Jake heard Olivia inhale sharply at his words, and it took every bit of strength he had not to look at her.
The man continued, “After we are finished with her, we will leave you here to rot while we take your pretty little puta with us. You will die slowly, thinking about all the things my friend and I will be doing to her. Nod if you understand.”
It grated Jake to the core, but he was in no position to argue. He tilted his head in response.
The tall man smiled. “Good.” He turned to the man behind her. “Now, my friend would like to say a proper hello to your woman.”
****
When the man stepped around from behind, Olivia couldn’t contain her surprise, or her fear.
“You?”
Shorty, the man who’d shown her too much interest at the camp, stood before her. His automatic rifle hung from a wide strap across his shoulder, his pistol held loosely down at his side.
He smiled, his nasty, yellow teeth and rancid breath nearly making her gag. When he reached up and grabbed her left breast, the bile rising from her stomach nearly choked her.
Olivia wanted to rip the asshole’s hand away, but was afraid Jake would pay the price if she did. Blinking back tears, her eyes desperately searched out Jake’s, but he wasn't looking at her. His expression was deadly as he stared at the back of Shorty’s head from behind.
Part of her wished he would do something to stop the assault. At the same time, she was terrified he would. As much as Olivia wanted to see Jake take on these two assholes, she knew he would never do anything to jeopardize her safety.
If given the opportunity, however, she had no doubt he’d kill both men without hesitation. She just prayed that chance came sooner, rather than later.
Shorty finally removed his hand and turned around to face Jake. Searching him, Shorty removed three full magazines and a huge knife she didn’t even know Jake was carrying. Olivia couldn’t believe she hadn’t noticed them, given how close they’d been just moments before.
Walking over to Jake’s backpack, Shorty put his new cache inside before returning to stop directly in front of Jake again. Without warning, the bastard rammed the butt of his rifle into Jake’s gut, taking him down to one knee.
Olivia was forced to watch helplessly as Jake wrapped an arm around his midsection and started coughing loudly.
“No!” she yelled loudly.
Shorty punched Jake in the side of the face.
“Stop it!” She tried again. “Why are you doing this? He’s not even fighting you!”
Olivia started forward, but Tall Guy moved behind her, wrapping his free arm tightly around her chest. She went crazy when Shorty’s boot collided with Jake’s ribs, sending him over onto his back. Screaming, she started twisting her body, trying desperately to get free of Tall Guy’s grasp.
The animal lifted his foot, ready to kick Jake again. Fearing he’d break Jake’s ribs and puncture a lung—or worse—Olivia tried to turn the attention back on her.
“You’re nothing but a fucking coward! I can’t wait to see him put a bullet between those beady little eyes of yours!”
Using all of her strength, she pushed against the arm across her chest one more time. It gave way, and for a second, she thought she was making ground. But as Olivia took a step toward Jake, Tall guy yanked on her hair so hard, she cried out and stumbled backward against his chest.
Clawing at the hand trying to rip her hair from her skull, Olivia attempted to free herself. It was no use.
Shorty turned around, his disdain for her obvious as he came toward her. She didn’t see his hand flying toward her face until it was too late.
He backhanded her so hard, Olivia’s head snapped violently to the side. Pain exploded in her jaw, and tiny, white dots flashed before her eyes. She fought to remain conscious, refusing to leave Jake to deal with these bastards alone.
****
“You son of a bitch!” Jake roared, jumping to his feet.
He’d pretended the asshole’s blows hurt more than they actually had. If these two thought he was weak, there was a better chance they’d let their guard down. The dickhead had been buying his performance. Unfortunately, so had Olivia.
Having no way to know Jake was faking, she’d started screaming and calling the guy names. She’d recognized the short fuck, confirming his suspicion that these were, in fact, Cetro’s men.
The bastard had clearly done something to make Olivia fear him, yet, she’d purposely drawn the attention onto herself so he’d leave Jake alone. And she’d been hurt as a result.
Fuck this shit. Jake refused to stand idly by and watch Olivia get hurt while trying to protect him.
Ready to unleash the animal within, he took a step forward. He’d only covered a few inches of ground when that fucking gun was pressed against her temple again.
“Ah, ah, ah. I would not do that if I were you,” the taller dickhead warned from behind her.
Goddamn it! Jake froze. His chest heaved and his nostrils flared as he worked to control the murderous fury vibrating through him. He slid his gaze to Olivia, which only made matters worse.
The soft skin on her jaw—the same jaw he’d kissed just moments ago —was now red and already beginning to bruise. There was a split at the corner of her bottom lip, and a trickle of blood dripped down onto her chin.
These men had just signed their own death warrants. Too stupid to realize it, Jake decided they needed to know.
With his teeth clenched together painfully, he glared at the man who’d struck her. In a low, menacing voice he vowed, “You’re dead.” He then looked at the other man. “You’re both dead.”
The taller man chuckled, and Jake fought the urge to shove his fist down the guy’s throat. Still holding onto Olivia’s hair, Asshole One —what Jake decided to name the tall fuck—pulled two, thick
