that’s how it went down when they rounded the corner and nearly slammed right into the trio they were stalking. Lucian tore Yasmeen away from Hector’s grip and shoved her into Spencer’s arms before snapping a hand out to grip his prey’s throat. He raised a foot and kicked it hard into Hector’s knee. The joint collapsed, but no crunch sounded over the pain-filled howl the pussy released. The warmth of blood coating the tips of his fingers barely registered as Lucian pinned his victim to the wall. He slipped his nine millimeter from his underarm holster, saw a clear shot out of the corner of his eye, and took it. Before even a slap could land, Sorin’s sparring partner went down with a hole in his temple.
“You do not touch what is mine,” Lucian murmured before placing the butt of his gun to Hector’s forehead and pulling the trigger again. The light went out in the eyes Hector shared with his father, a man who used to look down at Lucian and Markus as he walked out of their house, adjusting his clothes so he didn’t appear disheveled after his afternoon fuck.
Less than ten seconds. That was all it took for two lives to end.
He dropped the body and had just enough time to spat on them both before four men—the cleaners—came around the corner. He ignored them as he went to his pet. She had her hands cupped over her mouth and was whispering oh, my God over and over again. That wasn’t what captured his attention as Spencer handed him a damp cloth that smelled of alcohol. It was the choker hanging from his pet’s thumb. He stared between it and her bare neck as he cleaned the blood he’d felt splatter on his throat and jaw. As he wiped his hands of any traceable evidence, he watched how the diamonds on the tag glinted in the light.
“The car is out back,” Sorin murmured as he cleaned Lucian’s right ear.
Handing off the soiled cloth, and forcing a gentleness he didn’t feel, Lucian peeled Yasmeen’s hands from her face so he could kiss her on the mouth. “Forgive me for not taking the time to recommend turning your back. Just breathe. You will be fine in a moment.”
“I-I’m s-s-sorry. I shouldn’t h-have r-run.”
“Shh.” He hugged her close. “I should never have allowed you out of the castle. This is my fault.” He also shouldn’t have shared his thoughts on permanency. She wasn’t ready for that yet. “Do you see what happens when you leave my side?”
He pressed his lips to her temple and closed his eyes as he held her trembling body. If he hadn’t gotten to her in time, Sala and Rolph would have torn her dress away and used her in the most depraved ways.
“I do not mind that you have these willful thoughts of escape. Of course, you will. But you should never have been so foolish as to act on them. I will teach you this lesson once and for all.” He jerked the choker from her grip and tightened his arm around her waist until she moaned. “And you will learn it, pet.”
♦ ♦ ♦
Still in a suspended place of numb disbelief over the violent episode she was solely responsible for, Yasmeen didn’t protest when Lucian brought her straight upstairs. He released her hand in the middle of the room and went into his closet. He came out with a flat box.
“Turn.”
She turned.
“Lift your hair.”
She squeezed her dry eyes shut and lifted her hair. Something fell, and then he was placing a new collar around her throat. It was cold and made a tiny snick sound when he attached the two ends.
Then she waited. For something. She wasn’t sure what. To get whipped? Spanked? Fucked like a dog? The longer he remained at her back, the tighter her nerves stretched.
She jumped when his phone buzzed.
“It is time.” One fingertip touched her nape. It was feather soft as it followed her spine right to her tailbone.
And then he walked out, locking the door behind him.
She covered her face and fought not to fall to her knees where she stood. He’d killed two men because of her. Shot them. In the fucking head. She banged at her temples to get the image out of there.
Her head flipped up at the sound of a woman’s voice. A door closed in the room next to theirs. A soft giggle. No. Two soft…giggles.
Yasmeen’s breathing sped up until spots