Page 123 of Bound Lies

I shoot upright as my heart lodges itself in my throat as Kieran appears.

"What the fuck do you think you’re doing?" His chest heaves.

I scramble backward across the bed, putting as much space between us as possible.

“What the hell are you doing here?” I hold my hand to my chest as I try to calm down. “Was it really necessary to make such a dramatic entrance? You scared the living daylights out of me!”

“And why would you be scared of someone breaking and entering, Riley?” Kieran’s voice is sharp with fury, and I try not to flinch at his words. “Oh, that’s right. Because there’s a huge fucking target on your back!”

I snap my mouth shut and glare at Kieran.

“Get your shit and let’s go. I’m taking your ass back to the penthouse before you get yourself fucking killed.”

“How did you know where I was?”

“Doesn’t matter how I know. What matters is that I bring you back.”

“I’m not going back.”

“Yes, you are.”

“I’m safer here than with you.”

“And when Sean finds you and fucking kidnaps you, what then?” he growls, stepping closer.

“Then you won’t have to pretend you give a damn about me anymore! Problem solved.” I blink back the tears that threaten to spill down my cheeks.

Something like hurt flashes in Kieran’s eyes, but he doesn't say anything. Instead, he crosses the room in three strides and grabs my overnight bag.

“Hey! Put that down!” I spring off the bed as he starts stuffing my shoes and phone charger into the bag.

“You don’t get to run from me, Riley.”

“You’re being a complete asshole!”

“Better an asshole than having Sean bury your body in a fucking ditch somewhere outside the city.”

“Kieran—”

He slings the bag over his shoulder and turns to face me, his expression one of cold rage.

For a second, we both stare at each other, our chests heaving, until he steps toward me and it finally dawns on me what he’s planning to do.

“Don’t you dare.”

Before I can make a run for it, Kieran grabs me around the waist and throws me over his shoulder like I weigh nothing.

“KIERAN! Put me down! Are you out of your goddamn mind?” I pound my fists against his back as he carries me out of the room.

“No. You’ve proven you can’t be trusted, so now I’m having to resort to extreme measures.”

He stomps through the hotel hallway like some kind of angry mafia caveman, completely unfazed by my flailing limbs and cries of protest.

A woman pokes her head out of her room as we pass, looking alarmed as she catches sight of us. “Is everything all right?”

“Don’t worry, ma’am. My wife just likes to play the damsel in distress. It’s one of her many kinks.”

The woman quickly ducks back inside her room, and I land a hard smack to Kieran’s back as he heads toward the elevator.