Claiming His Prize (Killer of Kings 5)

She hated this.

Keep walking, Lori.

The thought of going back home filled her with a sickness that she couldn’t describe, something soul-deep.

You used to walk the streets on your own.

Nothing has changed.

You’re just used to a man caring now.

The thought of Chains and his touch made her ache. She didn’t want to leave him. Just the thought of never seeing him again or not experiencing his touch filled her with regret.

She stepped up the pace, wanting to get back the way she’d come.

Panic filled her.

What if Chains thought she didn’t want to be with him, or that she’d escaped of her own accord?

She loved her spot in the basement as stupid as that sounded.

It was the one space that no one could take from her.

He’d treated her with such tenderness, and she didn’t want to lose that.

Wiping the tears from her cheeks, she moved with determination. In the strange man’s haste to get her out of the house, she’d not even looked at the house where she’d come from.

“Please,” she said, praying that Chains was home.

She ran around the corner when she collided with a hard, muscular chest. If strong arms hadn’t caught her she’d have fallen to the floor.

Glancing up, she saw it was Chains, and she threw caution to the wind, wrapping her arms around his neck, and holding him tightly.

“You’re here. You came back.”

He held her in a firm embrace, and the heat of his hands made her feel safe.

“What happened?” he asked.

She didn’t like how hard and cold he sounded. Like a business transaction.

“S-someone came in. I don’t know his name. Something about you following him? Tailing him? I can’t really remember. He asked if I was your woman and he aimed a gun at me.” She pressed a finger to her forehead. “I thought he was going to kill me, Chains. Oh my God! I could have been dead by now.”

“I would never let that happen, or let anyone ever hurt you,” he said.

She stared into his eyes as his palm cupped her cheek.

Resting her head against his chest, she held onto him, never wanting to let him go.

“Hush, I’ve got you now.”

&nb

sp; “He just took me out, and then he left me in a dark alley.”

“You didn’t go home.”

“I don’t want to go home, Chains. I … I don’t have a home. Not really. I don’t have anyone who loves me or who cares.” She pulled away, but he wouldn’t let her go far.