Page 81 of King of the Cage

It was cold out, and the park was dusted with white. It was much quieter than it would normally be, and something about all the shadows made me nervous.

A noise sounded from a nearby copse of trees. I was near the lake and heading around to the other side. Why had I chosen such a secluded spot? Damn it.

I spun around and stared at the shadows. Was Bran there?

Walking backward to keep my eyes on those shadows as long as I could, I eyed the distance between myself and the end of the path, which connected with the sidewalk. People passed not too far from me. Maybe there would be safety in the crowd.

With that thought, he appeared.

Striding out of the trees and picking up speed until he was running. Having a six-foot-five angry cage fighter running at you wasn’t for the faint of heart.

With a panicked cry, I swiveled and ran, too.

He was too fast. I wasn’t going to make it. His arms closed around me, and his hand covered my mouth just as I opened it to yell for help. I squirmed immediately, but there was no loosening that iron grip. He dragged me back into the shadows of a huge tree.

“Quit wriggling and admit your defeat gracefully,” he ordered.

I bit his finger until I tasted blood, forcing him to let my mouth go.

“Gracefully? You were lucky. I nearly made it,” I panted. God, I was tired. Me and running didn’t mix.

“Come on now, wee one. It wasn’t even close,” Bran teased.

I attempted to sink my elbow into his gut but only managed to hit it against the tree. Pain reverberated up my arm and set my teeth on edge.

“Fuck! I hate you. You’re unbelievably annoying.”

“Likewise.” Bran rested an arm on the tree beside me. “What’s the play now? Are you going to wait around until you can run off again?”

I shrugged. “What do you think?”

He nodded and blew out a long breath. “I thought so. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

He grabbed the wrist with the dangling handcuff, and next thing I knew, he held up our linked hands. The psycho had handcuffed us together.

“Now, where arewegoing this fine afternoon, selkie?”

“We aren’t going anywhere,” I ground out.

He grinned and jangled the handcuffs. “I beg to differ.”

“I don’t want to go anywhere with you,” I clarified.

He shrugged. “It can’t be that bad. Give me a chance… At the very least, let me buy you something to eat. I’ll take you to Pino’s,” Bran added.

My stomach let out an embarrassingly loud growl at just the name.

“If you think that tempting a hungry Italian with a New York institution is going to work, you have another think coming… But if you’re going anyway, there’s nothing I can do about it, I guess,” I muttered.

Bran laughed. “In that case, I’m going to Pino’s and you’re coming with me, even if I have to haul you there over my shoulder. Let’s not spoil this pretty picture of domestic bliss… The Enclave might be watching, remember?”

Right. The undercover mission to get into the damn secret society and bring the entire thing crashing down. Too bad Bran didn’t seem to understand that he wouldn’t be alive to do any of that once my brother got hold of him.

Still, I rolled my eyes. “Fine. I’ll come. Don’t make a scene,” I reprimanded him, straightening up and channeling my inner queen.

He chuckled and tucked our bound hands in his pocket. It was indecently warm and unexpectedly comforting. His hand slipped around mine, warming me more.

“Let’s get you fed, wee selkie.”

---