Page 81 of Bearing Secrets
“I said, Kirell knows I’m on my way back,” she spat, glaring at him. “If you touch me, he’ll know something is up and he’ll come looking.”
Klebra laughed, pulling open the door. He was forced to let go of her neck during this and she tried to turn the car on and reverse out of there, but the shifter was too quick. He snagged her hand before she could hit the ignition button, almost crushing it to pieces in the process.
“Ow!” she protested, the blinding pain bringing unwanted tears to her eyes.
“Stop trying to escape, then,” he growled, irritated. Reaching into the car, he ripped the seatbelt free and then hauled her out.
“Are you going to kill me?” she asked as he shoved her toward one of the SUVs.
“Of course not.” Klebra sighed. “Have I ever done anything to make you think I’m a murdering monster? Our plan is well thought out. Flawless.”
“Ourplan?” Natalia seized on that. Maybe she could push Klebra, get him to gloat, to admit who it was he was working with. Kirell would want that information when he came for her.
“My plan,” he corrected, glaring daggers at her as he pushed into the rear seat of the SUV. “Now, do I need to tie you up and dump you in the trunk, or will you behave?”
“I’ll behave.”
Until I see a way to escape.
“Good.” Klebra flung the door closed and headed around to the driver’s seat.
Natalia grabbed the door with one hand and stopped it just before it closed, then smacked her hand on the interior, trying to mimic the sound of it closing as best she could. Klebra was talking to someone else and the incorrect noise didn’t seem to register.
Slipping it open, she got out, pushed it almost closed and dashed for the Bugatti. The ChironSportcould easily outrun any of these SUVs, if she could just get it in gear and reverse.
The car was there, so close she was reaching for the door handle when strong arms closed around her from the side, lifting her off the ground.
“Gotcha,” a strange voice crowed, squeezing tight enough she found it difficult to breathe.
“I thought you said you would behave?” Klebra asked, his tone tired as he came over to her, clamping her in chains. “You aren’t going anywhere, Natalia. Not until Kirell relinquishes his position.”
She tried not to betray her surprise at this revelation.
“What the hell are you talking about?”
“Quite simple really,” her captor said, taking her from the other man before she could get a glimpse of his face. “I tell Kirell that if he doesn’t give up his seat and turn it over to me, I kill you.”
Natalia breathed slowly. This was bad. Really bad.
“You understand, I take it. I thought you might.” He opened the trunk and threw her inside with little care for her wellbeing.
Her head slammed into the backseat, blurring her vision with tears and stars from the pain, but it didn’t obscure her hearing as Klebra continued.
“I know you two aren’t actually mated. Only an idiot would believe that,” he said with a snarl. “So, it’s quite simple. If Kirell comes to save you, he gives up his position. I win. If he doesn’t, then it’s clear you aren’t his mate. I expose you two as frauds. I win. It’s nothing personal against you, I hope you understand.”
“Fuck you.” She spat at him, the saliva splattering across the black suit jacket he wore.
Klebra looked down, unimpressed. Then he reached into the trunk, grabbed a handful of her shirt and ripped. Half the front came off, exposing her stomach and the center of her bra while he used the material as a napkin, before tossing it back into her face.
“Manners please,” he said as if she’d not done a thing.
Natalia just stared angrily as his eyes explored her bared front with more than a passing hint of interest. The look on his face when he met her stare again sent shivers down her spine, quelling much of her rebellious spirit.
The pure evil and malevolence harbored in him was starting to boil over as he acted completely against the rules.
“You’ll never defeat Kirell,” she called out. “Not on your own. The guards support him, and they’ll rip you to shreds.”
Klebra laughed, and a shadow behind him shivered as someone walked into the wan light provided by the interior lights of the vehicle. She gasped.
