Rubio’s fingers were painfully wrapped around my arm as he dragged me with him.
“Where are you taking me?” I asked. We were passing through a hallway behind the arena, and I had no clue where we were going. Hopefully Chiara would get Seth and everyone out of here safely soon, and I’d have to find a way to get myself out of this mess. All I needed was a good plan.
“Shut up, bitch. You’re my property now. You don’t speak unless spoken to, and if you disobey me, I’ll find Seth and everyone else you care about and put a bullet in them, understood?”
I clenched my jaw. I doubted I was what Rubio really wanted. The whole thing had been just another show for his audience, and yeah, he was probably looking forward to destroying me, but he wanted my club more. Of that, I was sure.
I’d been stupid to think the crowd or Rubio’s powerful guests would side with me if Rubio broke the deal. Maybe they would have been on my side if Rubio hadn’t found a way to make it all look like we’d both done something wrong. I should’ve spared us all the trouble, sent my people away, and burned the damn club to the ground. Although, I was sure Rubio would’ve found a way to benefit from that too.
A dark-haired man with green eyes who was dressed in an impeccable suit appeared at the end of the hallway. A gun was tucked in the holster around his waist, and there was something about his face that reminded me of Rubio. Two guards were right behind him, watching me carefully.
“What the fuck was that?” the man asked Rubio as he looked at me. “Why did you take this whore? Her father...”
“Come on, brother. Isn’t it obvious? Her father’s going to be thrilled when he finds out I’m marrying his daughter.” Rubio grinned, and my eyebrows shot up. Marrying? Was he insane?
“No, it’s not obvious, you dumbass,” his brother snapped, his brow furrowing. “Why would you marry her?”
“She’s agreed to be mine.” Rubio’s hand landed on my ass and squeezed. It took all of my willpower not to punch him in the face. Unfortunately, if I did that, Rubio would call his guards and stop Seth and the others from leaving, or do much worse. No, until Chiara texted me, my hands were tied. And even after that...
“See?” Rubio said. “She’s not that bad. I’m going to enjoy that tight body.”
I gritted my teeth so hard I thought I would crack them.
“Then fuck her and get rid of her.”
“Zack, didn’t you tell me I needed to find myself a wife to bear me a child? She’ll do just fine. She has a pussy and a womb.”
Zack narrowed his eyes at me, then shrugged. “Okay. But what about her father?”
“I told you, he’ll be happy. Just a few days ago, we had lunch together and he was complaining about her and how worried he was. When I marry her, I’ll have her father in my pocket too. He’ll be thrilled when he gets a grandson. Trust me. Besides, I’ll get the club.”
My whole body went rigid.
“How? You said that deal’s still on.”
“Oh, yeah, but she’s mine, and when that’s official, everything will be... ours, which means the club will be mine. We’ll organize a few more fights. I’ll choose both fighters and decide who’s going to win and who’ll lose. Really, just business as usual. Get people all worked up and take their money. And little Vix will only sit beside me and look pretty.”
“You son of a bitch.” Zack burst into laughter. “You planned this all along, didn’t you?”
Rubio only flashed him a smile. “I always have a plan for everything. Do you want to come with me to celebrate?”
“No. I have some business that needs to be taken care of. But you should enjoy yourself.” Zack patted him on the shoulder.
“Oh, I most certainly will.”
Zack headed down the hallway, and Rubio pulled me toward one of the rooms. He shoved me inside and closed the door.
“Sit over there,” he said, pointing at the sofa, and I did as he asked. “You’re not so high and mighty now, are you? Come on, where’s your spirit? I’m looking forward to taming you and teaching you your place.”
I wanted to ask Rubio what century he was living in, but I didn’t want to give him the satisfaction of seeing me annoyed. He was a psychopath, and he needed to have his skull bashed in like Smasher.
My thoughts flew to Seth, and I chewed on the inside of my cheek. God, I hoped he was going to be okay, because if not...
“Give me your phone,” Rubio said, and I placed my hand over my pocket.
“Remember what our deal was,” I said. “If you don’t honor it, I’ll cause you more trouble than you can ever imagine.”
“Ah, I’d love to see that. I know you’re waiting for confirmation that your people are safe, but you don’t really have to worry about that. I’m going to keep my word. Despite what you think, I’m an honorable man. I had nothing to do with what Smasher tried.”
I bit my lip so I wouldn’t laugh. Honorable? He didn’t know the first thing about honor. And I didn’t believe for a second that the whole thing with the blade hadn’t been his idea. If Smasher had been successful and had killed Seth, Rubio would’ve simply blamed Smasher for everything, and to settle the score, he’d have had Smasher killed. Then we’d just have another fight, but my best fighter would be gone.
“I’ll wait, though.” He grinned at me as he took a seat in the chair across from me and poured himself a glass of wine that was on the table. As his shirt lifted, I could see the gun peeking out from the back of his pants.
“Oh, and don’t try to run or anything,” he added. “My guards are just in front of the door and they’ll find you, bring you back to me, and I won’t be merciful with you.”
I pulled my phone out of my pocket and stared at it. Come on, Chiara. Tell me Seth is fine.
“You’re so predictable, you know that, right?” Rubio said, running his finger over the edge of his glass. “You’d do anything for people you care about. It’s so pathetic. I mean, I’d understand if they were your family. I’d kill for my brother, and he’d do the same for me, but everyone else... they’re expendable.”
“Good for you.”
