The Skull Crusher (Skull 2)

She dug into her pasta. “This looks good.”

I cut into my chicken and took a bite, unable to stop picturing her naked on her knees. I wanted to choke her with my dick, but I also wanted her legs wrapped around my waist while I sank deep inside her. I wanted to look into those pretty eyes as I felt her tighten around me in a climax.

Now that we had our entrees, I didn’t have to wait long until this night was over.

My gaze moved out the window when I saw several black SUVs pull up at the exact same time. The windows were blacked out, and the passengers were impossible to see. I was always on alert for anything unusual, and this seemed out of place.

Groups of men spilled out of the cars, all dressed in black. They didn’t carry weapons, but they were probably stashed under their clothes since they were about to hit a public place. It must be Lucian’s men, and their objective was to get Cassini back unharmed.

Cassini kept eating, oblivious to all of this.

“Baby, listen to me.” My eyes followed the men as they moved to the front door.

She sensed the seriousness of my tone and looked up, setting down her fork.

“Lucian’s men are going to hit this room in about thirty seconds—”

“What?” she said, her voice rising.

“There’s twelve of them, so no big deal—”

“No big deal?” she shrieked. She looked over her shoulder and spotted the armored vehicles outside. “Oh my god, what do we do?”

“It’s going to be fine.” I rose to my feet and grabbed her by the elbow. “You’re going to leave out this back door and run.” I pulled her to the back entrance, a door only used in case of an emergency.

“What about you?”

“Baby, I’ll be fine,” I said with a laugh.

“Why don’t you come with me?”

“Because they’ll chase us. And I’m not the kind of man that runs. Now, go.” I pushed the door open, and the fire alarm immediately went off. “Now run, baby.” I smacked her on the ass and pushed her through the door.

24

Cassini

The gunshots sounded just when I made it to the corner. Like bombs were striking the surface of the earth, it was so loud, the sound in my ears seemed muffled. My heels made it impossible to run, and I yanked them off so I could keep going.

My heart was racing so fast.

I had no idea where I was headed. I had no idea if I was safer out here than I was with Balto.

I hoped Balto would be okay.

The gunshots didn’t console me. I feared he was bleeding on the ground, dying alone.

It was too late to do anything, so I kept running. I headed in a straight line, running so fast my legs hurt. My chest tightened because I was breathing hard. I didn’t know where I was going, but I kept running like my life depended on it.

A black SUV pulled out from the side street and blocked my path. It was tinted and armored just like the others. Men dressed in all black immediately hopped out to snatch me.

“Shit.” I veered to the right and sprinted down the alleyway. I was a fast runner, but there was no way I could outrun five athletic men. Thankfully, they wouldn’t shoot me, so I didn’t have to worry about a bullet to my back.

I barely made it to the other side of the alleyway when one of the men charged into me and knocked me to the ground.

I hit the concrete hard, my body aching at the collision.

“Got her.” The man grabbed me by the wrists and tried to cuff them together.

I kicked him hard in the gut.

His hand shot out and slapped me across the face. “Lucian said we could rough you up a bit.”

I recognized his face and his voice. He was one of the men I saw at the estate on a daily basis. “Please let me go.”

He got the cuffs over my wrists. “Not a chance.”

I kicked him again even though the fight was over.

“Bitch.” This time, he punched me in the face.

My head smacked into the concrete from the force. My eyes stopped working for a second as my body absorbed the pain. I was going back to Lucian, and there was nothing I could about it. I would be beaten, tortured, and raped. Balto wouldn’t be able to save me a second time—if he survived. “Please let me go. Don’t make me go back to him.”

Another man grabbed me and tried to yank me to my feet. “Not a chance, sweetheart. He said we get a go with you as our reward for capturing you.” He grabbed my dress and yanked it up to reveal my bare legs and my thong. He whistled. “I’m not passing that up.”