Page 72 of Ferocious Nightmare

Twenty-One

Rage simmeredunder every surface of my skin as I stared out across the endless Nevada desert. I'd been torn from Coulter's side, shoved into this car, and commanded to 'be good'.

Darth was sitting next to me, his thigh and shoulder pressed against mine. Car pine fresh filled my nose: his aftershave.

Two other men, with stark Russian accents, shaved heads, and matching snake tattoos slithering from their collars, dominated the front seats. Twins, even though one was beefy with thick, rubber lips, the other one was thin and had a crooked nose.

I was currently handcuffed to the door handle because I’d tried to jump out at a light.

Darth kept looking at me. His eyes reminded me of the bottom of a deep lake: cold and black.

As soon as Rubber Lips opened my door, uncuffing me, I began to scream and struggle. I got in a punch to his nose, then one kick to his junk. He grunted, leaning over and cursing in Russian. I kicked him in the face.

Crooked Nose laughed at him. But Darth didn’t hesitate. He reached forward, his large hand easily wrapping around my leg. He dragged me off the seat and out of the car.

I fell, head first, my head hitting the concrete parking deck. Pain exploded, and nausea rolled through me.

Darth loomed over me, his nose practically touching mine. He leered, “You need to learn to be compliant.”

I spit in his face.

Roaring, he grabbed my hair, yanking it to the side, then punched me swiftly in the ear.

I sucked in a breath. A ringing noise reverberated through my ears.

It took three hits to make me go limp. I became dead weight as Darth yanked me up and over his shoulder.

Dizzy and gasping in pain, I grabbed his tie and swiveled. I wasn’t going to give these assholes an inch. They would fight me every step of the way.

Wrapping the tie around his neck, I leaped, yanking it with me. We both fell backwards.

Once again, the hard concrete felt like a jackhammer to my skull.

Strong arms wrapped around me, pulling me up. Pain pulsed like lightning, striking over and over through my head.

I kicked and punched, screaming as Rubber Lips struggled to keep hold of me. Darth climbed to his feet, growling out. “Hold her still."

He disappeared but, in a flash, returned with duct tape and scissors.

I screamed and struggled. There were tons of other cars in the deck, but no one came or went. We were alone out here.

Rubber Lips grabbed my wrists, yanking them behind my back. It took all three of them to hold me down long enough to bind my wrists and legs.

When they were done, they all stared down at me, heaving.

I was trussed up like a pig. “Nero is going to kill you.”

Darth scoffed. “I don’t give a shit about what Nero wants. We listen to Nicholi only. Besides, if you die, we’ll find another one to take our place.”

“Not with the same bloodline.”

"You think you're something special?" He sneered. "You think there aren't a million Bratva princesses running around the world?” He laughed. "You're a dime a dozen."

"Not to Nero, you idiot."

His gaze darkened, and he pulled out his gun, pressing it under my chin. Those cold, dark eyes centered on me. “I am not an idiot.”

I snapped my mouth shut, my teeth vibrating up my jaw. Silence fell over the parking deck for what felt like an eternity. Panic clawed at my throat. He was going to shoot me.

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