“Wait!” I cried, watching Ryth and her brothers drive away.
Agony tore through my chest as they accelerated hard, then braked to a stop. My heart hammered, taking flight for a second as the driver’s door opened. But they hadn’t stopped for me. A dog came tearing around the corner of the building, limping as she ran, until she leaped through the door and disappeared into the car.
Then they left in a hail of bullets.
But I didn’t get to say goodbye. Tears shimmered in my eyes as London grabbed my arm and hauled me backwards, barking orders at his sons as the roller door closed.
“We can’t be seen!” London roared, his stare merciless as he glared at his sons. “You understand that?”
The blond asshole lifted his phone, pressed an icon, and started speaking, giving commands as we were pushed toward the back of the building.
“One wrong move,” London warned Ryth’s father. “And I’ll have them killed before they reach the city limits.”
There was a flare of anger in Jack Castlemaine’s eyes. His hands fisted at his sides. For a second, I thought he was going to lunge and take London to the floor. I didn’t know what I’d do if that happened. But I never got a chance to find out. He glanced my way, then leashed that anger inside as the growl of a car’s engine sounded close to the door where we stood.
Gunfire cracked out, the sound so loud it was deafening. I lifted my hands to cover my ears, but I didn’t have a chance to shield myself before London grabbed my arm, his grip cruel as he pushed me toward the door as it swung inward and a man wearing a black vest and carrying an automatic rifle stepped in and looked at London. “My men are holding them back. We move now.”
A quick nod, and London drove me forward, out the door and toward the waiting car. Jack followed closely behind, guiding me to the open car door. Everything happened in a hail of bullets and guttural screams. I was virtually thrown across the seat of the Explorer. Rough hands pushed me forward until I fell to the floor of the car.
He was on top of me in an instant, his arms over my head, his body a heavy weight on mine. “Stay the fuck down, Vivienne,” London snarled as the car doors were slammed shut behind us.
I didn’t dare move. Tires howled, but I barely shifted as the car hurtled backwards, then spun before surging forward once more.
Oh, God…oh, God…oh, God…oh, God.
The back window shattered. London’s guttural roar filled my ears as he crushed me further down, shielding me, then we were gone, leaving the fierce sounds of the battle behind.
Harsh, panting breaths filled my ears, until London suddenly realized we were out of there. He lifted his head and the rush of his breaths faded.
“Are you hurt?” I couldn’t move for a second, until London grabbed my chin, forcing my gaze to his. “Are…you…hurt?”
I shook my head, leaving him to glance at Jack, hunkered low in front of the seat and curled against the door.
“I’m fine,” Jack answered, driving himself up enough to peek over the rear of the seat and through the shattered window. “Just fucking fine.”
“Jesus.” London rose, pushing hard against me to climb onto the seat.
But he didn’t drag me with him. No, instead he looked down, staring at me like this is where I belonged…at his feet.
The red mark of my hand still burned on his face. I couldn’t look away, couldn’t breathe, just stared at him as the car sped through the city and we turned, braked hard, and came to a stop.
The driver’s door opened, and barely a second later, Jack’s door followed suit.
“Out,” London commanded.
I shoved upwards as Jack was hauled out. “Wait!” I screamed. “Wait!”
But London’s man didn’t even slow, just pulled him toward another car that was waiting. There was panic in Jack’s eyes, real, terrified panic. I didn’t care what he’d done, didn’t care what he represented. All I knew was that he was my one connection to Ryth…other than the bastard who held her life in the balance.
“Vivienne!” London roared as I scurried after him.
“Wait!” I grabbed Jack’s arm, trying my best to break the driver’s hold.
“Vivienne.” Jack shook his head and murmured, “Don’t, save yourself. Protect yourself. Do whatever you need to do to stay alive…this is only the beginning.”
Then he was ripped away from me and dragged toward one of the two waiting cars. I stood there, watching as they pushed him into the back of the car, then closed the door and drove away…leaving London and me behind. I spun, glaring at him. “What are you going to do with him?”
But London didn’t answer. He stalked closer, that savage goddamn stare trapping mine. I stepped backwards as the door to a sleek Lexus opened.
“In the car, Vivienne,” London commanded.
Do whatever you need to do to stay alive. Jack’s words came back to me as I turned around, defeated, and climbed into the passenger side back seat. The door closed with a thud. London spoke to the driver and as I watched the man nod, I realized just how powerful my captor was.
He didn’t just own the camera feeds in someone’s private home.
He didn’t just command an army of hitmen to stop The Order in their tracks.
He didn’t just hold Ryth and her brothers’ lives in the palm of his hand…
But he did all those things…without a flicker of concern.
As I watched London turn and walk around the front of the car to climb in beside me, I realized how dangerous the man was. He closed the door, started the engine, and put the car into reverse.
I didn’t speak, didn’t say a word. Cold fear moved through me as I stared at the crimson mark on his cheek. We drove in silence as he made our way back to the house. It felt like an eternity since we’d left…an eternity of terror. My ears were still ringing when we pulled into the driveway and waited for the garage door to rise before he parked inside.
I waited as he killed the engine and climbed out. In the harsh wash of the garage lights, London waited, standing at the front of the car. Without a command, I slowly climbed out and shoved the door closed behind me, keeping him in my sights I walked toward the door to the house.
I could run…but how far would that get me?
London stalked me like a predator and the heavy thud of his steps incited panic inside. I barely made it inside before his steps quickened.
“Wait!” I spun and shoved my hand outwards, stepping backwards toward the stairs. “I…”
I tried to think of something to stop him…but there was no going back. Not now. Not after what had happened. My heel hit the first stair, pitching me backwards. My nails buckled as I caught my fall, until I slipped, hitting the stairs hard.
I lay there while London loomed over me. “The contract,” I pleaded. “The contract.”
His lips curled and that bestial gleam sparked in his eyes as he lunged, caged my throat with his grip, and snarled, “Fuck the contract.”
Then he kissed me…hard.
