Chapter 16
HAILEY
Icy drops of rain stung my heated cheeks as Greyson pulled me out through the heavy doors of the courthouse.
My shouts lost to the wind, he pulled me past several startled onlookers and through the parking lot.
In my struggle to keep up with his long stride, my foot slipped on the slick pavement and my knees buckled.
If it weren’t for his powerful grip on my upper arm, I would have fallen flat on my ass in a mud puddle.
He tightened his hold, casting a frustrated glance down at me over his shoulder. His brow furrowed. “Stop fooling around and come on.”
I dug my heels in. “I’m not fooling around. Sorry if I’m not accustomed to being dragged across a stupid parking lot by a Neanderthal posing in a thousand-dollar suit.”
He stopped walking and looked down at me with a stare that dared me to keep talking. “It’s a five-thousand-dollar suit, and would you rather I toss you over my shoulder?”
Damn, this man rattled me. He carried himself like the thought that someone might object or rebel had simply never occurred to him.
The gray skies and fragmented light carved deep shadows beneath the cut of his jaw. His dark eyes looked nearly black, giving him the sinister appearance of an avenging demon.
I pulled back. No, the threat wasn’t idle.
He wrenched me forward.
Our bodies slammed together, robbing my lungs of air. I braced my palms against his chest on instinct, and my fingers splayed wide but couldn’t span even half the width of him. I was five-foot-five and furious, and none of it mattered against the sheer size of this man.
Again, the man seemed to have the power to stop time.
I swore I could see the crystal sheen of each individual raindrop hanging suspended in the surrounding air. I no longer felt the chill of the wind or the damp cling of my clothes. My entire reality was centered on him and the heat radiating off his body.
Greyson notched a finger under my chin and lifted my face to his. “You really are adorable when you get your feathers ruffled.”
His gaze drifted over my face to land on my mouth.
My tongue flicked out to moisten my lips.
A low sound emanated from deep in his chest.
If I hadn’t felt the vibration under my fingertips, I would have thought it was thunder in the distance.
His arms enclosed my waist and drew me closer.
Somehow, I’d stopped breathing and yet my breath came in quick, erratic gasps all at the same time. My fingers found his collar. I wasn’t pulling him closer. I wasn’t pushing him away. I just held on, knuckles white.
His lips parted as he leaned in.
He is going to kiss me.
This strange man who I only just met five minutes ago is going to kiss me.
This strange man who basically kidnapped me four minutes ago is going to kiss me.
This was madness.
The sarcastic tilt of his mouth, as if he was in on some secret amusement. The strength of his arms around me after weeks of being so scared and so alone. I could almost trick myself into believing everything was going to be okay.
But it would not be okay.
Nothing was okay.
Madison’s face flashed behind my eyes.
Before his lips could reach mine, I turned my face sharply to the side.
His lips grazed my ear, sending a shiver that had nothing to do with the cold down my spine. “Have it your way, my little bird. Later.”
Later.
I couldn’t decide if that was a promise or a threat.
Greyson stepped back and shrugged out of his suit jacket. He draped it over my shoulders and then wrapped his arm around my waist, pulling me close to his side. The spicy scent of his cologne drifted over me as the comforting warmth of his jacket chased away the chill.
With me pressed along his side, he moved with decisive steps toward a silver Mercedes. Pulling the keys from his pocket, he clicked the button to unlock the door.
Before I could get in, shouts from the other side of the parking lot captured our attention.
I turned to see Madison and Pierce.
What the hell was going on? Why was she outside the courthouse…with him?
I lurched forward, but Greyson’s arm around my waist stopped me. “What the fuck?”
“Get in the car, Hailey.” His tone was deep and even.
Uncaring when his coat slipped from my shoulders and fell over his restraining arm, I clawed at his wrist. “Let me go! I have to go to her!”
There were more shouts. Several guards appeared. Guns drawn.
The first shot cracked the air and my knees buckled. My hand covered my mouth to stifle a horrified scream as more gunfire pierced the air.
Straining against Greyson’s iron grip, I helplessly watched Madison and Pierce duck against his car.
There was another volley of gunfire.
This time Madison fell forward and out of sight, blocked by Pierce’s body and the open passenger door.
They hit her.
They had killed her.
The scream that tore out of me didn’t sound human.
Then everything went black.