We sat there in silence for a while, and just when I was about to lose my mind, my phone vibrated. I quickly tapped the screen. Chiara had taken everyone to safety, to AE. She promised she’d do everything she could to ensure no one got hurt and that she’d take care of Seth. I realized AE stood for Alice and Eric, which meant she hadn’t been forced to write this text and that Rubio’s men didn’t hold them captive somewhere here, or she wouldn’t have had a reason to write that. I just hoped Seth would be fine.
Now that Rubio thought he’d won, he didn’t have a reason to worry. The only thing that concerned me was that I was sure Chiara, and especially Seth when he recovered, would try to save me, which would give Rubio a reason to kill them. But now that I knew they were safe, everything changed.
“Did your friend tell you what you wanted to hear?” Rubio tilted his head as he got to his feet and started toward me. “Are you satisfied?”
“Yes. I am.”
“Good. Now hand over the phone. You won’t need it anymore.” He extended his hand toward me.
I placed the phone in his hand, and he slid it into his pocket. If I reached now for the blade in my boot or attacked him, he’d see it coming and be able to fight me off. He was bigger and stronger than me, and a fighter too. I’d have to wait for a better opportunity.
“What are you going to do now?” I asked. “Keep me prisoner? Is that what you really want?”
“You talk too much. I want to see what I got.” He towered over me, but then he stepped back as if he’d just remembered something. Pulling the gun out of his pants, he smiled at me and strode toward one of the drawers. As he opened it and tossed the gun inside, I reached inside my boot and got hold of a small blade hidden inside. I pulled it out, keeping it under my palm. He stalked toward me, a big grin on his face.
“So what is it exactly that you want from me?” I asked.
“Are you slow or what? Do I need to spell it out? I want to fuck you. Now. You better not object or I might get mad.” He was approaching me, but then he stopped.
“I just thought...” Why the hell had he stopped? I needed him to get closer to me.
“You agreed. I can do with you whatever I want. That was the price for saving that pathetic creature’s life. Now you have to pay it.” He unzipped his pants. “Come here, get down on your knees, and be a good little bitch.”
I rose to my feet and made my way toward him, biting down on my lip and swaying my hips. “I kind of like you when you sweet talk me like that.” What I really liked was the idea of stabbing him in the balls and making sure he never procreated.
He narrowed his eyes at me as I kept inching toward him, my hand with the blade close to my side. “Stop,” he said. “I know what you’re doing.”
I arched an eyebrow at him, my body going perfectly still. He couldn’t have seen the blade, could he? Had he expected I’d have something like that with me? “Oh, yeah? And what is that?” I tried to keep my voice as steady as possible.
“You’re trying to manipulate me. You think I’m going to fall in love with you eventually, and that you’ll have me by the balls.”
I fought the urge to roll my eyes. I’d barely even started walking toward him and he already felt threatened. How cute was that? “Okay, then. Should I go sit back down?”
“I didn’t say that.” He made a step forward.
I didn’t move, just watched him carefully. Come on, Rubio, bring your pathetic ass over here already. I don’t have time for your games. And I definitely didn’t want him to spot the blade. If this went on for too long, my palms could get too sweaty or I could drop my small weapon. I probably should’ve gotten a bigger one, but then the guards would’ve seen it and taken it away.
“You’ll do as I say.”
Yeah, you said it like a billion times already. Just. Fucking. Come. Here. Before I snapped and rushed at him, everything be damned. “Do you promise not to hurt me?” I gave him my most innocent look ever.
“Aw, my poor little Vix.” He pursed his lips. “Afraid of pain. How did you ever get your hands on a fight club?”
“I got lucky.”
“Yes, yes, you did.” He was still too far away, and if I started toward him now, he’d be suspicious. “Get down on your knees. I promise I’ll be gentle.”
I glanced down at the floor. “But the floor’s dirty, and my pants are too tight,” I said in a high-pitched voice.
“Now you’re really testing my patience.” All the humor fled from his face and he closed the distance between us in a second. His fingers wrapped around my ponytail, pulling hard, but I didn’t care. He was close enough now. I raised my hand and stabbed him in the neck.
His eyes widened slightly, as if he couldn’t believe what was happening. Then he let go of me as he reached toward the blade protruding from his neck. As he collapsed to the ground, sputtering and gurgling blood, I dashed across the room for the gun he’d left in the drawer.
After snatching the weapon, I went over to the table, flipped it to its side, and ducked behind it. Rubio was still twitching, so I fired straight at his head.
The guards rushed inside a few seconds later, their guns raised, but they weren’t quick enough to figure out what was going on. I fired at them from around the table until they were both lying on the floor. When I was sure no one was going to shoot me and that more guards weren’t coming, I hopped to my feet.
Everything happened in slow motion, and I was moving as if in some kind of a bubble. I stepped around Rubio’s body and patted his pockets until I found my phone, which I slid into my pocket. Tossing my empty gun to the ground, I picked up the guards’ guns and headed for the door.
I peered through the door, and once I made sure the hallway was empty, I ran outside. The exit had to be somewhere around here. I kicked at the first door and burst through it with both guns raised. A guard looked up at me, startled, and I fired before he could even reach for his weapon. No one else was there. I saw a key card hanging around the guard’s neck and I tucked one of the guns at the back of my pants, then snatched the card. As I swiped it through the slot, the door opened, and I raced outside into the fresh night air.
I ran as fast as I could, my lungs burning. I had to get as far as possible from the place that had turned me into a murderer. Rubio’s men would be after me. His brother Zack would want revenge too, and this definitely counted as breaking the deal. Not that it mattered anymore.
I was free.
For now.
###
Follow Vix’s story in Fugitive (Your Love Is Dangerous, #2).
More information: http://taliaellison.weebly.com/your-love-is-dangerous-series.html
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