Page 25 of The Quiet Witness

Without hesitation, his hand clasped over her mouth. Cutting her voice off.

Breath trailed over her neck as he murmured, “Ghost, loud.”

Ghost didn’t miss a beat, his barks dwarfing the space like a fire alarm, muffling the sounds of her struggle.

Stuck. Restrained. Death. Not done, I am not done!

Rage and fear danced with each other. She let rage take the lead.

Clamping her teeth down on the fingers silencing her voice, the taste of iron spurted into her mouth. Her vision tilted. Blood. His blood was spilling into her.

Lucien’s chest rose behind her in a sharp intake of breath. But. He. Didn’t. Let. Go. Instead, he called out, “Be there in a minute!”

“Okay.” A muffled acknowledgment came from behind the door. Nothing but a piece of metal barring her exit.

“Stay calm.” The murmur forced her hairs upright. Holding her trapped against him, he repeated the words calmly, as if she was some wild animal in need of saving.

Fucking… psychopath from hell.

He dragged her with him, turning into the hallway.

She kicked at the floor, tried to hook her ankle behind his. But his grip was relentless, balance too sure-footed.

She reached out, clinging to the wall with one arm as if it would save her from the end. “Calm down, Kate.” She was too big a nuisance to leave alive, when he returned from the front door. It was over and done with.

Kate had read the statistics. Either you fought and won… or you lost. There was but one path leading to freedom.

She threw her head back harshly, hitting bone. Lucien cursed under his breath. Nose, she had crashed into his perfect nose. His hold tightened, another curse spat out behind her.

Now, he is going to do it now. Be done with it.

Seconds ticked by before his grip loosened, blood returning to her arms. “Stop fighting, Kate!”

Never.

Ghost’s bark… everywhere. Howls splitting her head clean open. Blood pounding through her skull after the force she’d inflicted.

Lucien’s hand pried her fingers straight off the wall. The white blur slipped from her grip. He was done asking. Whirling her wrist around to pin it against her back, he pulled her backwards until they stood in front of her room.

Gods, no. I need to get out of here!

But no God answered her call for help.

Lucien plucked her legs from the ground. Airborne for a second, he unceremoniously threw her onto the large bed.

Not a second went by before her feet found floor again. Breathing ragged, she pushed off the bed.

Fur. A white coat filled her vision.

Ghost followed Lucien into the room. Silent at last, she heard Lucien mutter, “Ghost, guard.” Not a second later he slipped out of the room, the door falling into its hinges behind him.

The large beast plopped down on his haunches. Amber eyes locking with hers. The tension in his shoulders told her everything. ‘You’re not getting past me.’

Her hand inched closer, reaching for the dog that had been keeping her company. Searching for the pet within.

He’s in there.

A low whine rumbled from his chest. Grief-stricken.