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I kicked, my foot smashing against another attacker, his angry moan followed by a blasting pain, stars exploding in front of my eyes. The asshole had backhanded me. Dropped to the floor, I gasped for air, still trying to fight even though I was completely dazed. Inside my heart was pounding, the deafening sound and rhythm echoing in my ears.

“That’s it.” Another voice. Low and husky, dripping with sexual tension.

When he gripped one leg, yanking, I screamed. “Let go of me!”

“What’s wrong, you little whore? Do you think you’re too good to spread your legs?” His laugh was evil.

I issued a wild punch, somehow managing to connect.

His hiss was followed by another penetrating blow, agony instantly screaming through my head.

“Just wait until I fuck you.”

“I said enough,” another finally growled. “She is not to be injured. Or touched. He wants her to himself.”

There was no accent, his English perfect.

“Do it. Now. We have a schedule to keep.”

His words filtered into my mind just as I felt a prick on my arm. This had been planned. I was being kidnapped. As a strange, warm feeling floated through me, my eyes felt heavy. Fight. I had to keep… “No. No. No!”

CHAPTER 2

One week earlier…

Kage

Shadow Wood Rescue.

Wooden sign. Faded lettering.

The sound coming from inside was horrific.

Woeful.

Painful.

I was keen to any sound, my senses overwhelmed. I yanked the folded piece of paper from the passenger seat, staring at the message for the fifth time.

Kage,

Now that you’re settled into your new home, you need a companion. I know you. You’ll find Shadow Wood Rescue full ofincredible yet broken babies who need love and care. You need to care about someone, even if only a dog.

Henry

I’d found the envelope next to a brown lunch bag with a new dog toy on the kitchen counter of my uncle’s home the first time I’d walked in. That had been maybe a week after his death.

A similar note had been handed to me when I’d arrived in town by the attorney my uncle had hired to handle his estate.

Uncle Henry. A powerful man I’d barely known.

But he’d left me everything. The note had been frank in strongly suggesting I needed a change in venue. From what I remembered, nightmares had turned the former Navy SEAL into a shadow of his previous self.

Just like what I’d been told was happening to me by the professionals. Fuck the experts. What did they know?

The second note had been waiting for me. While I’d glanced in the bag, I’d shoved them both aside without bothering to find out Henry’s intent.

That had been a few weeks before. But I’d laughed the moment I’d finally become curious enough to tear open the envelope.