Page 171 of Of Sins and Sacrifice

“Minnie, have some mercy on me. I’m hanging on by a thread here.”

“That’s your problem. Not mine.” I huff aloud. “Deal with it so we can plan how we’re going to get out of this situation.”

He doesn’t reply, merely releasing more guttural sounds into my neck. I continue to move in his lap, hoping it will drive him crazy enough that he’ll let me go. No matter how much I like the fact that he reacts to me, this is not the time for any reaction save for self-preservation.

“Stop.” His breathing is harsh and barely controlled. And when I don’t stop, instead releasing me from his grasp, I find myself on my back on the floor with him looming over me.

The cell is dark save for the few rays of sun making it through the bars. But as I gaze upon his face, the shade of swirling green of his eyes takes me aback.

The hunger in his gaze startles me. As he lodges himself with his hips between my legs, I feel that hard part of him right at my core.

I whimper. He smiles, his white teeth gleaming dangerously. Then he wiggles, and the breath is knocked out of my lungs at the onslaught of sensations traveling all over my body.

But I am not one to be ruled by my baser needs. And if he plays dirty, then I shall too.

Licking my lips, I lean forward until my mouth is close to his.

His brows go up in surprise, his breathing becoming more accentuated. His eyes droop and focus on my lips.

“Mine,” I whisper, getting closer to him.

“Minnie,” he rasps.

But just as he thinks I’m going to kiss him, I headbutt him. He reels back and lets out a groan of pain. It’s enough for me to slide from under him and resume my position at the other end of the cell, all the while glaring at him.

“Don’t you dare get more dirty thoughts,” I warn. “We have enough trouble as it is.”

I watch him closely, thinking he’s going to be mad at me. But to my surprise, he simply slumps back against the wall, his head thrown back as he lets out a laugh.

“You win, Minnie. You win.”

“Of course,” I huff. “Now—” I stop myself from continuing as I hear footsteps down the hallway. Mine is on alert, too. This time, when he comes to my side, I don’t tell him off. We both wait, and soon two guards appear into view.

Mine’s body tenses, and he grabs my hand, giving me a soft, comforting nod.

They stop in front of our cell, and just as I think they’re going to open the grilled door and get us out to meet the superintendent, they turn and unlock the cell opposite ours.

The guards barge inside and drag out a nearly dead man. His clothes are tattered and even in the poor lighting I can tell he’s badly bruised all over his body. The only sign that he’s still alive is the wheezing sound he makes as he breathes.

After they take him out of his cell, they dump him to the ground and one of the guards stomps angrily on his chest.

Once. Twice.

They both stomp on him until the wheezing sound stops. Until he no longer breathes.

Mine suddenly stands up and walks to the door.

“Hey!” he calls out to the soldiers.

“Mine,” I grit out. “Stop!”

He doesn’t mind me, continuing to address the soldiers.

“Cowardly of you to kick a defenseless man,” he jibes.

One of the guards turns to him, his eyes narrowed.

“Bet you’ve never tried to hit someone who can hit back,” he continues.

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