It’s probably better not to add any fuel to that fire.
“Why aren’t you chained?” he questions when he scans the room and then me. “Where’s Jax?”
“He stepped out for a minute.” Not wanting to get Jax in trouble, I don’t offer any more information than that.
“I see the hellfire didn’t work.”
“What, really? I totally thought I had grown a tail and a set of pointy ears.” I pat my head before turning around to look at my rear end. I turn back to Nicolai and attempt to look disappointed. “Oh shoot, better luck next time?”
Nicolai roars in rage and flies across the room at me so fast I don’t have enough time to react. He slams us into the wall behind me. My spine and shoulders take the brunt of the hit, and I groan in pain.
“I’m so fucking sick of your mouth,” he growls, his breath hot on my face. “I really didn’t want to mutilate you since you’re so enjoyable to look at, but I’m seriously considering cutting your tongue out.”
“We both know you won’t.” I smirk. “You get too much pleasure out of our witty banter.”
“You’re overestimating my fascination with you. I wanted your mother, and while you’re a strong alpha wolf and would make a great addition to the program, you’re still not her.”
“If you don’t care about me, why don’t you let me out of here?” I ask.
“Because I still want what is owed to me. I will break you, Grey—I can promise you that. I will break your spirit, and then I’ll break the binds that hold your wolf prisoner. And lastly, I’m going to break you physically. And I know exactly how I’m going to do it.” The look of delight on his face makes me very nervous. “Go ahead, ask me how I’m going to do it.”
I don’t do what he asks at first, so he presses me harder into the wall and digs his claws into my upper arms where he holds me.
“Fine,” I huff. “How are you going to do it?”
Nicolai leans forward and speaks low into my ear. “I’m going to make you watch as I kill Ryker, but first, I’m going to make him watch as I fuck you.”
I jerk back and glare at him, confused. “You promised you’d leave him alone. I did what you said—I voluntarily came with you! You said you wouldn’t hurt him if I did.”
“You’re right, that is what I said. I believe I also said as long as Ryker stayed away and didn’t try to find you, I wouldn’t touch a single hair on his head.” Nicolai releases me and takes a step back. “Well, guess who’s found you?”
Ryker…
Nicolai didn’t chain me back up when he left, so I pace back and forth across the small room while I wait for Jax to get back. I’m a combination of pissed off and elated Ryker has found me. My skin prickles at the idea of him being close to where I am, but my stomach twists in knots and fear at the idea of him being close to me. Because it’s not just me who he’s getting closer to, Nicolai is here too, and he wants blood.
I’m pissed because in the clearing and also in the video I left, I begged Ryker to stay away. Like I had told him in the video, all of this will be for nothing if he shows up and is killed by Nicolai. I’m also angry Elias or Sawyer would allow him to go after me. I had made them promise to keep Ryker safe, and him coming here is anything but safe.
“Fuck!” I shout, slamming my fist into the drywall. Dust and debris fall to the floor when I remove my hand.
“What the hell?” Jax says when he suddenly appears across the room with a grocery bag in his arms. The smell of smoke fills the room before quickly fading. “What happened to you?”
“He’s coming here, and Nicolai is going to kill him.” My voice is flustered when I speak. “And he’s going to make me watch as he does it.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Jax shakes his head as he digs around in the bag of food. “Granola bar?”
“What? No!” I slap his hand away when he holds up a green package. “You’re not listening to me! Nicolai is going to kill him!”
“Again, I don’t know what or who you’re talking about.” Jax puts the bag down on the table and turns back to me. “Slow down, and tell me what happened.”
“Ryker found out where we are, and he’s on his way here.” I try to get the words out as calmly as possible. “And Nicolai said he’s going to kill him. Ryker has no idea what he’s walking into. I’ve only seen part of the facility, but from what I’ve seen, this place is a fortress.”
“He’ll never make it past the front gate,” Jax agrees. “He’s basically on a suicide mission.”
“Oh, my God! Don’t say that!” I know my voice is shrill and full of panic, but I can’t stop it. “I doubt he’s here by himself. I would bet money Remi is with him, and if she’s here, then the twins probably are too. Fuck! I left all of them to save them and now…” I can’t even bring myself to finish the sentence.
“How does Nicolai know Ryker’s on his way here?”
“He said someone called him to warn him.” I push my hair off my forehead and tug at the strands. “That’s not important. How am I going to help them? How am I going to warn them about the ambush I’m sure is waiting for them now.”
Nicolai is smart. I’m sure he’s getting a team together
