Page 115 of Throttle

Like a shark, the man in the fancy suit circles me. “I want this one too,” he says to the scum biker who’s been hurting Danika. “And I want her branded with my initial before we leave. Everyone will know she’s mine when we step foot off this property.”

Dizziness takes over as the room spins. I can hear Mya crying next to me, fearing that she will suffer the same fate.

Danika locks her eyes on the man standing before me, sending intense waves of hatred, as one of his minions keeps her firmly held, eliminating any possibility of getting away. Bile rises from the pit of my stomach when I witness him touching her inappropriately, making me wish I could murder him somehow.

What is the level of agony she must go through?

“I appreciate your business. Just let me—”

The sudden sound of gunshots upstairs startles us all.

“We’re saved! We’re being saved!” Mya escapes with desperation toward the steps.

“No!” I shout, but it’s too late.

BAM.

A gunshot fires, causing Mya to drop to the ground, blood flowing around her.

A wave of shudders passes through me, provoking my body to shake. “No,” I whisper to myself.

Our captor has his gun trained on the door.

She can’t be dead. This wasn’t fair. She was innocent and didn’t deserve to die. She was going to get married to the love of her life. This wasn’t supposed to be her fate.

“Go out the back!” a guy shouts and the man in the suit runs, saving himself.

I'm forcefully pulled by my hair by someone else, with Danika forced to follow, still being detained by the same one as before.

I resist and scream, and a vibration jolts the building, momentarily halting our assailants before they resume pulling us toward the back.

Think Tequila. Think.

Two SUVs are stationed near the trees in the rear lot. Once we get in, that’s it. There’s no finding us.

One of them is forcing Danika into the back seat.

I shout and battle with all my strength. The last bit of strength I own and I’m able to get a good bash to his leg, but it’s not enough.

“Get the fuck inside.”

I grasp the sides of the door, preventing him from pushing me further, and then I question my senses when my name reaches my ears.

Throttle is calling for me.

A gunshot echoes in the air, and I'm suddenly free from being forced into the SUV. The man who held me is now dead, lying face down in the dirt.

Powerful, sturdy arms wrap around me tightly, and initially, I resist, but then a comforting and familiar scent envelops me.

My chest warms.

“Shh. I got you. You’re safe. I got you,” the voice I’ve longed to hear whispers in my ear and pure relief and joy strike me.

It’s him. I’m rescued. Saved.

Throttle cradles me as I slump into his lap. Tears overflow and I can't help but sob. I sob while he holds me. “Shh. It’s okay. It’s going to be okay, my rose. I love you. I love you so fucking much. I got you.”

I'm in a constant state of weeping, gripping onto Throttle’s forearms like he is my lifeline.

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