Page 78 of Insatiable

“I don’t have time for your bullshit, Stacey.”

“That’s a lovely name,” a voice says, and Kade stops walking.

I try to see who Kade is looking at, but I’m stuck staring at his ass.

“I’ll have to ask your boss how much she costs. When is your time up with her?”

“Step out of the way, Crawley.”

I grip the material of Kade’s top at his back, frozen in fear as two more guys appear at our side.

“Dvigatsya,” Kade says, and I frown at the language I had no idea he spoke. His tone lowers. “Onaneprodayetsya.”

The man chuckles deeply. “Onaseichas.”

“Stacey,” another one says, chuckling as he leans down to my eye level and grins at me. “I’d pay a pretty penny for you.”

One of Kade’s arms vanishes from around my legs, though he still keeps me secure over his shoulder, and I hear a gun cocking. “Don’t make me tell you again. Step out of the way.”

The man looking at me stands up, then he’s out of sight.

“Relax,” Crawley says, back to English. “We come in peace. We’re just curious about your little raven here.”

Kade tightens his grip around my legs. “Get out of my way or I’ll put a bullet between your eyes.”

I groan and cover my ears, waiting for the bang. My dress is somehow still hiding my ass – maybe thanks to the way Kade has positioned his arm.

I hear footsteps on the gravel, and Crawley, the old leader, is watching me as Kade makes his way to the car with the gun at his side, finger still on the trigger.

I’m tossed off his shoulder, my back pressing to the cold metal of the car as he opens the passenger-side door.

“Stop looking at them,” he hisses. “Hey…” He tips my chin. “Eyes on me. Calm down. You’re breathing too fast, and I can’t be fucked with you passing out.”

I had no idea I was panicking until now, until the words hit my ears, and I realise my heart is racing to an unsettling pace, my eyes burning.

I don’t remember getting into the car or clipping my seat belt on. I think he did it.

Another door slams, and the engine turns on, rumbling beneath me. He reverses out of the area like he’s being chased, and I need to grab hold of the dashboard, only narrowly avoiding whiplash, as he swerves the car to the left and accelerates down the road.

“Tell me three of your favourite things.”

I glance at Kade. “W-What?”

“Three favourite things. Go.”

I focus on my breaths. “Dancing.”

“Keep going,” he pushes as he veers around a corner, not looking at me.

“The Greatest Showman.”

He pauses. “Another.”

“The…” I breathe out a breath. “The dogs. Milo and Hopper. I miss them.”

Kade accelerates again, pushing my back to the seat, and I realise his questions have distracted me – I’m now breathing properly again.

A few minutes pass, the car still speeding along, and I eventually sit back on the seat and cross my arms.

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