As soon as they’re done branding Freddie, they throw him to the side like a crushed beer can and haul Buff closer. He raises his chin. “Fellas, if you don’t mind, I don’t want to ruin my good shirt. Can I take it off?”
Talon sneers at the crowd. “Loverboy’s worried about his shirt. Boohoo.”
“Let him take it off!” a woman calls. “We could do with a little show.”
“Yeah,” someone else adds. “Let’s see what all the fuss is about.”
Buff has one of those gym bodies, but his body comes from hard work and has nothing to do with being a Mirror Mary. He gets by on brawn rather than brain and has a reputation in this part of the world for being sculpted by Adonis himself.
Thorne and Talon have one of their silent twin conversations, and I can’t help thinking they probably piss in unison too.
Eventually, Thorne nods. “Very well. But don’t try anything stupid, or what we just did to Freddie will look like a peck on the cheek.”
Grant slips on a pair of gloves to protect himself from the silver and unties Buff, who immediately shakes his arms out. Then, he reaches behind his head and pulls his T-shirt off in one swift move. I don’t need to use my shifter senses to tell that little move of his just turned on every female in the circle. Maybe half the males too. It’s obvious from the whoops and cheers and indecent comments being flung at him. Buff grins from ear to ear. He lives for this sort of thing. He isn’t the brightest guy and has used his charm and good looks to get as far as he has up ’til now, so this fits right into his wheelhouse.
Quick as a flash, he whips his pants off, and then things really get going.
“Fuck this shit, let’s get this over with,” Grant growls. I’m starting to think Grant has a few size issues.
Before I can really turn my focus back on Buff, Grant has branded him with the iron and tossed him aside. Like Freddie, he doesn’t so much as flinch. In fact, he winks at one of the gals staring at his cock.
I’m still relishing my pride in Freddie and Buff when I’m whipped off the floor and hauled off to the nearest tree. It’s thenI see the noose taunting me as it swings from side to side in the wind. I’m hauled up onto the flatbed truck again, and the noose is flung around my neck. Buff and Freddie—who were lying on the ground panting a second ago—are on their feet and lunging toward me when meaty hands stop them. They strain against their captors’ hold to no avail.
Someone jumps into the driver’s seat and starts gunning the engine. The truck lurches forward in small increments, tightening the noose around my neck. I wish I’d been like Buff and had the sense to ask to take my clothes off. With my hands free, I could at least attempt to make more room between the rope and my neck. No use choking before they get to hang me. The cheering is deafening, and all I can think is that I’m going to die to the sound of people screaming obscenities at me. No more birdsong. No more music. I’ll never again hear the sound of a woman’s moans beneath me.
Buff rages at them to let me go, and the more they restrain him, the worse it gets. Freddie starts hurling insults. If they keep fighting like this, the Terrible Two will have them executed anyway, and the humiliation and pain of the branding will all be for nothing. I have to calm them down.
Think, Jason, think.
Then it hits me. I’m probably going to regret this, but what have I got to lose?
“Guys, guys, relax. It’s okay. Once you leave, you can split the money between you two and sit pretty. You won’t even need a pack. I’m fine. I don’t want you worrying about me.”
They both gape at me in confusion. I hope they don’t blow this. I also hope it doesn’t backfire.
Talon narrows his eyes. “What money are you mouthing about?”
Okay, he’s taken the bait. It’s go time.
“Just a job we did a few months ago. Swindled a rotten businessman out of a few hundred thousand. But I’m sure you guys wouldn’t be interested in hearing about that.”
Thorne tilts his head. “Speak more.”
“It wouldn’t help you even if I did. I have it hidden in a location that only I know about.” I hold my breath, making it look like a casual pause when I’m really praying to every god there might be that this is going to work. I don’t even look at the guys for fear I’ll drop my pose and give it away.
“Unless…”
Three. Two. One.
“Unless what, dipshit? I’m losing my patience,” Talon growls.
“Unless you’d be prepared to make a deal.”
“What kind of deal?”
Showtime.
“You let us all go to get the money and we’ll hand it all over to you. After that, you can do what you want with me. We can do this whole tragic dramatization again. Nothing like a good cliffhanger to get the crowds going.”
