Page 2 of Ours

Thoroughly annoyed with the exchange, Kade grit his teeth and turned his head to stare at the man endangering his family. Leo was a special son-of-a-bitch to think he could just swoop in on his white horse and save the day. He had toyed with the idea of letting him live for Lexi’s sake, but that was no longer an option. Two more miles and it would be all over for the idiot.

Yelling an obscenity, he forcibly shifted into fifth gear and slammed his foot onto the gas pedal. Within a split second, the powerful sports car responded, leaving the older Jeep in its wake. “Lexi,” he said, his voice eerily calm. “Close your eyes. I don’t want you to see what’s about to happen.”

Spinning around in her seat, she watched helplessly as Leo’s Jeep slipped further and further away in the rear window. His tone caused an ice-cold chill to run down the length of her spine. There was no mistaking the heavy malice behind his words.

“Why? What are you going to do!?” she yelled, unable to stop the torrent of hormone induced tears.

Glancing at her through the corners of his dark eyes, he reminded himself to be gentle with her. Releasing his tight grip on the steering wheel, he moved to brush the tears from her flushed cheeks. He hated to see how upset she was becoming. It wasn’t good for their child to have her be so worked up over nothing.

“I won't be doing anything,” he said honestly, pulling his attention back to the road.

“Now do as I say and close your eyes. Stress isn’t healthy for the baby.”

Huffing a disbelieving laugh, she shook her head at the ridiculousness of his comment.Nowhe was concerned about stress affecting her child? God, he was even more insane than she remembered.

“Please don’t hurt Leo!” she begged, dropping her left hand to gently stroke his inner thigh in a calculated move. “I’ll be with you forever! Justpleaselet him go!”

Looking down at her hand, Kade watched her fingers as they inched closer to his hardening cock. It had been far too long since he had enjoyed her intoxicating caress, it was almost enough to make his resolve crumble. He knew what game she was playing, though. Tempting him with her feminine wiles wouldn’t work this time.

“I won’t tell you again,” he warned, ignoring his growing lust. “Close. Your. Eyes!”

“I...I can’t,” she whimpered.

Pressing his lips together, he fought with the familiar voice trying to wiggle back into his consciousness. Nonchalantly reaching into the leather pocket gracing the driver’s side door, he found the uncapped syringe hidden as a last resort. He had hoped to never use the drug on her again, but it was painfully apparent she wasn’t going to follow his command. He wasn’t sure if the liquid inside would have any ill effect on their baby, but she had backed him into a corner. It angered him that she was forcing him to put their child at risk, but it was a gamble he needed to take.

Trying not to alarm her, he purposefully relaxed his body. Through his peripheral vision, he noticed two Kawasaki Ninja J2R’s racing up the freeway on-ramp.Right on time,he thought to himself. It was a relief to know that his men hadn’t reverted to their old ways in his absence.

Keeping tabs on the black motorbikes, he practiced what would happen next in his mind. Concealing the syringe in his hand as it rested on his left thigh, he silently counted down from thirty. Leonardo Estrada deserved every fucking thing coming his way. If there was still breath in his body, no one would ever take his family from him.

No one.

Instinctively wary of Kade, Lexi followed his attention to the out-of-place Kawasaki’s slowing down to flank either side of the GT-R. There was something oddly familiar about the red and black wolf skulls painted onto the sides of their ebony bikes. She knew she had seen them before, but her jumbled brain couldn’t quite place them.

“What’s going on?” she asked nervously as the Ninjas drifted dangerously close to the sports car.

Glancing at the leather-clad drivers as they peered inside, he gave each a sharp nod in confirmation before turning his attention back to Lexi. Toku and Cyris were the two most loyal and proficient Lieutenants he had. Bloodbayne would be pleased to hear how well they performed this minor task.

“Don’t worry, the Skulls will never harm you. They know you’re with me,” he said simply.

“Skulls? I... I don’t understand,” she replied, twisting in her seat to watch the motorbikes as they fell behind the Nissan.

The Skulls,Nikki spat.Kade Volkov’s Soldiers. Jesus fucking Christ, this isn’t good. Might as well say goodbye to poor ole’ Leo!

Thrown off by her alter’s heavy statement, her world fell into slow motion. Watching helplessly as the Skulls slipped from view, her blood ran to ice. Taking notice of the way Kade’s body stiffened beside her, she instinctively pressed herself against the car door.Leo wasn’t the only one in danger,she realized. Something wicked was about to happen.

Before she could react, Kade raised his arm towards her with something sharp and cylindrical held tightly in his large hand. Opening her mouth to scream, she felt him jab the pointed end of the syringe into the flesh of her throat; just as he had during her first abduction. Locking her eyes on the mirrored lens of his aviators, she whimpered as the drug took hold. Within seconds, her pregnant body grew painfully heavy, and her mind went numb. Slumping into the cramped passenger seat, she fought to stay conscious. She couldn’t believe that this was happening again, she thought he loved her.

“You...youuu...monssstteerrr,” she slurred as her eyelids fluttered down.

Nodding in agreement, he turned his dark eyes from her unconscious form to the rearview mirror. Slowing down the GT-R, he watched with pointed interest as each of his men pulled a sawed-off shotgun from their back holsters and took aim at the Jeep. His plan was going off without a single hitch and he couldn’t be more pleased. Nothing would stand in the way of him finally claiming what was rightfully his.

“Sleep well, Sweetheart,” he said, lifting the corners of his lips into an evil grin. “And don’t worry, I’ll never let anyone take you away from me.”

CHAPTER TWO

Slowly regaining consciousness, Lexi groaned as her terrifying nightmare evaporated from her mind. As the last tendrils slipped away, she entered a reality that was stale and unfamiliar. Her first cohesive thought centered around her son and making sure he was safe. Time was of the essence, and she had to protect her baby.

Ignoring the pressure encasing her skull, she focused on regaining her senses. Off in the distance, multiple masculine voices could be heard, deep in hushed conversation. While she couldn’t make out the words, it was clear that they were having a heated discussion. Whatever they were talking about felt ominous, it put her on edge.

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