Page 10 of The Verdict

“Who is he?”

I tensed and blinked. “I-I don’t know.” I took a step back. Even if he’d saved me from Mars, there was no way out of this scenario where I didn’t end up even more vulnerable than I already was—with them simply knowing they’d found me.

Mars managed to force out a sputtered curse, and then I saw it—his hand moving for the holster hidden under his jacket.

“Gun!” I cried out and ducked.

But no shot came.

There was a loud crack. A thud of the weapon hitting the carpeted floor. And when I looked up, I saw Mars’s lifeless body hanging limp in Motorcycle Man’s arms.

He’d killed him. Snapped his neck.

Hot air vaulted into my lungs as I straightened.Holy shit.

Motorcycle Man’s expression was hot and protective. His blue gaze lethal as it raked over me, leaving goose bumps in its wake.

“You alright?”

I was more than alright. I wasimpossiblyalright—and incredibly attracted to the man who’d just saved my life.Who hardly knew me but had just killed for me.

“Yes.” My voice was husky.

“Help me move him into that room before someone comes,” he said, his tone oozing a calm command.He’d killed before, that much was clear.

I checked the door just behind me on the right. Unlocked. I peered inside, finding the smaller meeting room dark and empty, its tables and chairs stacked near the perimeter.

I nodded wordlessly as I walked back to him, grabbing Mars’s legs and helping him carry the dead weight into the room. We dragged him over to the corner, both of us panting by the time it was done.

As soon as I stood, he was in front of me, his hand gripping my chin and tilting my face.

“He hit you,” he said with a voice like sharpened steel, placing his fingers gently on my cheek and sliding them back along my skin until he reached my ear and then threaded them back through my hair. Distantly, I registered that I’d lost Natalie’s headband in the attack. “Are you sure you’re alright?”

Yes.I wanted to scream. But answering his question would only lead to more of them.Who was he? Who are you? What’s really going on?And that couldn’t happen.

Our eyes collided. Connected. Like something had locked into place and couldn’t be broken. My heart pounded, the adrenaline morphing into something thicker and darker in my blood.

Suddenly, the need to hide from him was gone—replaced solely by the needforhim. For intimacy. For release. For a few moments of pure freedom before I had to go back to hiding… and fighting.

“Kiss me,” I said hoarsely, hardly recognizing the voice of the woman who asked—I hadn’t heard her speak for five years.

Motorcycle Man didn’t need to be told twice. His lips covered mine with a growl, our tongues meeting in a hot frenzy.There was no mistaking what this was. No names. No numbers. Nothing but pure attraction let loose by a sudden brush with danger.

Dios mío, he was a good kisser.Either that or my standards had evaporated from disuse. The hard thrash of his tongue. The way he barely let me have room for breath.

I didn’t want this to end. I didn’t want to go back to the present—and the dangers of my past. I just wanted to fully live—fearless—for just a few moments, taking what I wanted.And that meant him.

I moaned and looped my arms around his neckas he reached for my ass and lifted me. My legs snaked around hiswaist, bunching my dress up over my hips and baring the whole of my ass.

His low growl echoed into my mouth as he carried me back to the door, slammed it shut, and pressed my back to it.

“Shit,” he muttered, clearly thinking he hurt me.

“More,” I begged, my fingertips scoring the back of his scalp.

His head tipped back, eyes glinting like stolen gems as he silently questioned me—questioned just how far I wanted this to go.

I pulled my hands to my chest and tugged down the stretchy fabric of the dress, baring my tits to him. Even in the darkness and shadows, their pebbled tips called for attention.

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