Page 179 of Outlaws of Tulsa

He unlocks the cage and the man behind me wrangles me inside. Cove runs over to me, hugging me tight. It’s the first real reaction from my little brother since I’ve been locked here with him. I might die in a few minutes by someone I know, but if that buys my brother another chance to live, it was worth it.

“Time to go, little one,” Night Giant orders. “Let your sister take your punishment since she’s so willing.”

Cove sobs against my neck, whispering out apologies. I choke down cries of my own as I kiss the side of his head.

“It’s okay,” I murmur. “Keep Calla safe.”

He nods and then he’s gone, leaving me alone with the fire breathing dragon.

I don’t waste time facing off with Dragon. I’m not about to have my back turned on him. He’s unpredictable when he’s being cool and funny back home. Now, he’s like a monster straight from a nightmare.

His chest is bare, as are his feet, but he still wears his jeans. The tattoo on his neck is covered with blood, which makes it seem all the more terrifying as he slowly stalks me in the cage. Green eyes are alight with madness, focused on me.

“Dragon,” I whisper. “It’s me. Stormy. We have to get out of here. Don’t let that asshole win. Please.”

His jaw ticks and his nostrils flare.

“Please,” I say again, but I’m cut off when he lunges at me.

Remembering my training, I use his momentum against him, ducking at the last minute to send him sailing past me and crashing against the cage. He bellows, furious and manic, as I rush to put distance between us. He flips his knife around in his hand, all too familiar with the weapon. I’m pissed I’m at such a disadvantage.

Realization dawns on me as I manage to thwart another attack. I’m going to die in here. My sweet little unborn baby and I will be gutted by Dragon—a mentally fucked creation of thesemonsters. I’ll never see Copper again. We’ll never have that happily ever after I so stupidly dreamed about.

Tears threaten, blurring the world in front of me, which is a horrible mistake. It hides Dragon long enough that he’s able to shove me to the mattress. A scream lurches from my throat as he tears the blade along the fabric of my hoodie. His strength overpowers mine as he removes the material and cuts through my bra. My heart is in my throat as I claw at the soiled mattress, trying to escape. Dragon grabs my hips, flipping me to my back. His free hand easily fumbles at the button and zipper of my jeans. I howl and squirm to no avail.

“I’m pregnant with Copper’s baby,” I whimper. “Dragon. Help me.”

His bright green eyes narrow and then his sticky, bloody chest presses against mine while one hand grips my throat tight enough my screams are strangled. Hot breath finds my ear.

“I have to do this or they’ll kill us both. Scream and fight me. It’s going to hurt, but you have to trust me.” He sits up enough to stare down at me and says loud enough for Night Giant to hear, “Pretty girls get to be stars.”

The knife cuts down my cheek, splitting the flesh painfully. All I can do is gape at him in horror, trying like hell to make sense of his words. Remorse flashes in his green orbs, and I realize what this is.

An act.

He knows how to get us out of this.

I just have to play along.

Trust him, no matter how much it hurts.

“Do it,” I croak out. “Do what you have to do to get us out of here alive and then we’ll make these motherfuckers pay.”

Madness shines in his gaze, but it’s a familiar one. One I remember from nights around the campfire at the Q at Koyn’s.Despite his crazy, he thinks of the Royal Bastards as family. And me. We’re in this together.

Filter was right.

I’ll use sex to my advantage to save my neck. It’s clear Dragon will do the same. We’re both warriors and we’ll get the fuck out of this place.

Dragon lets go of my throat and I claw at his pretty face, drawing blood on his cheek. He grins in a violently terrifying way, so I do the other side too. While I’m distracted marring his runway perfect face, he yanks my jeans down my thighs. He shoves me onto my stomach. Then, with no warning, he’s inside me. I cry as he does what he needs to do, taking comfort in the soft, pleading words he whispers to me.

We’re going to get free.

We’re going back to our family.

We’ll kill them all.

This goes on long enough that my ears ring from my exaggerated screams and that I black out from exertion. A groan rouses me and then hot, sticky semen splatters on my ass. I lie limp as Dragon jerks away from me and rolls onto his back next to me.