Page 16 of Pretty Threats

“Easy now,” Jamie says. “War, just lock her up and keep the key.”

War eyes me suspiciously. “Or lock them both up together.”

“Or that,” Jamie agrees. “All settled.”

Raine is as stiff as a fucking board. She must be losing her mind, but she’s as silent and calm as I need her to be. She learned that from being around me. She’s been witness to a bloody mess of my making, and she managed to go silent that night, too.

10

RAINE

The upstairs is a blur as Killian pulls me through a shadowy living room. We follow the one called War down a hall. He turns on a light, and we’re in a huge bedroom. This room is on the side of the building that faces the street not the waterfront. There are no windows.

A king bed with a black silk duvet fills the majority of the space. The tall headboard is charcoal leather, but the design has two round cut-outs in it that look like stainless steel portholes.

I don’t notice War go to his dresser, but he must because his arm appears in front of me holding a black t-shirt.

“Change.” It’s an order.

My eyes go wide. “Right here?”

“Yes.”

My eyes dart to Killian. His expression never changes, but he nods.

War’s gruff voice booms across the room. “I’m too tired to look at your ass, little girl. But I will work up the energy to spank it if you keep me waiting. Fucking change now.”

I wince.

Killian moves in front of me as War stalks to a heavy wood dresser with intricate carvings and an antique silver finish. The handles are curved steel and remind me of human spines.

With Killian positioned in front of me, I’m not anywhere in view in the mirror above the dresser, and War is partially turned away. He’s not looking at me.

Killian grabs my arms and lifts them. Leaning down, he whispers, “Don’t fight. Stay still.”

“This can’t happen…” I whisper.

His fingers grab the hem of my sweater and lift it up and over my head. He unclasps my bra, making me suck in a small breath. I drop my arms to cover myself, but he pushes them aside so he can push the bra’s shoulder straps. It drops onto my feet.

I’m already shaking when my teeth start to chatter.

Killian pulls the shirt, which must be like 3X, over my head, and it falls into place, reaching my thighs. His hands go under it to unfasten my jeans. It helps that I’m staring at his chest, rather than meeting his eyes. As he jerks my jeans down, my underwear starts to go with them. I don’t even move.

He reaches into the jeans, grabs the undies, and pulls them back into place. Then he pushes the denim to the floor and takes each of my feet out of them.

When he stands, I stare straight ahead at his muscled chest. My lip is quivering, and tears fill my eyes.

“Stay calm till we’re alone.” Killian’s voice is no more than a whisper, but it’s commanding. “You can do that.”

Life around Killian is never normal. I’m out of practice, but I know how to act like everything’s okay when it’s definitely not. My heartbeat stutters to a slower rhythm, trying to reach a normal rate. I can’t get there, but at least I don’t feel faint.

When Killian turns his head, his voice is like a knife stabbing the air. “She’s ready.”

War, who’s had his back to us, may have been watching Killian in the mirror. He walks over and looks me up and down. “Like a little doll.” He starts to guide me to the bed.

A pulse of reality hits me, and I try to backpedal. His arm loops around me and tosses me on the bed like I’m exactly what he called me.

My gaze darts around the room. Killian’s between me and the door, watching with a deadly expression.

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