It took her a second to place him, then her mind slammed the memory into place.The biker from the art store.Her stomach dropped.
“Hyena,” she whispered before she could stop herself.
He curved his mouth upwards, grin spreading too wide, too pleased.It didn’t reach his eyes.Those stayed dark and sharp, cutting over her like blades.
“Good,” he said, voice smooth and mocking.“I’m glad you know who I am.”
Fear slid cold down her spine, but Ivy forced her shoulders back, forced herself to meet his gaze.
“Why am I here?”she asked, her voice hoarse but steady.“I have nothing to do with Devil’s Crown.You have no right to keep me.”
Hyena laughed, the sound menacing and ugly.
“You don’t get to make demands, sweetheart.Not tied to a chair,” Hyena pointed out.
Her hands clenched behind her back.“Then why?”she demanded.“Why take me?”
His eyes gleamed.“Because you’re Havoc’s woman,” he simply said.
Her breath hitched despite herself.“I’m not,” she shot back.“I was just...I was nothing to Havoc.A mistake.One night.”
Hyena shrugged, a careless roll of his shoulders.“You keep telling yourself that if it helps.Men like Havoc don’t look twice at women who don’t matter,” he said.
Anger flared hot enough to cut through the fear.
“You’re wrong,” she snapped.“Let me go.Now.”
Hyena stepped fully into the room, letting the door swing shut behind him.The sound made her flinch.He circled her slowly, boots scraping softly against the concrete.
“I’m going to send him a message,” he said casually.“Tell him to come alone if he wants to see you again.”
Her heart stuttered.
“Don’t,” she said, the word tearing out of her.“Please.”
He stopped in front of her, crouched until he was eye level.His grin sharpened.
“While we wait,” he murmured, gaze dragging over her in a way that made her skin crawl, “I might entertain myself.See what it is about you that caught his attention.”
Revulsion and terror tangled in her chest.She jerked back as far as the restraints allowed, breath coming fast and shallow.“Touch me and I swear...”Ivy began.
Right then, the compound exploded.Shouts ripped through the air outside.Gunfire cracked sharp and deafening, the sound close enough to make her flinch violently.Hyena swore, spinning toward the door.
“What the hell?”
He yanked it open and bolted out, boots pounding away.In his hurry, he didn’t lock it.Ivy stared at the open doorway for half a heartbeat.Then adrenaline surged.
Now.She lunged forward as far as she could, rocking the chair hard.It tipped, metal screeching against concrete, and she went down with it, shoulder slamming painfully into the floor.Pain burst bright and hot, but she bit back a scream.
She twisted, scrambling awkwardly, dragging the chair with her as she worked her wrists against the edge of the metal seat.The zip tie cut deeper, skin burning, but then it loosened.She gasped, wrenching one hand free, then the other.
Gunfire thundered closer, men shouted.Someone screamed.
Ivy hauled herself upright, heart pounding, and staggered into the hallway, half-running, half-stumbling.Chaos erupted around her.Bikes revved outside, men scattered.The air smelled like gunpowder and exhaust.
A Steel Jackals biker caught sight of her.His eyes widened.He raised a knife.She froze.The shot came from behind him.He dropped like a puppet with its strings cut.
Behind him stood Havoc.Relief slammed into her so hard it made her knees weak.His gun was raised, his expression lethal, eyes locked on her like she was the only thing he could see.
