Page 99 of Run From Me

“Hey, gorgeous. Eager to get your punishment going?”

My eyes watered as I caught my breath.

I barely got the words out, but I did all the same. “Fuck you.”

The guy grabbed my hair and yanked my head back.

“Nah. With all the hell you’ve caused us? We’ll be fucking you. Just wait until we get you back to the boss's house.”

My bag of tricks was pretty well empty, but I still tried to slam my wrist up and get the guy in the nose. Even as I heard a crack though, someone else was right there to hold me.

“I… you don’t know who you’re messing with.”

There were too many chuckles for me to know how many of the Vipers were here. Despite all my sarcastic comments, this was not the right time to be me. For the first time in a long time, my fear crippled me. It was like the night they’d taken me all over again.

This time though, I really had something to leave behind. Someone. I’d mourned the loss of my freedom last time. Tonight the idea that I’d be breaking my promise not to hurt Xander, that’s what hurt. I’d been stupid. I’d wanted to show them what? That I could be part of their family and be helpful, not just some pussy.

A nervous laugh found its way out of my chattering teeth. All this time, he’d told me I was enough. Xander never wanted me just for my job, and here I was, thinking I was playing Nancy Drew. Like they would be all excited I made a connection with someone at their party.

“What are you laughing at, bitch? I can wipe that smile right off your face by telling you just how we plan to break you.”

His breath made my stomach turn. Sour onions and tobacco. I would forever remember that scent combination as he licked up my neck. Someone else grabbed my hands and tied them together. The restraint was so tight my wrists instantly hurt.

“Stop it. Please. I’ve done everything you’ve asked.”

There was laughing again. There might have been at least five guys?

My eyes stung, and shit. Now was the time my tears decided to come back? I didn’t cry. I couldn’t cry, except, apparently, I could.

“We never asked you to piss off the Spectors. Who the fuck do you think you are? Don’t think we don’t know they’ve been sniffing around your cunt.”

I sucked in a breath. Police. My coworker had called the police. Even if they were corrupt, the odds were they were more team Spector than Viper. At least I could hope.

“What my cunt does is not your business. It’s not my fault they came around.”

The dress wasn’t right for a kidnapping, and the cold night air at least helped numb my skin as someone else came around behind me.

“What your cunt does will be our business. No more protection from Ripple, since he seems to have disappeared. We know you were with the guys at the rigged fight too, and somehow, they’re dead. You need to know your place.”

His hand slid down the dress, and I gasped as he pressed his hand against the V of my thighs.

My phone rang and rang and rang and it wasn’t lost on me nor the Vipers.

“Who is that? Let’s see.”

The call came up as X, thanks to Xander’s very basic settings.

“Who’s X, bitch?”

Another guy held the phone up to my ear. “Say hi, sweetheart.”

“X—”

Someone hit the side of my head, and for a few brief seconds, the lights were brighter than they should have been.

“Xander,” I cried out, hoping he’d hear me over the phone wherever it was, but it was useless.

Someone punched me in the stomach and all my air whooshed out, leaving me wheezing.”

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