“Viviana!” she screams, and she bares her teeth trying to bite me.
I laugh. Hard. Louder than I mean to.
“Viviana?” I echo, shaking my head as I squeeze her jaw hard enough to see the skin flush red.
“She won’t,” I murmur. “Trust me. And you’re staying right here until your stalker is caught.”
I release her, grab her wrist, and drag her to the tall window that overlooks the grounds. The sky is black, the woods swallowing the horizon. Only a few exterior lights mark the edge of the lawn, glowing faintly through the trees.
“You’re at my estate,” I tell her. “Guarded. Locked down. No one’s getting in. And you’re not getting out.”
I step back, let her take it in.
She moves toward the glass. Her head turns, eyes scanning left, then right. Her shoulders fall.
“You can’t do this,” she whispers. The fight’s still in her voice, but it’s cracked now. Threadbare.
“You’re safe here.” I stand behind her, voice low. “You’re not stupid, Autumn. This house. This land. Me.” I let the words hang between us.
“With me, you’re safer than you’ve ever been.”
She turns, brows drawn tight. “Is this all because I let you take my virginity?”
That one hits harder than any bullet.
“Youletme?” My voice drops. “You never told me you were a virgin, and you lied for days after.”
Her mouth curves, shameless. “So this protection thing… what is it? You like me?”
I’m ready to snap until I see her gaze slide to my waist, to my gun. The little chaos is trying to play me.
Fine. I can play too.
I move closer, muscles tightening beneath my shirt. “I likedfuckingyou,” I growl, reaching for her face. She doesn’t flinch. Her hand starts to move, slow, careful, toward the weapon.
The moment her fingers brush the holster, I twist her wrist and spin her against me. She’s light; the air leaves her lungs when I press her to the table by the window.
“Going for my gun?” My mouth is beside her ear. “You don’t learn, sweetheart.”
She kicks back, breathless. “You’re insane!”
“Maybe,” I say, tightening my grip, “but you’re the one who bled in the dark and ran so I wouldn’t find out.”
Goosebumps rise along her neck. I catch the shiver before I release her and haul her over my shoulder.
“Behave,” I warn, climbing the stairs while she squirms, “or I’ll teach you how to.”
She fights the whole way, fists pounding against my back, but I don’t falter. I’ve carried heavier men through worse nights.
I drop her onto the mattress. Her hair spills across the pillow; she glares up at me, wild and beautiful. “You’ll stay here until Declan arrives tomorrow.”
“Declan? He knows you kidnapped me?” She gasps.
“And Viviana too,” I answer, closing the door before she can argue.
Her fists hit the wood. “Who the hell are you people? Flynn! You idiot!”
Kaden appears in the hallway, amused. “She’s furious.”
