Page 34 of Romancing the Orc

Lara

Klaus gets close to the catsuit dummy, but not close enough.

“Come on,” I mouth under my breath, knife poised over a vine. When Brokk and I came up with this plan, it seemed foolproof. I’m determined tonothot mess it up.

He takes one step closer, his eyes narrowing. Then he yells, “It’s not her!”

Shit! My heart skips, pulse racing with adrenaline. This is it. Now or never!

I saw at the vine with all of my nervous energy. It parts with a snap.

The net falls over the man. The vines tighten and pull him to the ground, following the command Brokk imbued them with. But they can only hold one instruction, so this next part’s on me.

I run over and stomp on the hand holding the gun.

Klaus grunts but doesn’t let go.

Dammit! I should use the knife, but… I know I’ll never be able to cut him, and he’ll be able to tell it’s an empty threat—my face always shows everything I’m thinking.

I drop to my knees beside him, snatch up a Christian Loubouton, and grind the stiletto heel into his hand.

“Shit!” He lets go of the gun, and I pick it up and throw it into the jungle, opposite of where Brokk faces off against the other goon.

Klaus struggles against the vines, then flops back, lying flat. “Well, girlie. Seems you’re not as helpless as we thought.”

I grin. “Damned right, I’m not.”

“Or is it that you had help?”

I turn to look at Brokk, his wide back protecting me from the other asshole.

“Is that the cover model? Edgerton looked him up. Says the only reason this guy has a job is because of you.” Klaus’s cold blue eyes flick past me toward Brokk, and his lips curl in a sneer. “Did he decide modeling money isn’t enough? Bet he figured he could get all up and close to you and get the money straight from the source.”

“God, why does everyone think authors are rich? That’s only the huge names, like Ruby Dixon.” Not that this asshole will know who Ruby is.

“So he’snotfucking you?”

I scowl, but my shit poker face must show the truth.

He chuckles, low and mean. “Yeah, that’s what I thought. He’s gone and got himself a sugar momma.”

“It’s not like that. We’re fated mates!”

“Fated what? Is that one of those romance-novel fairy tales girlies like you like to tell themselves?” He laughs even harder than before.

Anger flashes through me. I’m so sick of the way so many men think romance is stupid. As if falling in love isn’t the most important thing in the world! And to say all this shit about the special connection Brokk and I have!

I brandish the heel and yell, “Stop laughing! It’s real!”

“Lara!” Brokk calls out.

The sharp retort of a gun slices through the air. Ice shivers down my spine, freezing my breath.

No!Brokk!

I drop everything and whirl, heart in throat.

Brokk’s body hangs in midair, one hand planted on the ground in a high side plank.

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