Page 122 of Dozer

His knee dug into my back as he climbed off of me. Before I could stand, he grabbed my hair and dragged me toward the cabin. My hair felt as if was being ripped from my scalp. I grabbed his wrist, my nails digging into his skin, and I struggled to get my feet under me so I could walk.

“This isn’t how I envisioned our time together,” he said. “I planned a romantic getaway for us.” He hauled me up the porch steps. The screen opened, andhe continued to drag me inside. Then he slammed the door closed.

The dilapidated cabin smelled musty with the hint of animal. Clearly, Quinn had planned for our time together. There were groceries on the counter, and water bottles stacked in the corner.

He planned for a long stay.

A blanket frommy housecovered the mattress.

Quinn squatted next to me. “Welcome home.”

He slammed his lips against mine. His fingers squeezed my jaw, forcing my mouth to open. His vile tongue slid into my mouth.

I growled, clenched my hands into fists, and bit. The hot copper taste of blood filled my mouth.

Quinn roared and reared back. His fist slammed into the side of my head. My vision blurred and the room spun. I braced on my palms and gulped a breath.

The sound of metal registered in my mind a moment before a studded steel choke collar, the kind used on dogs, slipped over my head. I reached for the links, but he jerked the end hard. The prongs gouged into my flesh, and the chains wound around my neck, cutting off my breath.

Panic surged through me. I struggled to breathe. Scratching and clawing, at him and at the chains, I tried to loosen his hold.

Quinn glared into my eyes. “Do you understand?”

I stopped fighting, letting my body go limp. The chain loosened, I dropped to a heap on the floor and gasped for breath.

With my eyes closed, I thought of Dozer. I didn’t want him to blame himself. Tears filled my eyes. He would because he promised to protect me.

Strong arms scooped me up. I circled his neck and rested my face against his chest.

“That’s better.”

The voice cut through the haze of my mind. I stared into the eyes of the monster who’d taken me from Dozer, from my family, and friends.

Hate and rage exploded within me. I kicked, scratched, and screamed.

Flesh tore beneath my nails. I wasn’t going to be able to stop him. He was strong, and I was alone. But I’d have his pound of flesh. I leaned in and bit his face and dug my nails into his neck.

And then I was floating, weightless for infinity, and free of his touch.

My body crashed against the wall. Pain blasted through me. I curled into a ball as Quinn kicked me into the corner.

I’d rather take the beating than the alternative. I endured the punishing strikes. Finally, he gasped, bent over, and spat on my face.

The blade of the knife curved around my neck. I’d rather be dead than have him touch me. I welcomed the release.

The cut and tear of my shirt sent a shiver of dread down my spine. I closed my eyes as the cool cabin air met my bare flesh.

Death wasn’t going to save me either.

Chapter Sixteen

Dozer

Five hours and thirty-three minutes. My mind sank into the darkest, coldest recesses of my soul. I didn’t need to be with her to feel her pain.

I dropped my head between my shoulders and talked to her in my mind. She could be strong, she could fight, and she could survive.

No one asked me how I was doing. It was a stupid fucking question. None of us were good. Romeo paced. Vance sat with Hana and Blade at a table, no one really speaking, just waiting.

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