Page 4 of Curvy Hostage Mate
Cain nodded speculatively, as if legitimately considering this argument. The man straightened, as if he thought he had made enough of a compelling argument that he’d managed to persuade the man in charge of the entirety of the Underside that his logic made perfect sense.
“What’s bad for business is not following through on my promises,” Cain said.
He stood, relinquishing my chain so it fell limply into the chair. I watched with growing unease as he strolled languidly toward the two men, the drunk one wobbling slightly. He must have started realizing his predicament, because he finally began to look uneasy. He took a couple of steps backward as Cain approached.
“I can pay,” the man mumbled.
Cain stopped. I could see his face, but I could imagine the expression there: polite, curious, almost pleasant. The only evidence of his rage would be his eyes.
“Right now?” Cain asked, the tone almost friendly.
The man hesitated, licking his lips as he glanced around, eyes lingering on the guards who had slowly begun to approach. But it wasn’t them he should have been worried about.
“Not right this moment,” the man babbled. “But I have money if you let me go through the portal—”
Blood spurted as Cain’s hand swiped through the air. The man gurgled once before collapsing to the ground, his eyes glassy. Cain examined his claws, the ones that had appeared moments earlier. I could see the deep crimson staining them from here.
“The thing about threats,” he said, almost speculatively, to the corpse, “is that you really need to back them up. Otherwise, no one will take you seriously.”
The corpse didn’t respond. Cain nudged the body, as if checking to make sure that he wasn’t going to move. When the dead man remained stationary, he turned to the guy’s friend. At first, shock filled his eyes, then they narrowed with anger.
“You killed him,” the guy said.
“Yes,” Cain responded pleasantly, as if they were discussing the weather. “I did.”
The other shifter lunged forward, arm raised, claws glinting in the light. I watched as it came down toward Cain’s neck. Cain didn’t move, and the claws raked across his skin with enough force to gouge.
But the claws seemed almost to bounce off, with not a scratch to be seen anywhere on Cain.
The man had just enough time to look confused before Cain lunged forward, took his head in his hands, and twisted. A loud snap reverberated through the hall, and the man crumpled at Cain’s feet. Nodding in satisfaction, he gestured at a couple of the guards to come forward, then began idly playing with a ruby ring resting on his finger.
I glanced at the chain, still waiting patiently by the throne for Cain to return. If I were a braver person, I might take the chance to escape. I could snatch the end of the leash and race toward one of the doors. Except I wasn’t that brave, and even if I were, running wouldn’t do me any good. I’d be caught within minutes, if not seconds.
Ever since Kendra had managed to escape, security had increased tenfold. Guards and Cain’s personal men seemed to swarm everywhere, almost outnumbering the slaves at this point. Each one had some sort of weapon on them, even the shifters. The slaves were under closer scrutiny, monitored nearly every minute of the day to make sure none of them got any bright ideas. And Cain kept me within arm’s reach, unwilling to let me out of his sight for more than a few minutes.
Which was why I remained sitting on my velvet pillow, in too-skimpy clothes, the heavy chain unguarded as Cain strolled back toward me, blood dripping from the fingers of one hand as guards ran to the corpse crumpled on the floor.
“I think we’re done for the day,” he said to no one in particular.
He plucked my chain up and tugged, a silent command to rise to my feet. I did, and followed him through the back hall.
“You look unhappy, darling,” he said. He looked at me, waiting for a response.
“I just wasn’t expecting that,” I said.
“I have to keep my word.”
“You didn’t have to kill them,” I muttered, my voice quavering. “They were just drunk idiots. They would have paid.”
His eyes burned dangerously even as his lips curled into a patronizing smirk. “Are you telling me how to do my job?”
I froze, realizing too late that I had stepped into dangerous territory. “I…I didn’t…” I stammered. But his expression was already turning dark, foreboding.
“Careful,” he snarled. His hand wrapped tight around the chain, and he jerked me forward, bringing my face inches from his, so close that we were nearly kissing. “You’re forgetting who’s in charge here.”
I couldn’t forget. He wouldn’t let me forget.
Anger and frustration burned inside me. Not for the first time, I wished I had Kendra’s confidence and fire. She had always been the one who said what I wished I could say. She’d always been the strong one, and I had always admired that about her. I didn’t have that—I never had. All my life, Kendra had protected me, stood up for me.
