Page 95 of Captive Ruin

We’re so not done with this conversation, but I glance through the door to the living room, and the bodies lying amid the wreckage. He has a point. “No, I suppose not. I’ll… get a hotel.”

He shakes his head. “Not a chance. You’re coming with me.”

“I’m… what?” Is he serious? After he’s just killed two people? After I found out he’s been invading my privacy and mocking my sanctuary for weeks? He might be my monster, but he’s still a monster. “Absolutely not. I’ll go to my sister.”

“No. Serranto knew about her. That means they will, too.”

I stare at him as the blood drains from my face. How did I not see that?

“Fuck. I have to call her!”

“It’s the middle of the night, and I already have a man watching her apartment.”

“You… you… what?” I shake my head, trying to roll with the punches when I’m already so drained. “What do you mean you have someone watching her apartment?”

He glances at his watch. “A precaution. It seemed sensible when I learned they’d come here.”

How many men does he have? How can he do that?

“It’s time to go.” He takes my arm, his grip perhaps intended to be supportive, but all I feel is restraint.

I try to pull free, but his hand tightens. “I’m going to a hotel.”

“It’s not open to debate,” he says softly. “I want you safe, and the safest place is my house.”

“Your house?” I don’t need another glimpse into the living room to know how much of a mistake that would be. “Van Wyk—”

“—Lukas.” It’s almost a growl.

I take a breath, trying to speak calmly enough to mollify him when calm is the last thing I’m feeling. “Look, Lukas, I really appreciate all you’ve done, but I am not going to your house.”

“I said it’s not open to debate.” His voice has gone flat again, the same tone he uses when he’s talking about killing people or interrogating them with knives in their flesh.

“And I said no.” I’ve had enough, and my anger rises. I try to pull my arm away, but his grip doesn’t shift. “You’re hurting me. Let go.”

“No. We need to leave, and you’re being difficult.”

Difficult? I’ll show him difficult.

“I’ve had as much of this as I can take. I’ve seen my gallery burned down, two men breaking into my apartment and trashing it, threats to me and to my sister. And you!” I throw the word in his face. “Let’s not forget you! You broke in here first! More than once!” I laugh without mirth. “I don’t know why I bother with locks. My apartment’s like a fucking tourist attraction. I’m not going with you.”

He checks his watch again. “We don’t have time to argue. We’ve already been here long enough.”

He starts dragging me toward the door no matter how much I plant my feet. He’s so much stronger than I am.

“Let go of me, goddammit, or I’ll scream!”

“Then I’ll gag you.”

I keep pulling back, but it doesn’t have any effect. In sheer desperation, I hit him with my free hand, again and again. His chest, his shoulder. A blow to his face. He blocks, catching my wrist.

“Little Stray,” he says through clenched teeth, “you’re trying my patience.”

“And you’ve exhausted mine!” I pull against his hold on me; my arm, my wrist. Neither shifts. “You’re hurting me, and you promised you wouldn’t.”

“I promised I wouldn’t harm you. I’m not about to stop spanking you when you need it.”

I glare at him, trying to ignore the way his words affect me. “Let. Me. Go.” I bite it out. “I will fight you every step.”