Page 95 of Running Winter

I yelped with the sting, but it had the desired effect.

"Shut up, girl."

Leigh’s hand caressed the spot he had slapped, and I felt a warmth spread through my core.

I bit my lip as he set me down outside the store before he bundled me into his car.

Seconds later, we peeled out of the parking lot, and I shakily put my seatbelt on.

Something had spooked Leigh for sure, and from the way he was repeatedly checking his mirrors, he wasn't all too convinced we were safe. He drove in a circle before parking on the road opposite the store, dragging out binoculars from the side of his door.

"What the fuck—"

Leigh leaned over, pressing one finger against my lips as his slate grey eyes burned into mine.

"Please, Raven. Please just shut the fuck up for five minutes."

I grabbed his hand, dragging the finger into my mouth as I sucked on it.

Leigh tried to withdraw it from my mouth, but it was too late.

I bit down, not too hard, but hard enough to cause him to curse and rip his finger back to safety.

"You're fucking insane!" Leigh roared, glaring at me with rage. "I'm trying to stop you from being kidnapped, you stupid girl!"

I lifted my chin defiantly, folding my arms as I addressed him.

"I'm Raven Deacon. I'm not scared of a pair of skinny ass—"

"Listen to me," Leigh barked, his face close to mine suddenly.

I could smell the mint on his breath as he spoke, and up close, I could see the thick dark lashes that surrounded the stone-grey eyes that were glaring at me.

"It doesn't matter who you think you are. Those guys will take you to a den full of men who will pass you around like you are fucking candy. Biting their fingers will excite them, and you will do it with a gun to your head."

I swallowed, unable to stop the tears from forming in my eyes.

"They wouldn't harm me—" I stammered.

"Oh, they would. They'd film it and send it to your Daddy. You think you have it all figured out, don't you? It doesn't matter who you are when you are in the hands of the enemy."

Leigh sank back into his seat, moving his attention back to the store. He cursed before starting the engine.

"Well, they're gone now."

Leigh didn’t respond, and I felt my anger rising back to the surface.

Did he really think he could manhandle me that way, in public too?

"Wait until I tell my dad that you slapped my ass," I snapped, as a smile curled on his lips.

Rage bubbled in my veins when he spoke.

"Tell him how much you liked it, too."

"I did not!" I hissed, resisting the urge to slap him upside his damn head.

"Alright, doll, whatever you say. Just shut up so I can think, yeah?"

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