Things are going to be violent, ugly and very likely deadly. And I hate that with every cell of my being for her sake.
I’ve never craved blood. Until now. I’ll savor watching them bleed and beg for mercy as I gut them.
My thigh burns as I twist against the zip-tie holding my leg to the chair.
It will give. I can break it. But I stop when she reaches me.
Tears spill down her cheeks and she rests her hands against my face. “I’m so glad you’re alive. We made it. We’re together,” she whispers and her bravery ruptures my heart.
“Take the tape off of his mouth,” the bastard calls from the other side of his little theater of horror as the cameras in the corners record every gory scene.
Using her fingernails, she finds the edge of the tape and pulls slowly at first. “Oh god, I’m making it worse by going slow.”
I tell her with my eyes,do it.
She exhales hard and rips the tape free, tearing skin. I suck in a breath and immediately start whispering to her. “Do whatever he says. We get out there in the field and I can protect you.”
“Awww, listen to those hollow promises,” the dead mother fucker snorts.
I swivel my head his direction. “Wanna bet? You do know who I am, right?”
Jade fists my shirt. “Ryker,” she whimpers.
The man prowls around us. “Tough man, huh?”
I incinerate him with my eyes.
“All hard and badass.” He chuckles. “Let’s see if you can fuck your lady on camera with thousands of people watching.”
My right leg snaps the plastic cuff that was holding me to the chair.
Jade jumps in surprise and begins whispering frantically. “Please, please, don’t move.”
I continue to work the other ankle cuff.
“Alright, let’s see people.” The demented gameshow host motions toward the cameras. “Bets are open, you think he can get it up and give us a show.”
Fuck. No.
Jade’s fingers tremble against my cheek as she looks into my eyes. “Do whatever you have to do.”
I lean up to press my lips against her ear, in complete disbelief I have to do this, but more certain than I’ve ever been in my life.
I have to take control of this situation now.
“Trust me. I’m calling his bluff. It’s going to be ugly. You’re not expendable. Definitely not to me. Or him.”
I feel the moment she realizes what I’m going to do. “Whatever it takes.”
I shift back, putting space between us and find his weasel-eyed gaze. “I won’t fuck her foryouor your online audience. Kill her. Kill me. She’s mine and I don’t share even with a gun to my head.”
Jade doesn’t flinch, but her pupils constrict sharply.
There’s a span of complete, stone-cold silence. This is when the playing field shifts, or the moment we die.
The hunters are staring, the ring-leader is twitching mad.
For a few seconds, I wonder if he’s going to put a bullet through both of us.
