My new comforter!
“Stop!” I screamed as Duncan opened his mouth and bit Ethan in the shoulder, adding more gore to my beloved bedroom linens.
Nathan grabbed my arm and pulled me out of the room. “Let’s get the hell out of here,” he said.
“But what if one of them gets really hurt?” I hollered, pulling away.
“What if you get really hurt?” he yelled. “Let’s go!”
But I was far too worried about Duncan and Ethan. I turned to charge back into my room when Nathan picked me up and threw me over his shoulder. “Dammit, we’re leaving…now!” he grunted.
I punched him in the back. “For the love of God, put me down!”
He ignored my protests and rushed down the stairs while I continued to struggle and break free. As he got to the front door, he put me down. “Jesus,” he said, trying to catch his breath. “You need to lay off the pie at work.”
I glared at him. “This isn’t funny, none of it is.”
He put his hands on my shoulders and gave me a stern look. “Listen, I know you’re pissed, but we have to go and check on mom. She called me a few minutes ago and seemed pretty upset. I’m really worried about her.”
I stared at him in shock. “I didn’t know. Let’s go.”
He stared down at my robe and swore. “You need something to wear. Check the dryer, I think it’s full.”
I ran into the laundry room, which was next to the kitchen right underneath my bedroom, cringing at the loud banging and growls coming from up above. I was not looking forward to inspecting the damage in the room later.
Bending down next to the dryer, I grabbed a pair of blue jeans and a green sweater, and then slipped them on as quickly as possible. As I turned to leave, I noticed the house was now completely silent.
“Come on!” hollered Nathan, from the entryway.
I flew out of the laundry room and ran smack into Ethan. His lip was bleeding and there was blood on his shoulder where Duncan had bitten him.
“Going somewhere?” he asked, smiling grimly.
I nodded. “Yes. Where’s Duncan?”
He snorted and shook his head. “Duncan, that fool. He’s beginning to really piss me off.”
I glared at him. “Just answer me, is he alive?”
“Pretty much.”
I nodded. “Okay, good. We’re leaving to check on my mother.”
“The only place you’re going is with me,” he said, grabbing my arm. “I have to keep you safe.”
I tried freeing my arm from his grasp but he only tightened it more.
“Ethan, this is ridiculous. I can’t go anywhere with you,” I said. “My mom might be in danger.”
“I’ll check on your mom once you’re hidden. But right now, all I care about is making sure you’re out of Faye’s radar.”
Before I could protest, he picked me up in his arms.
“Stop it,” I demanded. “You can’t do this…”
“Put her down,” barked Nathan, who was now blocking our path in the hallway. “Or I’m going to have to hurt you.”
Ethan chuckled. “I like your spunk. Now,” he said, his eyes growing hostile, “get out of the way. I’m only going to ask you once.”
“Put my sister down, you son-of-a-bitch.”
“Oh, so you’ve met my mom?”
“Don’t be an asshole.”
“Move.”
“Fuck you.”
Ethan’s face hardened. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
The next thing I knew, he repositioned me over his shoulder, slammed Nathan against the wall like a football, and then took off out of the cabin with me as his captive, once again.
Chapter Twenty-two
“Nikki,” murmured Ethan.
We were in a small cabin, nestled somewhere deep in the woods. I had no idea where we were, exactly, but it appeared to be falling apart and pretty much abandoned. When Ethan noticed me shivering, he’d started a warm fire in the small fireplace.
“Nikki,” he repeated, stepping away from fire.
“What?” I snapped.
He sighed. “I know you’re angry, but I’m doing this for your own good.”
I crossed my arms under my chest. “I’m not a child, you know. I should be able to make my own decisions instead of being carried around like I’m only two years old.”
He stepped over to where I was sitting, by a small round table pushed into the corner of the room. He knelt down next to me and took my hand. “You’re not a child, but you need protection. Quit begin so petulant.”
I snatched my hand back. “Quit kidnapping me.”
His eyes lit up. “Secretly, I think you enjoy it.”
I raised my chin. “You’re obviously wrong.”
He touched my neck. “Oh, I don’t know…your pulse is racing.”
I glared at him. “That’s because I want to murder you right now.”
“Liar,” he whispered. Then, he lifted me up from the chair, grabbed the back of my neck, and pulled my mouth to his.
“Mm…no…” I murmured, pushing against his chest. When that didn’t work, I locked my lips together until he pulled away, an amused expression on his face.