We climb into the vehicle, and one of Emmanuelle’s oversized goons drives. I note the four others that climb into the other vehicle.
“Did you feed them some kind of human growth serum to get them that big?”
He rolls his face toward me, devoid of humor. “Funny. Very funny. Who knew you get funny when you’re about to walk into a fight?”
I shrug. “I get horny, too, but that’s not something I’m going to let you handle.”
Now he chuckles, facing out the window again. “No, you’re right. Michail would cut off my cock, and I’m rather attached to it.”
On that upbeat note, we lapse into silence, each of us preparing mentally for the battle to come.
31
MICHAIL
Margery runs her hand around from the back of my neck over my shoulder. I’ve had enough of people touching me without my permission. Enough of women thinking they own me because I happen to be good looking and it’s their right.
I give the empty doorway one more longing glance and face Margery.
She’s smiling now, completely focused on me. In her mind, she’s already won, and Selena isn’t a threat.
In her hubris, she’s forgotten who I am…even though she knew all along that I’m a member of the Five. She assumed because I have a pretty face and gave her a well-choreographed act I’m not just as dangerous as my counterparts. That I’m not more dangerous.
Some of the men in the room shift in their seats. They haven’t forgotten who I am.
I’m the shadows which reach out and take a bite when you least expect it. I’m the one Adrian sends when subtlety and finesse have gone out the window.
Margery reaches up to wind her arms around my neck, and I’m already moving, angling my hands to either side of her head like I might kiss her. She’s been waiting, hinting about kissing me all evening. It never occurs to her I have other plans.
She closes her eyes, and I’m almost at the right angle to snap her little twig neck when hands land on my shoulders, pulling me off.
The fucking guards haven’t forgotten who I am either, it would seem. I fight as they wrestle me off my feet. I glimpse a man’s stubble, and the glint of a pin on his turtleneck, as I land on my knees hard. Pain shoots up into my thighs, cascading through my body. It seems to last forever thanks to whatever drugs Margery gave me.
I move to drop the tie on my wrists, the one I loosened, but one of the guards on me is there first. He jerks the rope tight, so it cuts into my wrists. “What the hell, asshole? Is it necessary to tie it that tight?”
He doesn’t respond, and I imagine crushing his jugular with my favorite pair of boots. “Love the outfits, boys. Really sets the Dungeons-R-Us vibe. You even have the little club pin and everything.”
One of the guards knees me in the kidney, and I fold over, struggling against the pain.
Margery speaks up from where she’s resumed her place on her throne. “Oh, don’t hurt him too badly. I want him to be functional when we get to the old council seat.”
At least if they are moving me, she can’t come back here and be dragged into this mess. It’s a relief, even if I have no idea where their council hosts their regular meetings. I assumed this was it since it’s the only place I’ve seen images of.
When I can sit up again, Margery slinks off her throne toward me. I have to actually try to keep the bile down.
She cups my cheeks in her cold brittle fingers, leaning in. “You were so sweet earlier. Can’t we go back to that?”
I consider. Since my brain is moving way too slowly, I’m not sure any acting on my part will go over well. So I shrug. “I’m not against being nice to you as long as you are nice to me.”
She soothes her thumb over my bottom lip, and I jerk forward, snapping my teeth. I barely miss her, sending her backward so quickly she lands on her ass.
Good, now she knows how my knees feel right now.
She waves at the guards who haul me to my feet, the others closing ranks around us as we exit. The event hall is deserted. Broken glass shimmers on the floor where party goers left in a rush. I can’t blame them. Or maybe I can when it’s them who’ve accepted this woman as their leader. As if she’s even in the same league as Selena. If the rest of the council thinks that, then they are even more delusional than I thought.
I’m roughly tossed into the back of her town car. Two guards sit in the front seat and one in the back. With my hands still tied, I don’t have much of a chance to escape, even if this would have been the best place to attempt it.