Page 74 of Protect Me
A hand closes around my ankle, and I fall forward, my hands barely preventing me from slamming face-first into the hard floor. He rips me backward, yanking me toward him and straddling me.
“You can’t be dead,” he says, already winded. “I made him a promise. But you can be unconscious.” His gaze momentarily drops to my breasts barely covered by the sports bra I’m wearing. It’s then I note the way his pupils expand, the way his lips part just a little.
And even though minutes ago I was swearing I’d never influence Duncan to want me, it’s my only route here. I just have to hope Duncan gets through in time because, if I let this asshole drag me from this room, they’ll never find me. Instead of fighting him, I go still. “Are you sure you want to turn me in?” I question, letting my magic seep from every pore in my body.
Zaxby stills as my power infiltrates his mind. “What?”
“I can see that you find me attractive,” I say seductively even as bile rises in my throat. “Don’t you want just a taste, Zaxby? I won’t tell. Go ahead.”
“Sway,” Duncan roars. He slams against the door, and it moves just a little.
My heart thuds wildly, but I force myself to appear calm. “Go ahead. Touch me.”
His gaze rests on my breasts. And he releases me just long enough for me to rip my hand free and slam my fist into his jaw.
The door splinters, and a massive lion sprints into the ring. He leaps over me and growls at Zaxby, who’s managed to get to his feet. Tail twitching, Duncan stalks forward. He pauses for a moment and shifts, standing before me as over six feet of glorious, naked man.
“Who the fuck hired you?” he snarls at Zaxby.
Zaxby stares at me then back to Duncan. “I—”
Duncan grabs him by the throat and picks him up, slamming him to the ground. Bone crunches, and Zaxby screams. “Tell me who the fuck hired you,” Duncan growls again, “Or I’ll rip you to shreds right the fuck here.”
“Duncan—” I start, panic clawing at my chest. Because if he answers, they will knowhisname. And if they go after him, they’ll die. “Duncan!”
Performers rush in. The berserker and her djinn lover, Brad and Kleo, and—to my complete dismay—D. The Ringmaster says nothing as he crosses his arms and watches his head of security torture one of his performers.
“Who?” Duncan bellows, completely ignoring my pleas and the growing audience.
Zaxby says nothing. Duncan partially shifts his hand, exposing large claws that he slashes over Zaxby’s chest. Blood spurts, and flesh tears as the rooster shifter screams in agony.
“I can keep this up all fucking day!” Duncan yells. “Who hired you?”
“R-r-r-robert Bardot,” he stammers.
My blood runs cold.
Duncan turns and glares at me. “That him?”
I don’t respond. Don’t breathe. Afraid to confirm what I was desperate to keep from him in the first place.
“Tell him,” D orders from right behind me.
I close my eyes, and tears slip free. I nod.
Zaxby screams, and I open my eyes just in time to see Duncan slash his claw over Zaxby’s throat, damn near severing his head in the process. Bile rises in my gut, but I swallow it back down and cross both arms over myself.
“Get her upstairs,” D orders Duncan. “Fiona, get a group and clean this fucking mess up.”
“You got it.” She rushes in, offering me a sympathetic smile as she passes, but heads straight for the body.
Duncan puts a hand on my shoulder and guides me out.
Somehow, someway, we make it upstairs. But he doesn’t take me to my room. Instead, he guides me into his apartment. The scents of all three men hit me right in the gut, and my twisted soul embraces the desire I feel even in the midst of death.
“Drink,” he orders as he offers me a glass of water.
I do as he says, my vision clearing even as panic claws its way through me like I’m made of wet tissue paper.