Page 2 of The Lieutenant

“I need my beautiful kitten. You know I can’t live without you.”

He could be so tender, so loving. I closed my eyes, uncertain what I should do.

“Come.”

His voice echoed, the deep, rich tone like smooth velvet. I was lightheaded, every muscle tense. If he found out… No, when he found out, I would never be able to escape. “No. Leave me alone. Please, Havros. I can’t do this.”

“You know I will never leave you alone. You are my everything, as I am yours. We are connected, you and I. We are as one.”

No. No. No!

I bolted forward, searching for the exit. Fuck the car.

A small wail pushed past my lips as I ran. Nothing was going to stop me.

Havros stepped in front of me, a wild look on his face. I skidded to a stop, trying to will my legs to work, to back up so I could continue running.

But he was too quick for me, grabbing me around the waist. As he pitched me over his shoulder, I started to scream. My disobedience was quickly met with two hard slaps on my backside.

“Be quiet, my love. I know you’re distraught. We will talk about this in privacy. I will protect you. I will destroy everyone who hurts you.”

“You already did that.” I was crazed, fear and trepidation crowding out all rational thoughts. While the horrible man had deserved his fate, I didn’t want my life to be this way. I couldn’t take it. I wouldn’t.

I wiggled in Havros’ hold, but exhaustion was almost all I had left. He was too big and too strong and I was too afraid he would make good on his promise to paint the city with blood. I couldn’t allow that to happen. I wasn’t that kind of woman.

Which was why I had to get away.

Havros took the steps two at a time, acting as if this was a normal course for our relationship.

“Why did you run, Kara?” There was such hurt in his voice, such sadness that tears formed in my eyes. I’d never wanted to hurt him.

I loved him.

“Because I’m afraid of you.” That was a lie. A lie! Why was I lying to him?

His breath hitched and he ran up the remainder of the stairs, taking long strides down the hallway back to his apartment. He locked the door, moving immediately toward the bedroom. As soon as he eased me onto my feet, I threw a brutal punch, skirting around him and flying toward the bedroom door.

He grabbed my wrist, yanking me backward and into his arms, instantly fisting my hair at the scalp. He lowered his head as he pulled mine back. His eyes were glowing, his chest heaving. I’d never seen him this way. “You have no reason to fear me, Kara. I will never hurt you. But I couldn’t stand by and allow what happened to go unpunished.”

“Please, Havros. Just get away from me.”

“You belong to me and I keep my promises. Anyone who touched you died.” I was no match for the man. He picked me up, walking with confidence toward the bed, our bed. The one we’d sharedwith passion for weeks. The very bed where I’d fallen in love with him.

He plopped down, yanking me over his lap as if I was nothing but a rag doll.

“Just let me go, Havros. Please.”

“I can’t and won’t do that, kitten. I thought you understood that you belong to me. Mine forever.”

“I’m just your possession. That’s it. I can’t live that way.”

“How could you think that?”

“Because that’s the way I feel.”

The ripping sound of seams splitting as he yanked my dress up to my waist made me cringe. I wiggled on his lap, doing everything I could to crawl off. He wrapped his long fingers around the elastic of my thong, tearing it off completely. “Then you have no idea.”

“Havros!” I moaned my opposition even as my core reacted. I was wet and hot, just like I was every time we made love.

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