Page 92 of Rugged and Filthy

Terror.

I’d known it how many times in my life? I’d experienced it firsthand and right now my heart was in my throat. The popping sound continued as did the roaring wind, both noises echoing in my ears. Something horrible was happening.

They’d been gunshots. I’d seen the look on Jack’s face.

Even the big burly man with the heart of gold had been terrified.

Shaking, I held one arm, trying to keep my fingers wrapped around my drink as I paced the floor. I did trust the men completely and without reservation.

And I loved them.

Okay, so I was nuts. So be it. There wouldn’t be anyone out there who didn’t say I had a screw loose. I didn’t really know them. It had been less than a week. It was just lust and nothing more. But everything I’d said to Jack about love I’d meant.

And right now, my heart swelled from the thought of doing all those things and more with the three men. Three. Oh, my God. Laughing, I pressed my hand against my mouth, still able to gather Jack’s rustic and amazing scent. I could still feel his lips against mine and his cock as he’d driven so deeply inside of me.

As much as all I wanted to do was revel in the reawakening of my emotions, allowing the deliriousness of budding love to keep me tingling, I sensed danger all around us.

I took another gulp of the whiskey before placing the glass on the counter and heading toward the door. This was the last place I wanted to be. At this point, I wanted to be curled under the covers on my bed with all three men crashing beside me.

Somehow, I had a feeling we’d need to go through more shit to get to that point. I laughed nervously, the sound bouncing off the walls. I couldn’t stand this. Obeying wasn’t one of my strong suits, especially when I was this nervous. I paced the floor, catching one or more of the men yelling.

That was all I could take.

My level of obedience was tossed out the window as soon as I opened the door. A figure lunged toward me, the bastard trying to hit me with something metal. As it connected with the side of my head, I kicked out, catching the asshole in the gut. He was pitched backward, hitting his head on one of the tables, chairs flying off to the side as his body hit the floor.

Oh, God. Oh, God. What was going on?

Stars floated in front of my eyes, a strangled scream that I knew wouldn’t be heard erupting from my mouth.

Falling against the edge of the door, I pressed my hand against the side of my face. When I pulled it away, I saw blood. Shit. I tumbled outside, instantly lightheaded. I had to get away. I could swear the bastard looked like Declan. He’d managed to come onto the rig. How? A goddamn boat?

As I willed my feet to work, I stumbled forward, praying to God I would run into one of the men. My men. I felt silly, woozy but I managed to run forward. I knew it wouldn’t be but a few seconds before the attacker would come to his senses, chasing after me.

The rain was coming down in buckets, the horrific weather only making the darkness that much more oppressive.

The storm was bad, so bad. Why hadn’t we heard about the storm being this horrific? Granted, it was that time of year, but the area was usually better protected.

I continued trying to escape, the torrential rainfall becoming blinding. I crowded against one of the buildings, scanning the area. It was impossible to see anything. What was I going to do? As the wind pushed me toward the edge of the rig, I felt a presence behind me. I spun around, seeing nothing in the blinding light of the alarms.

Yet I knew someone was there. I could feel it. I backed away, my nerves on edge. Seconds later, I noticed a lone figure standing in the shadows. That’s when I took off running, hoping to get back to my small quarters so I could lock the door. The pain in my neck was getting worse, and I must have bitten my lip. I could taste blood.

It took everything not to call out once again, but fear kept me silent. I raced toward the stairs that led to the lower deck. Maybe that’s where Jack had gone.

But as I rounded a corner, a flash of lightning highlighted what appeared to be a second intruder on the rig. While his face was half hidden by the shadows, I could tell he was grinning as if he’d just caught me.

I backed away, hitting something hard. As an arm wrapped around my waist, a hand slapped across my mouth, I did everything I could to kick my attacker. But he was too strong, pulling me off my feet. Yet I took a hard swing, managing to catch the fucker holding me in the face.

“Bitch,” he growled.

“It’s time to die,” the other one said. When he pointed the barrel of a weapon in my face, I struggled enough, biting the hand of the asshole until he growled, his hand slipping away. Without waiting a second, I let out a bloodcurdling scream.

“Fucking bitch. Kill her,” the second guy snapped. “Get it over with.”

“Nope. That’s not going to happen. That’s not what the boss wants,” the asshole holding me said.

A laugh permeating the air, he jammed something into my neck. As the lights began to dim not only in front of my eyes but also in my mind, I could still make out the faces of the three men I’d already fallen head over heels in love with. “He wants her to suffer his way.”

I could swear Finn was smiling down at me for finally letting go, finding someone else to love me. But there was something terribly wrong, my muscles tensing. No, they were stiffening. Suddenly, I couldn’t focus, my throat tightening. No. No. I wanted to live. I was ready to take back my life. I wanted to be a better mommy and daughter, sister and friend. I longed to taste the reality of happiness,

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