Page 37 of Protect Me

“What did you tell them?’

Duncan glares at me. “Fucking nothing.”

“I’m sure he promised you something for my return. Power? Status?”

Duncan crosses the distance between us and grips me by the arms. “Do you really think any of us fucking care about that?”

I swallow hard, refusing to let his words seep past my defenses. “I’ve never met a man without a price.”

“When it comes to you? There is no reward large enough,” he replies.

Our gazes hold as I scramble to form some kind of rational thought that doesn’t involve wanting to be fucked senseless by all three of these powerful men. Then I can forget about my past and about the monster still tracking me.

Duncan releases me and steps back.

“We would never betray you,”Killian tells me, coming to stand right in front of me. His eyes are blazing with conviction. He means it. He’s also furious, but unlike this morning, that fury doesn’t scare me. It endears me to him for it.

And with that realization, my fear that the other two will hurt me dissipates as well. They might be angry, but it’s not the same type of fury Robert portrayed on so many different occasions. These men, as ferocious as they are, would never hurt me.

“Thank you,” I tell him. Glancing at the others, I add, “All of you. I appreciate your discretion.”

“As a member of the troupe, you get our loyalty and protection,” Bracken says.

“You also owe us an explanation,” Duncan cuts in, crossing his arms. “You want to tell us why you’d run from your fiancé?”

Shit. I look away, trying to formulate some answer that won’t get me thrown out on my ass. Of course, whoever came looking for me would tell them about him. I should have expected it.

“He’s not my fiancé,” I say finally. “Not anymore.”

“That’s what you have to say to the news we learned you’re engaged?” Killian demands.

“Shut up, Kill,” Bracken says.

Before I can answer, Duncan says, “Funny because fiancé is exactly the term the hunters who are being paid to find you used.” Like before, his tone is flat. Neutral even. But when I drag my gaze to his, the look in his bright eyes is anything but neutral.

He’s furious.

At the men who tried to find me. At my fiancé.

The realization warms me.

“Is he the one who hurt you?” Killian demands.

He’s still standing close, but now he crosses his arms, closing himself off. It’s for the best. I can’t let my fantasies distract me from what matters, and that’s making sure I never get sent back to that monster.

“Sway,” Bracken’s tone is gentle. He walks over and wedges himself between me and Killian, his gaze intent but encouraging. “You can talk to us. We’re trying to protect you. But we need to know what we’re up against.”

Killian’s rage; Duncan’s control. I could have stayed strong against either, but Bracken’s gentleness breaks down my willpower like nothing else.

“It’s not what you think, okay? He doesn’t love me. I don’t think he’s capable of it, really. All he wants is power. And to own me. Like a possession. No, like a weapon. He’s not well-liked, but he’s well-connected, and he uses those connections and resources like weapons too. He won’t stop coming for me but only because he can’t stand to lose. You should know that, at least.”

“What’s his name?” Duncan asks.

When I don’t answer, he shoves his way into the circle we’ve created so that I’m facing all three of them, close enough to touch now.

“Tell me his name,” Duncan says, “And we’ll stop him.”

I’m tempted, but in the end, I shake my head. “No.”