Page 45 of Promise & Artem

Then he grabbed her arm and hauled her back to the room, shoving her inside and slamming the door. As the lock clicked, she touched her injured cheek, which now throbbed as much as her face where she’d been punched.

At least Artem knew she was okay.

And she was certain he’d be able to figure out where she was.

She got up from the cot and went to the door, pressing her ear against it. She could hear the hum of voices, but couldn’t make out anything.

She moved toward the hinges, and in the space between the door and doorjamb, she could hear more clearly.

“He’s obviously going to come here,” a male said.

“Of course. To fight,” Nero said.

“To get his mate,” the first male said.

“He’ll toe the line, trust me,” Nero said.

Promise didn’t like how confident he sounded. How was he going to ensure that Artem fought in the fights and didn’t just try to free her?

“How do you know?” another male asked.

“Because he’s not the valuable one, she is. If he won’t fight to keep her safe, then he’ll die.”

Promise moved back to the cot, her mind spinning. Artem was only safe if he fought. His refusal could mean his death. She couldn’t let him be harmed, but she didn’t know what she could do about it, locked up in a room alone.

Artem didn’t want to wait a second longer than necessary to get his mate back, but his dad was right: he couldn’t just run into the warehouse and try to get her back on his own.

Assuming she was even being kept at the warehouse.

He’d tracked her phone after the call, but Isolde had picked it up off the street after they’d thrown it out the window.

Isolde showed up at the Welcome Center while they were gathering all the males to help. She gave Promise’s phone to him. It was scratched up but still on.

He pressed it to his nose and inhaled the lingering sweet scent of his mate.

Then he put it in his pocket.

Giving his sister a hug, he said, “I’m glad you’re okay.”

She sniffled. “I’m sorry I couldn’t stop them from taking her.”

“You were outnumbered and caught off guard,” their dad said as he hugged her tightly. “Your mom’s at the cabin with the other mates and females, she’ll be chomping at the bit to see you.”

“Good luck,” she said. Giving Artem a long look she said, “Make sure you and Promise, and everyone here, come back safe.”

“We will,” Artem said.

As the rest of the males filtered into the large kitchen, Artem filled them in on what happened.

“I’m not going to lie. Nero has dozens of males on his side, and they’ll fight for him no matter what, and they won’t think twice about hurting or killing if he says so. Nero’s made it clear that Promise is not in danger of dying, but that he’s willing to hurt her to keep me in line.”

“What’s the plan?” Ian asked, folding his arms.

“Show up as if I’m going to fight,” Artem said.

“While he’s keeping Nero busy,” Axtyn said, “the rest of us will infiltrate the warehouse and find Promise. Once she’s safely away from Nero and his cronies, we’ll call the police and let them shut down Nero.”

Richard looked at them. “What if the police don’t show up or what if Nero disappears before they do?”

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