The Fighter's Prize - Jessa Kane Page 0,21

cut through the masses, following him. I have no choice. If Scout is somewhere in this club or nearby, nothing is going to keep me from her. Maxim is going to be pissed. But I’ve been taking care of myself for eighteen years. I’ll be fine and later I’ll soothe his ruffled feathers.

My father takes a left down a back hallway and ice crawls up the back of my neck. Is he trying to draw me somewhere? I slow my pace and carefully crane my neck to look down the hallway—

An arm shoots out and I’m being dragged down the dark corridor. My heels keep slipping on the polished wood and I can’t get my balance, the punishing grip of this man biting into my arm. Is it my father?

I gather every ounce of air into my lungs and scream. “Maxim!”

The music is too loud. I’m too far away.

Tears crowd against the backs of my eyes.

In a snap, I’m tossed into a different room and the door slams behind me. Quiet. Too quiet. I’m not alone in the room. There are two shadowy figures leaning against the far wall. Bass thrums from the dance floor, my breath rasps in my ears and no one speaks. I throw myself up against the door and jerk the knob, but it’s locked. Shit. Shit.

“I want what I was promised,” says a familiar voice behind me. “I was promised you, Whitney, and I’m not accustomed to losing. Especially not twice in one day.”

Banner.

I turn slowly as he comes into the light, limping, half of his face swollen and purple. My skin crawls the closer he comes, his tongue snaking out to wet his lips. “You’re lucky I’m willing to take the Russian’s sloppy seconds.” He reaches out and captures my chin, pinching it. “Virgin or not, you’re still the hottest little bitch around, aren’t you?”

“Jesus,” snorts my father, though he hardly seems bothered. “She’s my kid.”

“I’ll talk to her however I want, whenever I want,” Banner grits out, slaying my father with a glance. “You want me to pay to keep the sharks off your back? Keep your fucking mouth shut.”

“Is Scout even here?” I ask, my teeth starting to chatter from nerves. I’ve never seen that crazed look in Banner’s eyes. “Did you just use her to lure me back here? You know she’s with—”

“Easton Brawn. Everyone knows.”

“How?”

“Brawn made her a neat little target, showing public interest in her like he did.” Banner’s white teeth flash in the dark room. “One of his many enemies already put a price on her head.”

My knees almost collapse beneath me. I look at my father, but he seems more concerned with lighting a joint than the fact that his oldest daughter is in danger. I try to hold on to the fact that Scout sounded confident in her safety over the phone this afternoon, but frankly, I’m done leaving things up to men and chance.

“Let me out of this room!” I shout, turning and banging on the door as hard as I can.

Banner grabs my hair and yanks me back, hard enough to make my eyes tear—

And that’s when Maxim realizes I’m gone. There’s a loud crash out on the club floor. Women scream. Feet travel quickly on the floor. Running.

“WHITNEY.”

Despite Maxim’s obvious anguish, relief spreads in my chest. All I have to do is stall. He’s going to find me if he has to rip every inch of this place apart. “Maxim!” I scream.

Banner slaps a hand over my mouth. “Shut the hell up!”

He drags me backwards toward an emergency exit and I dig my heels in as hard as I can, twisting in his grip. I absolutely cannot allow him to take me out of this club. Or Maxim will have no idea where to look. Not until it’s too late and this man inflicts his will on me.

I hear the heavy pound of footsteps and another bellow of my name.

“WHITNEY.”

The doorknob rattles. And then the entire door is kicked off the hinges, sending splinters in every direction, and there, outlined in the doorframe, is six-foot-four inches of seething, deadly muscle and man. Maxim takes in the scene with one livid sweep of his eyes and crushes the sides of the doorframe in his bare hands, roaring loud enough to make my eardrums throb.

Even Banner loosens his grip on me, sending us both stumbling back a couple steps.

I use the opportunity to rip myself free and run toward Maxim, tears running down my cheeks.