Page 8 of Bloody Kingdom

Instantly, a pained expression crosses her face as she holds her head in her hands. “Shit,” she groans.

Deciding to not prolong the inevitable confrontation, I step away from the window into her view. “I wouldn’t recommend moving so fast, you took a blow to the head when you were attacked.”

Her head snaps up and powder blue eyes filled with panic clash with mine. Her skin pales and a small gasp escapes her parted lips. “Who—” she stammers. “Who the hell are you?”

I take a step forward. Quincey instantly backpedals farther up the bed until her back is pressed to the headboard of the canopy bed frame. Just like she did with Duke in the alley, she holds up her shaking hand, silently begging me to stay back.

Not one to take orders, I stalk closer to the bed.

Her eyes dart to the door. “Where’s Duke?”

“He’s here,” is the only information I offer.

She nervously licks her lips, wincing when her tongue brushes the cut that now resides there. “Why am I here?” Quincey questions. “What do you want from me? Money?” She shakes her head. “I don’t have anything to give you.”

I bark out a cold laugh. “I’m well aware of your financial situation.”

She’s already cost me a pretty penny.

Quincey presses against the headboard even harder, as if that extra inch of space between us will do her any good. The poor girl has no idea who she’s trapped in a room with. “Then you know I have nothing to offer you.” She pushes her hair out of her face. “I havenothing.”

The way her eyes dart between the door and me doesn’t go unnoticed. She’s not as sly as she thinks she’s being, I know what she’s planning. It’s foolish, but once again, her bravery knows no bounds.

“That is where you’re wrong, Quincey Page.” I come to a stop at the foot of her bed. Cocking my head, I eye her with a bland stare. “You have something I need.”

Her body goes rigid, the muscles of her throat shifting as she swallows hard. In a move that is shockingly fast and agile for a human, she springs from the bed. Even with a wounded ankle, she’s quick as she flies across the room. The white T-shirt the doctor changed her into rides up her legs as she sprints toward the door.

With an exasperated sigh, I look to the ceiling and count to five to calm myself. I stay put even when I hear the turning of the door handle and her bare feet pound down the hallway. She can run as much as she’d like, but unfortunately for her, she’s not getting very far. It doesn’t matter how much of a head start I give her, she’ll never outrun me.

Ten seconds, that’s how long I let her have before I fly after her. I’m behind her in less than a second. The scream she lets out as my arms wrap around her middle is loud enough to wake the dead. My sensitive ears ring from the high-pitched noise.

“Stop screaming,” I order. “It’s such an unpleasant noise.” The cries are cut off when I abruptly lift her over my shoulder. Her legs kick and thrash, her hands beat on my lower back. “That’s enough of that,” I grumble, clamping my arm around her thighs, locking her in place.

“How did you move so fast? Put me down!” Quincey growls, her hands never letting up from their assault on my back. “What the fuck is wrong with you?”

“More than you’ll ever be able to understand.”

I march back into the room I intend to be hers for the foreseeable future. Unceremoniously, I toss her back onto the king-size bed. I bite back a smirk as she lands in an ungraceful heap.

Like an angered kitten, she turns on me, teeth bared. “I don’t know who you think you are or who gave you the right, but you can’t just kidnap me and then manhandle me!”

In a flash, I’m towering over her, my arms caging her in on the bed. Her chest heaves just barely an inch away from mine. “You’re wrong again, Miss Page. I have every fucking right. You see, five hours ago I forfeited a large sum of money to obtain such rights. It is now myright tohold you here as long as I see fit. It is now myrightto manhandle you however I desire. It is now myrightto do whatever the fuck I want with you because that little debt of yours? It’s been paid.” I lean in close, so close the vanilla scent that clings to her suffocates me. “You no longer owe Barrett Gallo.” My voice is just a whisper. “You owe me.”

Her heart pounds against her chest, the erratic beat filling my ears. “Why the hell would you pay my debt?”

“Isn’t it obvious?” I question. “I want you indebted to me.”

Her eyes harden and she inches close to me. “Then you’re an idiot.”

Caught off guard, I narrow my eyes at her. I’ve never been called an idiot before. Most people—aside from Duke and two others—are too afraid of me to say such things. “Excuse me?”

“You’re. An. Idiot,” she repeats slowly as if she’s talking to a child. “I was never going to be able to repay Gallo, how the hell am I supposed to repay you?”

“I don’t believe I said I wanted to be repaid in money.” This close to her face, I spot the freckles across the bridge of her nose. Sweat builds at her temples from the fear surging through her body.

“You want me to repay you in what,sex?” Quincey’s face hardens, chin tipping defiantly. Her slender arm points at the far wall before she vows, “I’ll jump through that window before I become a whore for you.”

I recoil from her, quickly putting space between us. “Let’s get one thing clear, I will never share a bed with you, Miss Page.” I adjust my now rumpled suit jacket from my brief interaction with her in the hallway. “After tonight, you’ll barely see any of me.”

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