Dimitri

I clench and unclench my fists. The urge to drive them into the lockers beside me is so huge I have to breathe myself through it.

That girl is driving me crazy.

She thinks she’s got an answer for everything. Shit, she probably grew up with a silver spoon hanging out of those pretty fucking lips. She wouldn’t understand what it’s like to have your innocence stripped from you.

She has no right to judge me.

Or defend that piece of shit.

Jess

I stand in the cool breeze, shifting from one foot to the other as I wait for Luke to open the SUV so we can get in. He’s staring at our surroundings, as if checking to make sure no one is watching. Then, right in front of my eyes, he lets me go and walks around to unlock the front door.

He. Just. Let. Me. Go.

It takes my mind a split second to figure out what I need to do. He’s going to come back around in less than a minute. This might be my only chance to run. It’s not logical, running into a street and letting myself be seen, but it’s better than heeding to what Dimitri wants. I spin on my heel and I run.

Fast.

I hear Luke yell, but I put my head down and I charge toward the road. I don’t stop when I reach it; I leap out and cross it, causing cars to skid and screech to stops. Drivers hurl abuse at me, some of them yelling out asking me if I need help. I figure that must be because Luke is chasing me. Most people wouldn’t just throw themselves into the middle of a busy street.

I hear Luke bark out a curse, but I don’t dare stop and see how close he is. Running quickly warms my cold body, and I pick up speed. I thank God in this moment that I’ve lived on a pirate ship for years and because of that and the limited amount of choices, I’ve lived a healthy lifestyle. I’m fit. I run down a footpath heading to a beach. A beach is good because they’re almost always dark and I can hide easily. I can feel my heart pounding so hard it’s making me feel a little ill inside.

I’m frightened.

If I don’t pull this off and Dimitri gets me, I’ll pay for it.

I’m just about to cross another road to the easiest beach entrance when Dimitri appears in front of me, quick as lightning. I don’t even know where he came from, or how he got to me so quickly. I yelp and skid to the left, hurling myself over a railing that apparently stops people from falling down the long hill to the beach. I tumble over it, and I hit the ground hard. But I’ve landed with too much force.

So I roll.

I can feel twigs and sticks scratching into my skin as I tumble down the extremely steep hill. By the time I hit the sand below, my mouth is bleeding and my head is aching. I flip myself over and get to my knees, shoving myself forward and crawling until I’m farther out. My wrists ache, and I worry I’ve hurt one of them. I push to my feet, only to be slammed back down again by a hard, sweaty, half-naked body.

I land back in the sand with a thump, and a loud “Oomph” leaves my throat. Dimitri rolls me, flipping me effortlessly onto my back. His big body covers mine, and even though I can’t see him, I know his face is close. I can feel hot puffs of breath tickling my cheeks. I don’t enjoy that for long, though. I bring my knee up, and I hit him right in the groin.

He roars and tumbles off me. I don’t wait. I lunge forward and scurry as far away from him as I can get. Despite his no doubt aching balls, he is back on top of me in a matter of seconds, shoving my face down into the sand. I choke and splutter as clumps of it manage to find their way into my mouth. God, sand is awful when it’s all up in your mouth space.

“Get off me,” I scream, then choke. “You son of a bitch.”

He grumbles and keeps his hands and body pressed into mine. “That was a stupid thing to do.”

“On whose behalf?” I bellow. “Mine or your idiotic guards?”

His body stiffens. I spit profusely on the sand—trying to rid sand, go figure.

“Did you really think I wouldn’t take a chance to run if I got it?” I manage.

“Get up.”

“I can’t, you’re on top of me,” I point out, sarcastically.

He’s off me in a second, but his hand clasps firmly around my wrist. He hauls me up and wraps an arm around my waist, pinning me to his side. Then he shoves us toward the stairs. Those would have been nicer to come down on. I struggle and squirm as we walk, and the moment we get back into the streetlights, I start to scream.

“Help, he’s kidnapping me! Help!”

He spins me around quickly with a feral growl, and shoves my head into his bare chest. My mouth crashes against his skin. I can taste his sweat and up this close, his smell is intoxicating. I take the opportunity to let him know what I think of him. I bite him, and I make it a good one. He grunts and jerks my head back by gripping a thick lock of hair. He glares down at me.

“Do that again,” he warns, “and I’ll return the favor.”

He shoves me into the SUV that I only just realized is parked right near us. He doesn’t let me go as he slides me into the back seat, jumping in behind me. I glance at Luke who is in the front seat, staring out of the window, his jaw tight.

“Good job, Luke,” I say. “I bet Dimitri is so happy he’s got you watching his back.”

“Shut up,” Dimitri barks.

Luke glares at me, but quickly starts the SUV and pulls out. I try to pull myself from Dimitri’s grip, but he refuses to let me go. Instead, he reaches over and lifts me with little exertion, pulling me onto his lap. His arm goes around my waist, pinning me there. The other arm goes across my shoulders to stop me being able to struggle. My cheek is pressed to his chest, not my mouth. Smart man.