storm before it broke. Electricity crackled in the air so fiercely, I could taste it on my tongue. My instincts told me to hunker down and I was more than happy to comply as I hurried up to the entrance to Beech House.
Just as I reached the door, strong arms surrounded me and I yelled in alarm as I was hauled backwards into a solid chest. Panic tumbled through me as a black linen bag was dragged over my head.
I swung a fist and my knuckles smacked against a firm body. Blake cursed and Kyan’s dark laughter filled the air right by my ear. I started kicking and thrashing as fear encircled my heart. I couldn’t let them take me, I couldn’t give in.
Strong hands captured one of my wrists and I slammed my heel down onto a foot with a yell of determination. Kyan growled as I threw my elbow back into his gut, but another hand caught hold of my free arm a second later.
“Hold her still,” Saint’s cold voice sliced through me and I fought even harder, thrashing like a bobcat in a snare as I sensed him closing in on me.
No no no no.
Kyan clamped my hands together and a second later I felt a zip-tie locking around them. Kyan released my hands and I immediately swung my fists forward, smacking into another body.
Saint snarled and adrenaline pulsed through my veins as I felt the heat of bare skin and I slashed my nails down it with a cry of defiance.
“You fucking bitch!” Saint snapped.
His hot breath washed through the bag as he grabbed hold of my throat. I waited for him to choke me as Kyan held me still and his fingers tightened as I was held at Saint’s mercy. A true fear found me as I wondered how far these bastards would go. If Saint really had the balls to hurt me.
“Dude,” Blake growled. “We need to go before the storm breaks.”
Saint shoved away from me and his footsteps pounded off into the trees. I hated that I was shaking. I despised that he’d rattled me. But Saint Memphis was unpredictable, heartless and had all the makings of a psychopath. It wouldn’t have surprised me if he’d been the type of kid to capture the most beautiful of butterflies in jars, shaking them until they were dead.
Kyan’s grip on me firmed and he guided me forward, whispering in my ear as we went, “Behave tonight or you’ll regret it.”
“Is that a threat from you or from Saint?” I hissed.
“Both,” he snarled.
“Ha,” I laughed hollowly, forcing strength into my voice. “You’re just the muscle, Kyan. Saint’s the brains. You just do what he says like some leashed dog.”
“Shut your mouth, Plague,” Kyan snapped, shoving me along.
My foot caught on a root and I threw my bound hands out to catch myself with a gasp, but Kyan caught my waist, dragging me upright again as my breathing steadied out.
Thunder crashed in the distance, drawing ever closer and making my heart pound wildly in my chest. The rain hadn’t started yet, but it wouldn’t be long now.
We walked on and on along a winding trail and Kyan’s grip on me never wavered. Part of me wondered if I should bother to scream for help, but somehow I knew no one would come. And if I screamed, the three of them would know I was afraid. I couldn’t allow that.
We travelled up a hill then down the other side of it and the sheerness of the path beneath my feet made me slow my pace.
“I won’t let you fall,” Kyan hissed. “Just move.”
I had about as much faith in him as I did the leader of North Korea. So I was gonna take my damn time thank you very much.
“Hurry the fuck up!” Saint’s voice carried back from afar.
“Just carry her!” Blake called and Kyan whipped me off of my feet, throwing me over his shoulder and making me gasp in alarm.
My bound hands bumped against his ass which was as hard as a brick wall of course. I yelled as his hand pressed to the backs of my bare thighs to hold me in place, firmly under my goddamn skirt.
“Don’t touch me, asshole!” I bashed my fists against his ass again and he chuckled wickedly, ignoring me as his calloused hand remained clamped against my skin.
The ground soon levelled out and the wind around me was definitely blowing my skirt up, baring my panties to the world.