Page 166 of Carnal Games

A coppery taste floods my mouth and I cough, disgusted. The cut on my lip is stinging while I fight off the man. Ignoring it, I grunt, “Let me go! HELP!” Assuming he’s a petty thief, I yell, “Take my purse!”

“Shut up!” he hisses, voice low and distorted.

“Hel—” An oomph exhales from my mouth as my back smashes against a brick wall, disorienting me. Tears drip down my face as I struggle, thrashing side to side.

The attacker’s large hand wraps around my throat violently, constricting my air. Voice menacing, he taunts, “Told you not to stick your nose where it doesn’t belong.”

Oh my god!

Alarm spreads through my bones as it dawns on me who this person is. Was he following me? I should’ve listened to Kian.

“I know who you’re working for,” he taunts, wrenching a whimper from me by yanking my hair at the roots. “Maybe I should shut you up for good.”

I freeze for a heartbreaking second at the enormity of his threat before the little training Kian taught me kicks in. Letting go of his arm, I jab my finger in his eye and thrust my knee up into his groin. A painful cry escapes his mouth, and his body curls over as he cups his balls.

I don’t stick around and run out of there.

Adrenaline fueling my system, I ignore the throbbing in my head and cut lip and race down the street like a mad person.

The apartment building comes into view. Relief like no other rushes through me, and I sob. Behind me, I hear a speeding car. It swerves into my path, blocking me from dashing to safety.

I stumble backward when an ashen Kian steps out from the driver’s side and sprints toward me. His presence feels like a safety blanket, letting my heart and body know that nobody will harm me as long as he’s here.

His arms catch me as my knees give out.

Chapter Forty-Three

Kian

“You’re safe, rainbow,” I whisper to her, needing to tell both of us. “You’re safe.”

Burying her face against my neck, her arms curl around my shoulders. I kiss her forehead, holding her protectively. Afraid that if I don’t, she’ll slip away.

Fuck! I shouldn’t have left her alone.

“I’m sorry,” she sobs. “I should’ve listened to you. I’m so sorry.”

“Shh, it’s okay.” A pang hits my sternum at her broken apology. I should be the one apologizing for breaking my promise of guarding her. “I’m here. I’ll take care of you.”

Low hiccups shake her chest as I rush into the lobby of our building. “Get me a doctor,” I bark at the doorman.

With a nod, he runs to the reception desk, dialing the phone. No point in sending him after the person who assaulted Iris. He’d be long gone.

Punching the button for the elevator, I rock her against my chest while waiting. I step into the car when it arrives.

“Don’t cry, brave girl,” I rasp to Iris. Her pained sobs gut me alive. “Tell me where it hurts.”

She lifts her head, staring at me with watery ocean blue eyes. “I fought back. Like you taught me.”

“Good girl,” I murmur, guilt and shame tightening my tone. Her lip is busted, her hair messy, and a hand imprint is forming on her cheek. Rage blinds me, and I grind my teeth. “I thought you were in a cab.”

Glancing away, she answers vulnerably, “I decided to walk the last block.”

I tense.

She notices, grabbing a fistful of my shirt. “I didn’t know he was following me or that he’d attack me outside of work.”

“It wasn’t your fault,” I tell her. I underestimated the danger surrounding her. I need to talk to Zenith after Iris describes the assaulter.