"How do you know Jeanine?"

"I, I mean, we met her on Morgan's ship. We were doing security work for him."

"I don't remember you. I was on the yacht for a while."

"We didn't see your either. Jeanine kept asking. Morgan must have kidnapped you before we arrived."

"Yeah," she said. "That makes sense."

Her voice had a faraway sound.

"Surma, are you feeling okay?"

"No. The doctor made me take a pill. He's been giving me lots of pills, ones that make me feel like I'm burning up. I didn't want to, but he said if I did, I could eat. But instead, he brought me here."

"He's outside the door?" I whispered.

"He was, but he said he was going someplace to watch."

I almost asked, "Watch what?" until I caught an enticing scent. Her arousal hit me hard, and my cat stirred inside, restless, missing his mate. Fuck that Melkot. Why did Surma smell like this, like she was inheat? My cat growled within me, and restlessness filled me. I would surely take this woman but for my bond with Jeanine. No, I didn't want her, only Jeanine. Unreasoning anger stirred and shook my body, and I had to do something before I lost control. I took Surma's arms and propelled her to the bathroom.

"Get into the bathroom. Lock the door. Take the longest shower ever. Don't come out of the bathroom, do you understand?"

"No," she said.

"I'm not safe to be around."

"You look fine to me."

I roared, something I rarely do, and a startled Surma shrieked and backed into the bathroom. She slammed the door, the lock turned then clicked, and the shower started.

Good.

The intercom crackled.

"This is pointless," Melkot said. "Sooner or later, you will give in."

"Sooner or later, you can go fuck yourself. I suggest sooner." I picked up the metal chair from the desk and bashed it against the speaker set in the wall. I smashed it many times until it the metal plate over the speaker dented in and the legs on the metal chair were no longer straight. Then I started on the steel door banging on it with all my strength. I didn't expect to get far, but at least I could make my point. Each strike against the door reverberated through my body, but it also created an explosively large noise. The alarm klaxon sounded. Good. Melkot got the message. I didn't care what he did to me. I would not be part of his crazy plan.

I would not betray my mate.

Footsteps came, more men than I thought that Melkot had here and stopped at the door. I stood to the side and held the chair in the air and waited.

The door opened, and I swung but had to stop suddenly. My breath hitched as I looked upon the one person I didn't expect to see.

"Damon?" said Jeanine. I stared at her. She wore a camo uniform though she had no weapons. Behind her stood Kane in full uniform and tactical gear and a group of heavily armed men.

"What are you doing here?"

"Saving your butt."

"Both of us," said Kane.

"And you allowed her to come?" I'm incredulous he put our mate in danger.

"You couldn't stop me if you tried."

"And I tried," said Kane with a smirk.