Page 120 of Untamed

The driver’s side door wrenches open as Shawn tries to flatten himself against the other side of the car. Rodion reaches in and, with his massive, tatted hand, grabs Shawn by the neck. But he doesn’t move him, doesn’t drag him out like I suspect. Instead, he turns to me, eyes blazing into mine.

“Are you hurt, baby?”

I do a quick mental tally and shake my head. “No,” I whisper.

Shawn tries to take advantage of the opportunity and wriggle out of Rodion’s grip, but that is not going to happen.

“Get out.” Rodion’s voice is cold. Lethal.

I’d bury his body and sleep like a fucking baby.

Shawn shifts, reaching for something—a gun, maybe a knife. But Rodion doesn’t hesitate. Two hands on Shawn’s shirt, and he drags him out of the SUV like he’s a rag doll. The sound of bone cracking echoes like thunder.

Shawn’s body crumples against the pavement.

I look wildly about me. We’re on a vacant road at night, illuminated by bright overhead lights. No one’s here. Behind the guardrail is a row of tall pines, a natural barrier.

I can hardly breathe as I see Rodion’s sure, deadly aim. I can’t hear him from here but can gather a mix of Russian and Shawn’s pleas for mercy before Rodion takes one of Shawn’s hands in his and breaks it. I cringe but can’t look away. Shawn screams, writhing, as Rodion pins him to the ground beneath his foot and reaches for his second hand. He yanks it back with brutal efficiency, and Shawn’s cries of terror and pain echo in the night.

Rodion looks to me. I stare at him through cracked glass. Dark. Dangerous. Blazing with a ferocity that calls to the deepest, darkest parts of my soul.

I reach for the handle of the door and try to open it, but the metal’s crumpled, and the door won’t budge. Rodion sees me struggling, takes a look at Shawn, then heads over to me, his gun poised at Shawn. Shawn wriggles away, and in one quick movement, Rodion points his gun at him and pulls the trigger. His kneecap explodes.

I watch. I can’t look away. Shawn screams, a mess of broken bones and blood, but Rodion just pulls the trigger again. His second kneecap explodes.

As he nears me, he calls over his shoulder, “You’d better not fucking die. I amnotdone with you yet.”

Rodion reaches me, grabs the door, and yanks it hard, but it doesn’t budge. Behind him, Shawn cries like a baby, trying to move his broken body on the ground, blood dripping from his open wounds, but he doesn’t get far.

I climb over the console, fall into the passenger seat, and Rodion pries the door open. I fall into his arms.

“I should kill him now,” he mutters. “But not yet. I want him to suffer, Ember.” His eyes flick back to mine, and he does that thing that I love. His finger under my chin, he holds my gaze. It’s never felt more poignant. I shiver, looking at raw brutality and undying devotion wrapped into one. “Tell me you want this, Ember. Say the word, and this ends.”

My breath caches. I swallow hard, my eyes locked onto his.

“Yes, please.” My voice shakes. “He won’t stop. It will be another woman next. He’s insane, Rodion. A predator. I can’t let him go on.”

Rodion’s smirk is razor-sharp. Terrifying.

Rodion, in real life, makes every book boyfriend I’ve ever met pale in comparison.

Leaning in, his lips brush over my ear.

“He’ll watch first,” he murmurs, his hand already tugging at my hips. “Thenhe dies.”

My pulse races, and the blood roars in my veins, adrenaline thrumming. I didn’t know until I was here—until I trulyfeltthis—that I’ve never felt more owned in my life.

His mouth claims mine, bruised and unforgiving. The knife I still hold slips from my hand as his fingers tangle in my hair,tilting my head back to deepen the kiss. I melt into him, my body arching as heat surges through me.

“Need one minute.” He breathes into my ear. “That son of a bitch is trying to get away. I want him to watch. Come with me, Ember.”

My skin crawls as my pulse ratchets higher. I nod and walk with him, the cold night air biting at my skin. Shawn screams and begs as Rodion yanks him around and ties him with the same restraints he used on me.

“I don’t want to hear your fucking voice,” Rodion says before he gags him and slaps Shawn’s cheek. “There ya go, asshole.”

God, I love him so fucking much. I don’t know what that says about me, but I don’t care.

I want him.

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