Page 83 of Pretend
“No way in fucking hell.” He stalks forward, kicking a door open.
“You can’t do this to me, Hannibal! Why are you sabotaging my night out?”
“It’s not safe. You’re not safe.”
“Bullshit!” I protest. Thank God no one notices I’m getting taken away like this. It’s embarrassing. “I’m in an area full of service members!”
“Do you forget they still haven’t caught the traitor responsible for Grim’sbounty?”
I ignore his valid retort and continue to try and scramble out of his grasp, but he’s too massive and too strong for me. Through my scrambled curls, I see someone who can get me out of his arms and won’t ask questions.
We stalk past Kane, who clearly is in shock. He looks up from his phone, startled.
“Kane! Don’t just stand there. Help me!” I wave my hands, trying to pry out of his grasp.
Daegan stops walking, and Kane’s eyes are saucers as he holds his phone, unsure of what to do. He stares at me and then back at Daegan, who clearly doesn’t care if he knows anymore.
“Don’t you fucking dare try and stop me, loverboy, or I’ll cut your tongue out so you can never tell a tale again.” He threatens Kane sinisterly like it’s a game. Kane throws his hands up, surrendering as I still struggle in his grasp.
“I think I’ve learned my lesson with Grim. I’ve already got my nose broken once. I don’t need that to happen again. I’m getting too old for this shit.” He groans, annoyed. “Just please don’t kill her, is all I ask. I’m going to bed.” He concedes with a heavy slumber sigh.
He turns around and walks away, and I glare at his back as my mouth falls open.
“Really Kane?! After all we’ve been through?” I whisper yell at him, but he doesn’t care. He keeps walking away from us. Daegan continues to hold my ass in place. His hand snakes around my hips and squeezes tight. So hard, pain makes its presence known.
“Shut the hell up, Valentine, or I’ll use my cock to gag you.”
He sprints down into another empty building, opening the doors to an empty hallway.
“Are you jealous?” I hiss.
“Jealous?” He roars with disdain.
I nod against his shoulder. He drops me to my feet, making me stumble, and I almost fall. I suck in a breath, taken aback by his strength. He doesn’t help me regain my balance. He almost threw me to the ground. This man picks me up and throws me like I’m a damn feather.
Jesus,he really is upset with me.
He gets into my face, and his scent makes me want to smother myself in his arms again, despite the fact he’s manhandling the crap out of me.
“Jealous doesn’t begin to describe how I feel right now. I want to fucking chop off Akana’s hands and take his eyes out of his skull and make him eat them for just looking at what’s mine. Anyone that gets to hold your hand is a dead man walking. Let alone…”
He doesn’t finish; the way his voice trails off makes me believe hedoesn’t want to finish his sentence.
“Let alone what? Fuck me?” I’m poking a bear, but I don’t care.
He towers over me, grabs my jaw with his fingers, squeezing my bones hard, and I hiss in pain.
“Careful, baby girl. You won’t like it when Creature comes out to play.”
“And what if I want him to come out and play?” I taunt.
He chuckles, letting his head fall, and he rubs his chin like he’s planning something.
Something bad.
I dare him to. “Show me what you would do to me if I were your date.”
“Trust me. There’s nothing I’ve ever wanted more in this world, and that’s you. But I won’t allow myself to cross this line. If I take you, the admiral willfire me, probably making up a reason to throw an Article on my career. I was a prisoner of war. I have endured days of brutality. But you? Not being able to devour you the way I’ve been thinking about since you were assigned to me has been the worst form of torture I’ve ever had to go through.” He softens his words with a pained pinch of his brows. “Walk away from me. Walk away, and go to your bedroom, and fucking lock it.”
