Page 272 of Enemies

He’s supremely confident, and that’s what she wants—to push him.

I inch toward her.

“Where are you going?” The guard twists my arm harder, stopping my progress and sending fiery pain from my shoulder socket down my spine.

I look down at my pocket. The phone is still there, mic tilted up. I pray to God the connection hasn’t been severed.

Rae’s lips curve. “What I imagine is that you’re a scared boy who’s ashamed he couldn’t do what his parents wanted by recruiting one single employee.” Dark brows draw together as she shifts onto the arm of the couch and crosses her legs. “And who had a weirdly personal thing for my boyfriend in high school?—“

Mischa backhands her.

I wrench against the man holding me, the pain in my shoulder nothing compared to the panic in my chest. No.

Rae’s facedown on the couch until he grabs her hair and drags her up.

“It’s justice I want,” Mischa spits in her face. “The pound of flesh I’m owed.”

“You’ll take it from me,” I bark.

It’s enough of an interruption that he turns slowly. “Or from her, while you watch.”

Fear turns my gut into a block of ice before I can stop it. My breath is a shallow rasp echoing in my ears as I strain against my captor.

“On your knees.” Mischa’s words are for Raegan.

“Do you know how much these pants cost?” She’s bluffing, but I can hear the edge of fear in her voice.

Because I know her.

And I love her.

“You won’t be wearing them again,” he promises. “You won’t be wearing anything soon, and the only thing you’ll care about is saying my name when I fucking tell you to. If I let you breathe long enough to say it.”

He reaches for the buckle on his pants.

This room is squeezing the life out of me. I barely hear the crackle in my pocket because I’ve been reduced to watching the woman I love face down a villain she never should have met.

Raegan backs away from him, realizing his intention.

But she collides with a security guard, who forces her forward again.

“My patience is wearing thin,” Mischa gripes, turning to me. “You’ll get on your knees, and you’ll tell him to watch.”

Ideas of good and bad blur together. Of justice and vindication.

I hate him. But what comes through that hate is something bigger.

Love.

I love her, and it’s not about possession or control. It’s about the way she teaches me to see the world. Revenge is worth nothing—there’s no reason to fight for the past, but there’s every reason to fight for the future.

I’m going to get us out of this.

I’ll tear out of the security guard’s grip, lunge for Mischa.

But the men with the guns will get to me first.

Don’t care. I need to protect her.

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