Chapter 25 #2
When the doors opened, she gasped and threw her head toward them. Maybe expecting a resident standing on the other side, watching the round of discipline. Or hoping that we’d been caught in the act.
When there was nothing but empty space, she moaned and dropped her head, now deciding to throw her arm against her bottom.
As if that would prevent me from continuing her punishment.
Four more quick swats allowed me to hear a yelp.
A dark laugh bubbled to the surface as I pulled her back to her feet. The flush of her cheeks was an even more powerful draw. I could ravage her easily in the tight space.
But I’d wait until later when I had her all to myself.
“Now, be a good girl for me, my little slave.”
As she fought with her skirt, she blew hair from her face, offering me a dangerously hateful glare. “I will get you back for this.”
With her hand in mine, I yanked her into the hallway. “You can try. I’d enjoy that in truth.” A chuckle remained on my lips as I tugged the bag over my shoulder, leading into the silent hallway.
There was no reason for a sudden series of sensations to stop me in my tracks.
As I scanned the hallway, I accepted there was nothing was out of place.
The lights were the same, frosted sconces with a warm glow of light.
The doors were closed, the single table with a fake bunch of flowers in the same position.
But everything felt different, as if the space had been invaded.
“What’s wrong?” she asked, following my line of sight, her words barely above a whisper.
“Nothing.” The single word was terse, but I continued walking, constantly checking the area.
The closer I came to the front door, the worse the eerie sensations became. With my keys in my hand, I checked the door. There was no sign of a forced entry. I yanked my weapon into my hand and felt her tense.
“Just a precaution. Stay behind me,” I instructed. While it was plausible Lucifer knew exactly who I was, unless we’d been followed, which I’d ensured we hadn’t been, there was no way for him to discover where Kendrick lived.
Or so I’d believed.
I opened and pushed the door, remaining in the hallway. There were no unusual sounds, no strange movement. With the light coming in through the windows from the street, my eyes became accustomed to the shadows within seconds.
She squeezed my hand as a reminder she was right there behind me.
Still remaining silent, I pulled her inside, slowly lowering the bag to the floor and closing the door with a soft click. Something still felt off. I pressed my finger against her lips, telling her to keep quiet then headed into the living room space.
I moved through the unit, keeping the rooms in darkness. Very slowly, I headed up the stairs to the loft, sweeping every room on the floor.
Then I heard the thud.
Only one.
There was no scream, no indication Reese had been harmed in any way, but I knew without a doubt she had.
The instinct was as raw and powerful as anything I’d felt to date.
Everything about the moment struck a chord from deep within.
Not quite a hunger but a longing to paint the white walls of my condo with crimson.
Which was why I was already on edge, prepared for whoever was about to attack.
I didn’t need to wait long, the first strike coming even before I made it two steps.
The blow was significant, catching me on the side of the head.
Down I went, tumbling to the bottom, but the rush of adrenaline remained intact.
Somehow, I’d managed to keep my firm hold on the weapon, instantly jumping to my feet.
Now her scream was sharp, filled with fear and the kind of agony that ripped away any leftover concept of decency.
I reacted, striking the assailant in the same way he’d done with me. With an intense brutality that pitched him against the wall.
But he wasn’t the only one, another on me in an instant, throwing a punch that I caught mid action. “Nice try, fucker.” I pummeled my fist into his face and stomach, managing to spin around just as the first assailant fired a shot.
The goddamn bullet barely missed my head.
“Fucker,” I hissed, lunging toward him. As we both toppled to the floor, his weapon was flung aside.
But the second man had already recovered, yanking me by the neck of my shirt. Given his massive size, he had leverage, able to jerk me to my feet just as the first asshole snagged his weapon.
A scuffle caught my attention. I threw my head over my shoulder, realizing my beautiful slave was holding her own with another masked man. So there were three of them.
I witnessed her throwing a savage punch of her own to asshole number three, her aim successful. The jerk didn’t know what hit him, shocked enough he almost dropped his gun. She immediately dropped to the floor, scrambling forward.
Good girl.
She was going for the weapons in the duffle bag.
Maybe there were several attributes I didn’t know about her.
Grunts of rage returned my attention. Now I was becoming irritated. Not only from being treated like some common criminal, but also because the evening I’d had planned had been interrupted.
Fuck them.
I was finished with playing a nice guy.
When the first guy managed to aim his weapon at me, prepared to shoot, I grabbed the second. My timing couldn’t have been better.
The shot hit him right between the eyes.
But this was far from being over. Tossing him aside, I didn’t hesitate pointing my weapon at asshole number one.
Pop! Pop!
Ding dong, the bastard went down like a rock.
Which left contestant number three.
Reese was wrestling with him, her grunts matching my growls almost perfectly.
The jerk truly believed he could control her while ending my life.
I didn’t know my own strength, enraged he would dare touch what belonged to me. While I wanted nothing more than to take my time indulging in providing him with a lesson that he’d never forget, the last thing I wanted to do was to further traumatize her.
So I did what was necessary.
Pop! Pop! Pop!
The silence was as defining as it was delicious.
Maybe there was a killer instinct in me after all.
Taking a deep breath, I rose to my full height, satisfied with the outcome.
Until…
“Kendrick. Help me.”