His touch felt like acid; burning and foul, and something she’d never wanted to experience again.
She couldn’t even stomach the sight of him, so she looked away, her eyes darting everywhere else, hoping to find a way out of this mess.
They were in a rundown building with several stalls on either side of her—were they inside a barn?
Three men stood nonchalantly at the closed, large barn door. Another ten, at least, fanned out around the building, maybe even more behind her. All appeared equally disinterested in her dilemma.
It looked like his entire crew was here. Why would he bring so many men with him just for her? She wasn’t some sort of assassin, nor was she dangerous without a gun.
If only she could get to one …
Her vision was still distorted from the drug they’d given her, but from what she could see, none of his crew standing close by were holding their weapons. She spotted several holstered at their sides or tucked into the waistband of their slacks.
Apparently, they’d assessed her threat level at zero.
“Since you have a penchant for running away from me,” Tony added, his tone growing harsh with reprimand, “I thought it best to ensure you didn’t leave our meeting early.” He tugged on the chain for emphasis.
Yeah, like he planned on letting Nessa leaveat all.
He was going to kill her—he wouldn’t have brought her to some old barn, probably in the middle of nowhere. But if he’d just wanted her dead, he wouldn’t have taken her to another location to do it. He could have just shot her in the shop.
He was going to torture her first.
The last few minutes in her teahouse rushed to the surface of her mind, and with it, bile rose in her throat.
Nessa’s heart clenched painfully in her chest, the image of Jasper covered in blood and collapsing face down on the ground replaying like a horror movie in her head.
How many times had he gotten shot? At least four, though it had all happened so fast, she couldn’t be sure.
He’d lost so much blood, too. Could shifters handle the severity of wounds like that? Or was he …?
Nessa pushed the last thought aside, refusing to believe that her mate’s brother,herbrother, had died. He had to be okay.
Please, let him be okay, she thought desperately.
If Jasper didn’t make it, she was to blame. It didn’t matter that she hadn’t shot him. She was the reason Tony and his men had shown up. The reason they’d attacked.
Poor Jasper had been collateral damage, all because he’d stood between her and these monsters.
And now he was possibly dead in her teahouse, and Murphy was oblivious to everything that had occurred. He’d show up to take her home in a few hours and stumble upon a nightmare.
He had no idea she was missing. No idea that Tony had shown up and wreaked havoc on their lives in a matter of minutes. And even if he pieced it together, how could he ever find her? Her mate wouldn’t be able to save her; not from this.
How could he, when he didn’t know what had happened?
Nessa was on her own, and she knew,she knewher mate would never forgive himself when he found out what happened here.
We were supposed to have more time. I just wanted to be with him.To have a real chance at happiness.
Oh, Murphy… Tears filled Nessa’s already blurred vision, and she choked on a strangled breath of despair.
The last time she’d seen him, she’d been so upset. Withdrawn. And now she would never see him again.
She’d never get to feel his arms around her or his lips on hers ever again.
She’d never get to talk to him, to tell him she loved him and that he’d made her so happy in just a few short weeks.
She’d never get to tell him that he’d made her want to take risks and really, trulylive. That she’d wanted to have babies with him. That she wanted everything.
