Page 36 of Red Rabbit
“No, please—”
The look on his face was deadly. He grabbed my chin and pushed me back against the door.
“Tell me what happened,” he demanded again.
“They’ll—hurt me.” I could barely speak around his hand, my breath coming in short gasps at the lack of air and panic.
“You should fear me more,” he growled, bringing his face close to mine. I closed my eyes, not being able to look into the storm any longer and more tears fell down my cheeks.
“You’re leaving—” The pressure increased and I couldn’t finish speaking. My vision darkened again and I think I blacked out for a minute because when I came too I was on the ground and Kraven was gone.
“Fuck!” I screamed, slamming my fists against the floor. I pulled myself up to lean against the side of the bed and sobbed into my hands.
By the time Kraven returned, I was no longer crying but I was pissed. I paced the room from table to door and back again, fists clenched at my sides. My head hurt from grinding my jaw and I wanted to hit something. The door opened and Kraven walked in. I rounded on him in fury and he stopped when he saw me.
“Fuck you,” I hissed. He stilled and his gaze sharpened but he didn’t move or say anything.
“You choke me out—and then make me a rat—” My voice was rising but I was choking on the words and having trouble breathing.
“I didn’t know you wanted to be used so badly,” he said with a carefully blank face. I saw on his face the minute my rage took over because something feral appeared in his. I didn’t care. I stormed over to him.
“Fuck you!” I said again louder. I hated how my voice cracked as my emotions threatened to come to surface again. I stopped in front of him and pushed him. Well, I attempted to push him. He didn’t move an inch and I saw something close to amusement flash across his face which only made me angrier.
“I have to be here when you’re gone!” I shouted. I shoved at his chest again. The fact he didn’t move only fueled my fire. “You’re only going to make things worse. But you don’t fuckingcare!” I shrieked, my chest heaving as I tried to fight the tears and calm my anger. Both of which I was failing at. “Of course, why would you? None of this matters. I’m a fucking commodity here. A fucking—” I couldn’t even finish my sentence and I knew I wasn’t making much sense besides cursing excessively.
I cursed viciously again because it seemed like the only thing that made me feel better and went to turn away from him. He grabbed me and pulled me back.
“Don’t touch me,” I snarled, rounding on him as he pulled me into him. His gaze darkened and his hand came and gripped under my chin.
“That’s enough,” he said calmly.
“They—they’re going to—” I couldn’t breathe. Tears fell from my eyes and my lip quivered as hopelessness washed over me.
“I know,” Kraven said.
“They said—if I told you—”
“I saw everything.”
“What—”
“I heard everything.”
“Cooper showed you the camera?” I stuttered. Kraven nodded and his grip tightened as anger vibrated through him. His jaw clenched briefly. Fear made me start to shake in his arms. “Are you—did you—”
He shook his head. “I didn’t do anything—yet,” he added. I sagged against him in relief but then I tensed.
“Cooper—”
“I told him I wanted to make sure my merchandise wasn’t being touched while I was in possession of it and asked if I could check the cameras.”
“Oh.” It’s all I could think of to say. Silence fell between us and he wiped away one of my tears, looking at me intensely.
“You’re adorable when you’re angry, darlin’,” he said. My eyes sharpened and I glared at him.
“Kraven—” I growled. He chuckled and brushed a strand of hair off my face before letting me go. He offered me his arm like he did before, as though nothing happened. I blinked at it then looked up at him.
“We have somewhere to be,” he said.
