Page 75 of Primal

His eyes snap back to mine.

“We’re leaving.” He steps forward—more like a babysitter done reasoning with toddlers than a killer. “Argue on the way.”

Kristy shoots me a look—don’t you dare trust that man.

Kade’s fingers twitch toward us. “Last chance. Come with me now.”

“Fuck you,” Kristy spits.

He lunges—too fast—grabbing my elbow.

My fingers close around the pepper spray. I yank it from Kristy’s grip.

Aim the nozzle right in his face—

PSSSHHHTTT.

Kade reels back with a guttural roar, hands flying to his eyes. “You fucking bitch—”

My sneaker connects with his groin.

A wet, airless sound—and he’s on his knees.

Kristy’s scream finally reaches me.

Kade’s clawing his face and clutching his balls. Tears and snot slick down his jaw.

I snatch Kristy’s arm. “Run.”

“Goddamn …” Kade blinks up at me. “Wait.”

But Kristy’s already crashing through the trees, me sprinting behind her, the taste of blood and pepper spray thick in my mouth, his howl echoing behind us.

“Payton! He’ll kill you both!”

Chapter Sixteen

Fuck. My. Life.

I roll onto my side, hacking up air. My eyes are burning, my balls staging a full-blown mutiny, and yeah—those two just ditched me for dead.

Classic fucking Payton. Should’ve known she’d use that pepper spray on me.

I spit out a bitter glob.

Vanessa’s leer mocks me. ‘You poor dumpster fire. Should’ve stuck to jerking off in your sad little dungeon.’

Not wrong.

I snatch her phone off the ground and punch the screen awake. No signal. Of course not.

Congrats! You made it. Just in time.

Well-fucking-played. The bastard set me up. Gutted Vanessa, strung her up, used her body like bait to lure Payton straight to me. But why make me the villain in her eyes?

Guess we’re the main fucking act.

I drag my sorry carcass upright. Got to move.