
“You okay, Sienna?” The deep voice has Ben pausing, the same moment the clouds roll over the moon, taking all the light with it. We stand in the middle of nowhere in the pitch black. I tug harder at Princess, not recognizing the new voice.
In the distance, lightning flashes, illuminating another hooded figure, with a textbook, between me and Ben. Blackness takes over once again and I jump at the crack of thunder.
The flash of the sky shows Max dropping his book to the ground without care. Great, now I’m going to have his death on my conscience too. Maybe Ben will kill me first so I don’t have to know.
A knife replaces the book in an instant and Ben lunges at Max. I’m frozen, my voice unable to make a sound. I’m completely locked in as my muscles turn to stone and panic ripples through me. I hate this feeling. I’ve worked hard to never be placed in this position again.
Max is swift, his moves looking effortless. That nerdy persona he had going disappears as something entirely different emerges. His shirt is slashed, showing a chest of beautiful artwork. It’s not long before Max has Ben in a sleeper hold.
Sharp tiny pin pricks are felt over my skin as my muscles loosen. “Attack,” my voice comes out strong, as if it was never locked away. Princess jumps up, biting Ben’s leg and refuses to let go.
Chapter 6: Max
Ican’tconcentrateonthe book spread out on the bar counter because Sienna’s perfume keeps wafting over to me. My fingers curl around the pages as I force myself not to stare at her in the seat next to me. Each time she tries to gain my attention, my dick strains in my pants.
She’s the first person I’ve encountered where the first thing I haven’t thought about is which artery I’d choose if I had to slash one. Instead, my attention is on the quick pulse of her neck, and I wonder what it would feel like under my lips.
When she leaves the tavern to walk home, I tell myself I’m only making sure she gets there okay. I’m not stalking her. If anything, I’m protecting her. What if she crosses another bobcat?
The night is dark without the artificial glow of street lamps. The moon reflects off the water nearby, but does little to light a path. I see him approach her before she does. My pulse speeds up, excitement builds in my veins. My muscles act on memory when the man threatens her with a knife, and I revert back into my old self. I act on impulse, not remembering any of my moves until I’m left staring at her wide eyes and the man is in a choke hold. If I don’t let go in the next few seconds, he will die.
Fuck. I’m scaring the shit out of her.
“Attack,” she yells. I wait for the dog to take a chunk out of me. Instead, he goes for the man I’m holding. It’s enough to snap me out of it and I drop the guy like he’s burned me.
My hand swipes through my hair. The dog still hasn’t taken his teeth out of the attacker’s leg.
I take the other end of the leash. “Relax,” I demand, and the dog releases his hold, returning to Sienna.
Her body is still and she leans away from me. I keep my eyes on her, waiting to see if she’s going to make a run for it. My body matches her tenseness, because I’m anticipating this guy getting up and trying to kill one of us.
“Are you hurt?” I keep my voice low and try to soften it as much as possible. It sounds strange hearing me like this.
“No.” I have to strain my ears to hear her.
Moaning has both our eyes looking down. “Sienna, when I get my hands on you—”
My jaw grinds at the tone he takes. I want to put him out of his misery for disrespecting her.
I kick him in the stomach, my anger getting the best of me. “When you address her, I expect you to do it politely.”
He groans and attempts to stand. “She’s a fucking whore. Don’t waste your time on her.”
I step into him and punch him in the face, sending his sorry ass back to the gravel. “If I have to remind you a second time…” I pause as I’m about to tell him I plan to bury him six feet under, but I can’t do that with Sienna in my presence.
I crouch down, balancing on my heels, trying to keep my voice calm and steady. “Leave town and don’t come back.”
She steps to me when I stand, and I place a protective arm around her.
My hand tingles, wanting to finish him off. If he’s still in town by morning, I’ll get rid of him. I’m getting rusty; it will be good to keep up my skills. What if my brother needs me and I forget how to do my job? Maybe I’ll track him down before dawn.
Who am I kidding? I’m killing the guy no matter what.
