“Understand I can feel your arousal, Bunny. Knock it off unless you want me to bend you over this couch,” he threatens.
“This is fun!” Vaughn says happily. “Nice to see you happy, Boss.”
“I’m going to fucking kill you one day, Vaughn,” Soren deadpans.
“If Soren is okay with it, I can explain things to you,” Micah says, glancing at Soren.
“Whatever. Keep your fucking hands to yourself,” Soren huffs. “Go to the fucking truck. Now. Get off your asses.”
We go outside and get into the truck. Soren sits me in the front seat with him as the others pile into the back. As we are driving, Soren stops at a fast-food drive-thru and gets an unreasonable amount of food. I must look confused, because he turns and frowns at me when we pull into a parking spot.
“What?” he asks.
“Aren’t you a vampire?” I ask. “Or did I dream that?”
“A hybrid,” he says.
“So a glass of blood with your burger. Got it,” I say, and no one corrects me. “So garlic won’t make you fuck off?”
“Remind me not to let you watch television,” Soren says, rolling his eyes as he gets out of the truck. When I open my door, he is already at my door with a frown.
“What now?” I sigh.
“Nothing,” he mutters, turning away and walking out of the parking garage. When we all get to the sidewalk, we go into the building next to it labeled “Montgomery Security Solutions.”
For-hire killers under the ruse of private security. Smart.
When we get into an elevator, Soren has himself between me and the others. He is so fucking possessive over me, which only confuses me more, honestly.
When we step out, a woman with bright blonde hair, small, perky tits, and long legs looks up with a smile. “Morning, Soren!” she says happily. She looks at me, and the smile turns to disgust. “Are we bringing in strays now?”
“This is Talia,” Soren says. “Talia, this is Shelby. She is my assistant.”
“It’s nice to meet you,” I say simply, and she scoffs and turns to Soren. “Are we still on for tonight? You usually feed on Fridays.”
Feeds? So she’s human, and he feeds off her. Does that mean he won’t need me? Why does that upset me? It shouldn’t. He isn’t mine, and I don’t even want him. He is just a survival tool that I’m using.
“Go to my office,” he tells her. She grins and skips off into a room behind her, and Soren turns to me. “Go with Micah.”
“Soren, do you think…”
“I don’t think I asked your fucking opinion. Did I?” Soren shouts at Micah. “Fuck off.”
“Come on,” Vaughn says, his entire demeanor changing into something angry. I follow Micah, and we walk down the hallway.
“What the fuck is his problem?” Vaughn growls when we walk into another office.
“Not right now, Vaughn,” Micah says as he sits me on a black leather couch. “Talia, honey. You are his mate. I won’t lie to you. What he is about to do is going to cause you an incredible amount of pain. There is nothing we can do to help until he is done.”
“Why…” I start to ask.
“I don’t know, and I don’t think he does either,” Caine says. “Lie down, and try to get comfortable.”
I feel a sense of dread start to fill me as I lie down and face the back of the couch. I curl myself into the fetal position, hugging the soft throw pillow to my chest so I can bury my face as tears well up.
I scream in pain when it suddenly stabs through my belly, and it doesn’t let up. It feels like a knife being driven into me and twisted. My body is violently shaking as I scream until my throat is raw and my voice is broken. All five of Soren’s friends sit with me, but no one touches me. They can’t, because Soren would never allow them to comfort me through this. He’s reminding me that he doesn’t need me, and I am at his mercy.
By the time the searing pain starts to fade, I am exhausted from screaming and sobbing. I’ve never wanted to die more than I do right now. This isn’t desperation this time; it’s despair, and I won’t survive it.
