Page 84 of Cruel Dominion

As threats went, it wasn’t one of the more frightening I’d ever received. But the fierce look in Summer’s eyes pleased me. Anna deserved friends who looked after her, who saw her for the treasure she was.

Anna asked me what was going on twice more before I got her out of the building, into my car, and across town to my villa.

I could make up some bullshit about wanting her to be comfortable on my sofa before I told her, but the truth was, I just wanted her within the walls of my impenetrable villa so she couldn’t run away once she knew the truth.

She strode through the foyer, straight into the kitchen, pulling open every cupboard until she found a glass and filled it with water.

“Okay, you got me here,” she said as she finished the glass and set it in the sink. “Are you going to tell me why you just completely embarrassed me in front of my friends and made a complete ass of yourself?”

“Sit.”

Her nostrils flared, but she did as she was told, crossing the hardwood floor to the sofa where I had my way with her just days ago. The evidence of what we did had already been cleaned away and I found myself wanting to put it back.

“I think I’ve been pretty patient, Carter.” She sat, looking up at me. “Start talking or I’m going home.”

I slipped into the seat next to her, my thigh pressing against hers.

“I’ve been looking into your ex.”

She groaned. “Carter, I didn’t want you going after him. It’s exactly why I didn’t want to tell you his name in the first place.”

“I had no choice, Anna. My PI reported that several weeks ago, Josh placed ads on the dark web, offering a reward for anyone who could deliver you alive.”

Her face turned ashen, eyes alive with shock and fear and everything I was trying to protect her from.

“He wouldn’t. Why would he? It had to be some—some kind of?—”

“My team removed the ads as soon as they could. That’s why I’ve had my men following you. It was a precaution in case anyone…”

I couldn’t finish the sentence.

“More ads were posted recently, and they weren’t taken down as quickly as they should’ve been. It won’t happen again, but it looks like your real identity and location were broadcast to anyone who might’ve viewed the bulletin.”

Anna balled her hands on her knees. She hunched over, like she was trying to make herself smaller. Like if she got lower, the smoke from this dumpster fire couldn’t suffocate her.

She pushed a hand against her chest, breathing fast.

Before I knew it, my hand was rubbing slow circles in her back.

“Breathe, Anna. Just breathe. I’m going to keep you safe.”

“I knew Josh was messed up,” she murmured after a minute. “ But I never imagined he would do something like this. This is…”

“A coward’s move.”

“And the dark web? What even is that?”

“You don’t want to know.”

She fought for control of her breathing again and something cracked in my chest.

“Why would he…”

“So he could have total control. So he could feel like he owned you.”

“Oh, God. I can’t even think about that,” Anna said, shuddering.

I pulled her tight against me and she didn’t fight it, burrowing into my side. “It’s all right. He won’t get his hands on you. I’ll find him first.”

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