Page 99 of Property of Bones

“Then lethergo,” I plead, glancing at Abby. “Let her go home.”

Silence stretches for a few seconds. Then Muerte nods.

“Done.”

“What?” I blink.

“I’ll let your friend go…if you agree to submit and do as I say.”

“No, Sunny,” Abby says, panicked. “I’m fine. I’mstayingwith you. He doesn’t get to control you.”

“Deal,” I say firmly, turning to pull Abby into my arms. “Tell Jack I’m sorry. Tell him I love him.”

“Sunny, no,” she cries, gripping me tighter.

I pull back and turn to the devil himself. “I want proof. I want tohearshe made it back to Spike before I agree to anything.”

“Done,” he grins. “Come on, pretty girl. Let’s get you home.”

“Unharmed,” I add sharply.

“But of course,” he purrs. He gently ushers Abby forward, then pauses. “You look familiar. Have we met before?”

All the men file out behind Muerte, leaving only Max behind.

The silence stretches between us.

I glance around the room, looking for something heavier, moresubstantial, to throw at him. My shoes didn’t do muchdamage, but maybe there’s a chair, a lamp,somethingthat can make him at least bleed a little.

Several minutes pass before Max’s shoulders loosen. Then, without a word, he walks over to the door and quietly closes it.

When he turns back around, the cold, unreadable mask he always wears is gone, replaced with something fierce. Rage. And… worry?

“What the fuck is wrong with you, woman?” he hisses, voice low but sharp with emotion. “How the hell am I supposed to get you out of this?”

“What?” I blink, confused.

He grabs my shoulders, not roughly, but not gently either, and gives me a shake. Pain shoots through my ribs, but I grit my teeth. I’ve been in a state of pain since I woke up in that damn hole…what’s a little more? Plus, I think the adrenalin rush is helping dull the pain.

“Bones is going to lose his fucking mind if you get hurt,” he growls. “Why couldn’t you just keep your mouth shut long enough for me to figure something out? Now I’ve got to find a way to get you out of this mess before that bastard lays a hand on you!”

“What?” I ask again, even more lost.

“Before herapes you,Sunny! Or has his men do it until you ‘learn your fucking place.’”

I freeze. “Mywhat? What the hell is going on? And stop shaking me. I have broken ribs, and you’re not helping.”

Max instantly backs off, eyes scanning me now with real concern. “What did they do, throw you down the hole?” He mutters a curse under his breath. “Damn it. I need to get you to a doctor. You could have internal bleeding.”

“I’m fine,” I say automatically, though nothing about this moment feels fine. “Jack’s the one who broke my ribs.”

“Bonesfucking hit you?” he snaps, and I’ve never seen him look more furious.

“No! No, he broke them giving me CPR. After that Billy guy poisoned me. It was a few weeks ago, but they still hurt.” I pause, completely thrown. “Also... I’m very confused.Aren’t you the bad guy?”

“Fuck,” Max mutters, dragging a hand down his face. “Everything is a mess. I can’t just take you out of here. He’ll know it was me. It’s too soon to kill him. I still need the name of his partner, and the bastard’s being tight-lipped.”

“You’re going to kill him?” I ask, brows furrowed. “I thought you betrayed the club to be on Muerte’s side.”

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