Page 38 of Under Pressure

“Why are you saying this?”

“He can never be a father. You know it.”

Kendra felt herself breaking down, unwilling to lie to herself anymore. Hunter tightened his arms around her, pulling her into him. That unpleasant scent filled her nose and she tried to push away, her gaze drifting back to where Delta sat at the bar.

Except he was gone.

Stuck in Hunter’s grip, Kendra pressed her eyes shut, feeling tears well. Searing tension ripped up her throat and she gasped for breath. She gave that man too much power over her.

“I’m the one who will protect you.” Hunter wouldn’t relent. “I’ll marry you, Kendra.”

She looked up at him, her eyes wet. “And what do you want in return?”

He lifted his hand and touched her, like she was the prize he finally was ready to claim for his own. Every muscle in her body screamed as she realized how close he was getting. As he ran his gaze up and down her face, Kendra suddenly felt nauseous. There was no doubt what Hunter wanted in return—and she’d known it all along. She just wanted him to be a man and finally say it.

“What do I want in return?” he asked, his breath sour. “Isn’t it obvious?”

“Hunter,” she pleaded through the loud music in the bar, shaking her head. She couldn’t believe it—couldn’t believe the position she was in.

Hunter tightened his grip on her chin, and he had that same vicious, entitled look shining in his eyes. He wasn’t going to let her go. She flinched, but he grabbed her wrists, smacking her whole body against the wall, causing her to scream out, though it was dulled because of the loud music. She saw that same something in his eyes. He was losing control. Hunter’s eyes twitched with an anger she’d never seen before. Even in the darkness, she could see his neck pulse, like he was becoming someone else.

“Think about it, Kendra. I’ll take care of you.”

“I don’t need that.” She exhaled sharply. “I have to go.”

“You can’t leave. I’m not letting him win.”

Then Hunter’s head dropped lower, and he was readying to take her mouth. Writhing underneath his cold grip, she screamed out for help, screaming for Delta, but no one heard her. She shook her head, fighting back against Hunter. A lone tear sprung from her eyes as she desperately tried to free herself.

But she couldn’t.

Just before he could land his mouth on hers, a thick hand thumped on Hunter’s shoulder, yanking him off her. Letting out a sharp shriek, she collapsed back against the wall in shock, watching a surprised expression whipping across Hunter’s face. In the blink of an eye, the profile of a familiar tall man with a hood up and a black mask on pummeled Hunter to the ground.

She slid away, stumbling into the crowd. Through the loud music and the dark of the bar, all she could see was Hunter on the floor, bloodied and gasping. But, searching between the bobbing heads of the party people, she realized that Hunter was once again alone.

Delta was already gone…like a ghost.

Trying to process what the hell had just happened, she quickly slipped away and ran out of the bar, tears streaming down her face. It had all been a terrible mistake. Why the hell had she gone there? Trembling, Kendra launched herself back onto the street, her heels clicking noisily on the sidewalk as she paced back toward the lot where she’d left her car. Fear boiling over, she kept glancing over her shoulder, unsure who she was more afraid to see.

She sped off the main street into the connecting alleyway to the lot. She ran through the dark space, wishing she’d worn better shoes. The heels were new—and digging into her, making her hobble toward safety. Her car wasn’t far. She just had to get there—and get out. Get home.

Then she could think.

Halfway down the alley, she passed a fire ladder, creaking in the night’s breeze on the side of the building. A loud thud crashed behind her—like someone had jumped from the ladder onto the ground. She didn’t have time to turn around.

Hands wrapped around her in an aggressive bear hug, pulling her body into his. She tried to scream, but a gloved hand on her mouth stifled her. She immediately used her police training to destabilize her assaulter, kicking back and trying to bite the glove. She was good at it—but he was better, easily fending her off. He was strong as hell.

Tightening his hold on her, he held her back against his chest in the alley. It caused her to flinch and fight all the more, though his familiar scent was calming her at the same time.

“Why did you come to meet him—when I specifically told you to stay away?” His low voice challenged, as fierce as she’d ever heard him.

Unable to answer, as his hand still covered her mouth, she turned her head more toward him. He continued his questioning, which was nearly a lecture.

“Why can’t I get you to listen to me?”

Silent, she struggled to breathe as he held her mouth, wriggling and fighting his grasp. All she wanted to do was get away—get away from everything.

He yanked her harder into him, sending a clear message as he continued, “This is what happens when you don’t listen to me.”

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