Page 56 of Midnight Mate
“Travis?”
“Hello, darling.”
“What the hell are you doing?”
“I’ve come to take you away with me.”
He was calmer than I’d ever seen him.
It terrified me.
“What are you talking about?” I lifted up, bracing myself on an elbow. “How did you get in here?”
“The window was unlocked. We need to go away, Cat. So we can be alone and work everything out.”
“I can’t go with you,” I said, my voice cracking.
“Shh.” He held a finger to my lips.
I resisted the urge to bat it away. What could I do? I had pepper spray, but it was in my purse.
Rudy.
If I yelled and brought him running, would Travis hurt him?
Would he hurt me?
“Don’t worry. I’ve got clothes for you already, so there’s no need to pack anything. Come on. My car’s downstairs.”
Fear scrambled my thoughts. I hesitated, but Travis yanked the sheets out of my hands and clean off the mattress, exposing me. Then he reached over and turned on the lamp next to my bed.
I blinked against the harsh light then shrank back as I caught sight of Travis’s expression. His gaze raked me over, taking in the way Easton’s oversized shirt had ridden up to expose the boxers I’d pulled on after he’d left. Rather than anger at seeing me in another man’s clothes, Travis’s lips curled into a smile that felt wrong against the sharp glint in his eyes.
“We need to hurry now,” he said, his voice dripping with sweetness.
And calm. Still way too calm.
“Travis, this is illegal, you coming into my apartment,” I said, trying to match his tone.
His hand flew across my cheek faster than I could see it coming.
The sting brought tears to my eyes, and I sucked in a breath, too shocked to do anything but breathe through the pain.
“I said we need to hurry.” His tone had an edge now. One that promised more pain if I didn’t listen. “I’d hate to have your roommate discover us.”
“I’ll go,” I said quickly. “Just leave Rudy out of this.”
He grabbed my wrist and yanked me upright, dragging me toward the door. I went, praying Rudy wouldn’t wake up. I didn’t want to think about Travis hurting him.
Outside, the chill nipped at my exposed arms and legs. Travis yanked me roughly to his truck, its engine already running, and shoved me inside with more force than was needed.
I pushed back, determined to fight, but rough hands reached out and shoved me hard. My forehead hit the dash with a thud that left me dizzy. My thoughts went fuzzy. Before I could think about jumping out again, he’d climbed into the driver’s seat.
“Buckle up,” Travis said in a menacing voice.
When I hesitated, he grabbed my wrist and leaned in close, baring his teeth. Wolfish canines appeared in place of human ones and the scent of animal filled the small space.
“Play along, Cat. Or I’ll have to come back here and punish your roommate for your rudeness.”
