Page 71 of Deadly Little Hearts

“Tick tock, tick tock.The clock is running out,” Bear sings and pulls me roughly forward by my cuffs.

I lose my balance and fall to my knees, the hard ground ripping my pants.Asshole.“Fuck you,” I spit through my teeth.

“I’d fuck you in the ass until you bled, but I don’t think we have time for that.Do you?”Bear grins, and a shiver runs down my spine.Creepy fuck.

“Stop being a little bitch and untie me, or are you scared I’ll hurt you?”I ask, pushing out my bottom lip.

Bear’s eyes darken before he smirks.“You can’t touch me, little Lucas.I mean, look at you,” he says, pointing down my body, then back at his.“You’re weak.I’m strong.Maybe I will untie you so we can have a fair fight.What do you think?”

He peers past me at something in the corner of the room before he reaches into his pocket, pulling out the keys and unlocking the cuffs.They land on the ground with a clank, and I roll my wrists but don’t otherwise move.I stay perfectly still, staring at Bear.

He starts hopping from one foot to the other, bouncing around with a lopsided smile.“Fight me, Lucas.You know you want to.”

I shake my head.There’s no way I’m waiting around in here with this lunatic, and I’m not taking the first swing.

“Aww, didn’t our girl kill your mother?Ouch.That must have hurt.”

I see red.Everything around us disappears until it’s just Bear right in front of me.My fist flies straight for his nose, and he doesn’t do anything to stop it.He takes the full hit, falling sideways.Blood shoots from his nose, and he grins.When blood runs down his lip onto his teeth, he licks them, his eyes rolling to the back of his head.

Before I have a chance to move, he’s on me, tackling me to the floor.My back smashes against the hard floor, and a heavy breath leaves me.Pain shoots through me, and it takes me a second to move.Bear punches my stomach over and over.I kick and punch him back, grabbing a handful of his bleached-blond hair.I pull hard and smash my fist into his nose.It’s bent, probably broken, but the look in his eyes tells me he’s enjoying the pain.

In the next second, he leaps up, and I take a fistful of hair with me.He pulls out his knife, jumping onto my stomach, then forcing me onto my back.I kick and try to buck him off, but he’s too heavy.He pins me down with his knees and brings the knife to my throat.

“Bye bye, little pup.I’ll miss watching you be a good little boy for me,” Bear says, and I spit, hitting his cheek.

He grins, and for the first time in my life, I think it’s over.He’s got me, and fuck, I don’t want to leave this world yet.

Chapter 37

Freya

Inbetweenstaringatthe plain-white ceiling of my bedroom, I check my phone for the third time, the cool glass smooth against my fingertips.It’s been twenty minutes since Gage and Hazen left to get a team of new recruits together to infiltrate Dominic’s home.Every minute that ticks by, Lucas could be beaten to a pulp.I can’t stay here, not when the man I love is in danger.

I call Hazen, and he answers after two rings.“Hey.”

“We need to go now,” I say, and Hazen says something to someone on the other end, but I can’t hear.

“We are moving as fast as we can, but these things take time.My father is dangerous.”

“Then let me help.”I sit up, moving back against the pillows.

“He will use you as my weakness—you’re the only person I’d do anything for.”Hazen’s voice softens, and my heart skips a beat.He’s right, but it doesn’t help Lucas.Every second that goes by is another second without him.

“I’ll see you soon,” I say, before hanging up.

I need to do something, anything at all.

Five minutes later, the door to my bedroom opens, and Mia walks through.

“Anything?”I ask, shuffling to the end of my bed and dangling my feet over the edge.

Mia shakes her head, moving farther into the room.

“We need to do something,” I say.

“I know.But what?”She slumps next to me on the comforter, and a light enters her eyes.“We could ...sneak in.”

“You think?”I ask, but a plan’s already forming in my mind.“Like, to see how many men they have, so we can help the boys be better prepared.”

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