Page 29 of Bind Me

He nearly slips on a magazine as he lunges for a window, smacking it open with such force that one hinge snaps free. He scrambles out, moving fast—but I’m quicker.

Tucking away my taser and badge, I surge forward like a missile, scrambling through the window and leaping onto the front lawn. I spot him taking a corner around the next apartment building and charge after him, just catching a glimpse of him slipping out the back. I find him fighting to open a locked door.

“Hey, we don’t have to do this the hard way! Just turn yourself in.” Breathless, I charge on, dodging fallen trash cans and skidding closer to him.

He turns to face me, desperation scribbled on his face as he does a fast scan of the enclosed yard to realize there’s no way out but past me unless he scales the tall fence.

Suddenly, he charges at me like a madman.

I throw myself forward, ducking his swinging arm at the last second, and whip around, aiming a swift kick to the back of his knees.

He stumbles slightly, and fortunately, the wall of the building is there to catch him. Before he can fully regain his footing, I capitalize on the moment. In a fluid motion, I twist around to his front, my taser already in hand, and with a decisive shove, I push myself into him, driving him against the building. His back hits the brick with a thud, and he winces, caught off guard by my force.

With one hand, I clamp down on his throat, my mermaid grip iron-tight, his skin already reddening as he gasps for air. The taser is pressed firmly against his balls over his pants.

He thrashes, his hand half-raised, ready to punch me in the face.

“Don’t fucking think about it,” I hiss, jamming the weapon harder against his jewels. “Ever wondered what happens if your balls are tasered? You’re about to find out if you don’t do exactly as I say.”

He grimaces, a wincing sound coming from his throat, as he lowers his hand.

Even in my human form, I can draw on the strength from my mermaid side, pinning him to the wall with greater ease. At times like this, I wonder how much stronger I’d be if I carried some of my father’s wolf shifter abilities. Wish I had them some days for my job, but I don’t.

I ease my grip on Moore’s throat only ever so slightly so he breathes.

Just as I have Moore securely pinned to the wall and am preparing to cuff him, a shadow falls over me. My heart leaps into my throat, fearing someone’s about to jump me. I flinch, twisting my head in that direction, tensing from whatever’s going to happen next. Instead of a confrontation, I find him…

I roll my eyes hard. “Are you following me?”

Kaden leans casually against the building beside us, his elbow propped like he’s merely watching an interesting street performance. A sinful smirk plays on his lips while the butterflies in my stomach are doing somersaults, and my knees wobble.

“Hello, mate!” he states in that dark voice.

That word, mate, rolls over my thoughts. The man I’m destined to be with is this huge guy who melts my insides from his mere presence. I can’t keep staring at the curling edges of his mouth.

“Go away,” I manage, releasing Moore’s throat and reaching for the cuffs on my belt while still holding him prisoner in place with my taser.

“I’m loving this darker side of you. It suits you well.”

The tension, the arousal that awakens instantly in his company, doesn’t completely leave my body, but irritation flares up.

“Not the time, Kaden,” I snap, though a part of me can’t ignore the amusement in his azure eyes. I keep my taser pressed firmly on Moore’s balls, but he’s eyeing Kaden warily.

“Who the fuck’s that?” he groans.

I level a brief stare at Kaden while lifting my cuffs.

“Just pretend I’m not here,” Kaden replies. “I’m simply watching my gorgeous fated mate at work,” he quips, then turns to me with a more serious tone. “So, this is your job? Catching bad guys, then? Just like you were searching for Belu?”

His words trigger a sharp response from me, the memory of finding Belu tied up on my doorstep that morning flashing through my mind.

“It was you, wasn’t it? You caught him and dumped him on my doorstep,” I gripe, my voice tight.

His grin widens, confirming my suspicion without a word. Despite the anger threading through me, his lips slightly part, as though he’s about to speak, then chooses not to. The breeze that carries his scent over me—the ocean in a storm, undeniably masculine—makes me involuntarily inhale deeply, my body tightening with an unbearable need despite the situation.

At that moment, Moore shoves me hard and bolts across the yard toward the towering metal fence. I stumble back, but Kaden’s arm is viper fast and loops around my back, catching my balance.

“Fuck, look what you did,” I growl at Kaden, frustration boiling over, pushing away from him.

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