Page 137 of Santiago's Conquest (Four Dark Horsemen 1)

He takes out a white cloth from his pocket, and I assume he has something on it to make me unconscious.

Both of us still when a loud roar fills the air, drumming so hard in my ears they start to hurt.

And then Leo slams into the man, getting him off me, and sinks giant teeth into his shoulder to my surprised and horrified gasp. My heart galloping, relief washes over me, mixing with panicked fear, because I’m out in the open with a predator who just tasted blood.

Will I be next?

The man cries out in pain, but I pay no attention to it, snatching the gun from his belt holster while the lion continues to tear at him and then steps back when he finally shuts up.

I see men running toward us, and I fire the gun without thinking, hitting their legs and arms while Leo jumps to them, knocking them on their asses while they’re trying to regroup after getting shot.

Although I should be terrified at how their bodies are being ripped apart, I don't really feel an ounce of remorse, because fuck them.

Is this how Santiago always feels?

Leo finishes the last one and then looks at me. My heart is in my throat at this point, and then he darts so fast toward me he becomes a blur. I’m glued to the spot, scrunching my eyes hard, expecting to be next, and the gun trembles in my hands, but nothing happens.

Instead, I feel hot breath on my chest, and I open my eyes to see him standing in front of me, nuzzling into me as if checking if I’m all right. I place my hand on his head, gliding it over his fur.

I’m trembling so much from relief I fall to my knees where Leo still allows me to touch him without him harming me, and although blood drips from his mouth, it doesn't stop my smile, as I whisper, “Thank you.” This moment is incredibly touching to me, even though I understand the psychology behind it.

To him, Santiago is his pride’s alpha, and his alpha introduced him to me, showing him I'm important. By default, Leo considers me part of their pride, so he protects me when outsiders come.

Nothing but animal instinct.

Sliding my hand through his fur one last time, I’m scratching him under his chin, when a gunshot echoes across the space. Birds stop chirping and the branches shuffle when they fly out, signaling danger all around us.

Bang. Bang. Bang.

Leo is so enormous he blocks everything behind him, so I don't understand what is going on at first, but then he roars, shaking slightly and stumbling before falling onto his side as he breathes heavily. I gasp, tears filling my eyes when I see several bloody wounds on him, and shake my head. “No, no.” I place my hands on them, but he only roars again, clearly in so much pain. “No, no!”

“That’s why you should never resist my wishes, Briseis. There are always consequences.” The cold voice slips into my veins, stilling the world around me, and I look in its direction. I see a man wearing all white standing, holding a gun as he grins at me, venom filling his crystal-green eyes.

Several men stand behind him, aiming their guns at me, although judging by their leader, they won’t shoot.

Leo roars once again, and I shift my attention back to him. “Shhh…. We need to get you to the hospital.” I pat his head, ignoring the man and hoping all this is just a bad dream, because the lion cannot die, right? I get up, searching for the gun beside him, only to jump when the man fires again at my feet, not allowing me to get it. “I don’t have value for human life. Why do you think I care if the lion lives or not?” He gives Leo a once over. “The creature is as good as dead, so stop wasting my time.” He orders his men, “Get her.”

They grab me from both sides before I can run, then drag me to their boss as I dig my bare feet into the ground, thrashing in their hold. “No, let me go! Leo!” I shout, needing to get some help to him or he will die. “Let me go!” I pull at my hands, but it’s useless.

They finally bring me so close to the man I have a good look at him, mainly how despicable all his features are, which let me know nothing human resides in his soul. He traps my chin, digging his fingers in so hard I hiss in pain, spitting, “Don’t touch me, you fucker.” He slaps me so hard my head twists to the side, and instant pain travels through my neck, numbing my jaw, and I barely manage to take a breath.

He tsks. “Now, darling, is that the way to greet your father?”

My… father?

The thought doesn't even register in my mind as he inserts a needle into my neck, and slowly my whole body loses its strength as my eyes close.

Santiago

Flipping through the statistics on our latest transactions on my tablet, I press on the intercom and hear Anna answer, “Yes, sir?”

“I’m looking over the reports on the club. Two dancers broke their contracts.” The club doesn’t bring us any real money; however, we still need to run the business to serve as a cover to lure our victims or present an alibi to the police.

Not to mention we like to hang out there where we can be ourselves without the press breathing down our necks.

And the club was created entirely by our money alone that we earned with our business transactions without our families’ wealth.

Monsters can be sentimental too.

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