Total pages in book: 106
Estimated words: 105231 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 526(@200wpm)___ 421(@250wpm)___ 351(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 105231 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 526(@200wpm)___ 421(@250wpm)___ 351(@300wpm)
Shit.
She was back at the compound. Only this time, she was a prisoner rather than a guest. And she had Tyler to protect.
“What are we doing here?” Tyler asked.
One of the men glowered at them both before nodding over at the sofa. “Sit.”
Tyler scowled, but he was pale and swaying so she knew that he wasn’t in fighting form. Not that they were going to be able to fight their way out of this.
She grabbed his hand and drew him over to the sofa. “Sit.”
“Why would I do what they say?” he grumbled.
“Because you need to do what I tell you,” she said. “I’m taking the lead here. Plus, you look like you’re gonna fall over.”
“I am not,” he said as he stumbled back into the seat. “And I’m in charge.”
“No way,” she told him as she sat next to him to nervously wait.
Of course Aadan took forever. It was a power play and he definitely wasn’t above those.
Even though she was expecting him, she still jumped as he walked into the living room.
He was still gorgeous. But it was a cold, evil beauty. And any attraction she’d once felt for him had disappeared. He wore black pants and a white shirt that was half open to display his chest.
Every inch of him was carefully plucked and primped. He spent more time on his hair than she did. Of course, she could probably stand to spend a bit more time on her hair.
He stopped in front of the sofa, but he didn’t bother to look at Tyler. No, his gaze was entirely on her. And she felt an icy chill go down her spine.
“Aadan,” she said quietly. “Long time no see.”
“Yes, and whose fault is that?” he purred. “You left me.”
She gave him a puzzled look. “Your men took me to the airport.”
He grew very still and she gulped.
Oh hell.
That was not a happy look.
“What?” he whispered. “I was told that you ran.”
“I mean . . . well . . . I . . .”
She would have run if she could have. And what did she say now? She’d thought that he had let her go and now it seemed that he hadn’t?
Oh, things were so much worse than she’d thought.
He strode toward her.
Run, Caren!
But she couldn’t. Tyler was here. And then suddenly Aadan was looming over her, his hand around her throat in a clearly threatening manner.
This was bad, bad, bad.
A sense of déjà vu hit her hard.
“Who let you leave? Tell me,” Aadan demanded.
“I don’t . . . I don’t know!” she cried, trembling with fear.
“Tell me!” he roared.
She tried to back away but there was nowhere to go and her voice was gone. Even if she wanted to tell him, she was too fucking terrified to speak.
“Get the fuck off her!” Tyler yelled.
Suddenly, Aadan was dragged off her and Tyler had him pinned to the floor. Doors opened and men rushed in.
Shit. Shit. Shit.
They would kill Tyler! Before they could do anything, she leaped onto Tyler’s back in an effort to keep him safe.
“Do not hurt him!” she screamed as a foot kicked her hard in the side. Excruciating pain engulfed her she felt another boot slam into her thigh.
This was like nothing she’d experienced in her life. Emotional manipulation? Mental abuse? Heck, yes.
Physical pain?
Yeah, but not like this.
“Stop!” Aadan roared. “Anyone who harms her will die!”
Oh bollocks.
She was pulled off Tyler’s back with a cry of pain. She would have tried to fight the hands off, but she was too busy trying to breathe without passing out.
Aadan stormed over to her, his shirt ripped and his eye starting to swell.
Why had Tyler done that? Didn’t he realize how dangerous Aadan was? He was going to get himself killed. And then Travis would kill her.
She was already going to be in trouble. Without thought she reached for her necklace.
Oh no! Where was it? Travis wouldn’t be able to track her without it.
Despair flooded her and she wished she could cry but she was in too much pain. That would just make everything worse.
Breathing shallowly, she stared at Aadan warily. What was he going to do now?
Glancing around him, she saw that Tyler was being held by two big guys. A third man had his gun out and pointed at his head. Tyler looked even worse than before, blood was dripping down his face and there was more at the corner of his mouth.
“Please don’t hurt him,” she whispered to Aadan.
“Do you know why my men took him as well?” Aadan asked. “They thought that threatening him would keep you under control. They could be right, but I don’t like the fact that you care about another man. I don’t like it at all.”
Fuck. This wasn’t good.
“Because you’re mine, aren’t you, princess?” He reached out to cup her cheek.