Once I reached the ground, I was thoroughly winded. I groaned at the sudden jolt to my entire body. This wasn’t good.
Opening my eyes, I attempted to scurry away from the attacker. I was shocked to see Ace Block standing before me.
He wasn’t as big as I remembered, but the demons within his gaze were exactly the same as the last time I saw him.
“So, they finally brought you back, you little slut.”
I grunted, feeling pain explode as he landed a blow with his foot to my stomach.
Where the fuck was Drake? I couldn’t believe I even wanted him here to save me, but I was no match for this man. He was dangerous.
Rolling over, I ignored each sparkle of pain and got to my feet, only to have a blow across the cheek. He didn’t hit me with an open palm but a fist so hard, I saw stars. Not good. Really, not good.
I fell against the table and in my hand, I found some kind of box. With my weapon, I spun around when I felt him close, and lashed out, hitting him over the head. He took a step back, but it wasn’t enough to take him out. Still with the box in my hand, I went in for the attack again. He caught my hand, twisting it so I had no choice but to drop my weapon. I lifted my foot to try to stomp on him, to kick him, to do anything that would free me.
He pushed me away and I fell into a cabinet.
More pain exploded throughout my body. It had been a long time since I’d taken a beating, and I was starting to feel it, and what was more, I didn’t like it.
As I turned to try to block him, I wasn’t fast enough. He grabbed my head, holding me up by my hair until I cried out. I couldn’t stand the pain and I knew he was going to rip chunks of hair right out of my head.
Tears exploded in my eyes.
“Fucker!”
Never had I been so relieved to hear Drake’s voice. I heard him hit Ace and the tightness of my hair loosened.
Dropping to the floor, I turned and tried to scurry away, but my leg was captured and I was pulled back. Ace had me and his fingers were wrapped around my neck, cutting off my air supply.
The movement was so quick, I couldn’t stop it. I tried to claw at his arms, to get him to release me. Nothing. I couldn’t stop him.
He was the one in charge.
Where was Drake?
I hadn’t been able to spend enough time with Gael, Caleb, Vadik, and River. I didn’t want to die without at least being with them long enough to appreciate it. I’d been too pissed about everything to be happy to be with them.
Suddenly, out of the corner of my eye, I saw Drake with a knife. Ace was so focused on me that he didn’t hear Drake, who was sporting a gash across his forehead.
Within seconds, Drake embedded his knife into Ace’s throat. Blood spilled out and I tried to turn away, but I felt it drip down onto my face and neck.
I gasped, hoping I didn’t get any blood into my mouth.
Ace’s weight was off me and I rolled over, going to my knees and taking large gulps of breath.
“One down, three to go,” Drake said. “Fuck.”
“Where were you?” I croaked the words out, my hand going to my throat. I glanced toward the door and saw a tray of food spilled to the floor. “Oh.”
“I was trying to get you something to eat. I’m going to need a fucking assistant. I’m not letting you out of my sight.” Drake grabbed my arm and helped me up. “Are you okay?”
“I’m alive. I’ll take that for now. I’m alive.”
Ace’s body was on the floor.
Drake hadn’t pulled the knife out, and the man lay completely lifeless.
“Do you need me to move it for you?”
“No, I’m fine. I don’t need to be protected like that. I can handle it.”
“You sure?”
“I’m sure. Believe me.” My voice didn’t sound like mine, and my throat still felt so incredibly tight. I let out a little cough, hoping to clear my throat, but nothing. Drake put a finger beneath my chin and tilted my head back.
“You’re going to have bruises.”
“Yay.”
We were still sitting on the sofa hours later when my men returned empty-handed. Their search had been completely useless, which I had suspected. Rather than be pissed at them leaving me alone, I went to them. They were angry and they all held me. I didn’t want to let them go, but eventually, we walked over to the corpse of Ace Block.
I glanced at River, but he wasn’t showing any emotion at all.
He didn’t seem to care.