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“I’ve never kidnapped anyone before, but yes, I’ve helped other kids. Usually, the system doesn’t fail them the way it failed Max. At first, I couldn’t understand it, but I’m sure it has something to do with his father being the sheriff.”

“He thinks he’s above the law.”

“Isn’t he? Max’s case went to court, but it was thrown out. The sheriffisabove the law.”

“If that’s true, then how are you going to keep the boy safe?” Nina asks.

“I—” I struggle to come up with a plan, but I’ve got nothing. Nina’s right. I can’t do this on my own, but I also can’t risk putting her or Scar in jeopardy for us. “I appreciate everything you’ve done for Max and me, but we’re leaving.”

“The hell you are,” a gruff voice startles me.

Scar moves into view, scowling at me. I should be terrified, but I’m too busy trying not to melt into a puddle of wanton need. He’s even more handsome when he’s angry. There’s something almost feral in his eyes. It makes me want to wrap myself around all that hard, unyielding muscle.

When Nina arches a brow at me, I blush furiously. I’m sure she can see desire written all over my face. It’s embarrassing as hell, but I can’t seem to control myself when I’m around him. He’s like a drug, and I’m dying for a fix.

“My room. Now!” Scar stomps down the hall.

“You heard the man,” Nina says, smirking. She knows I’m in all kinds of trouble and seems to find the whole situation amusing.Unbelievable.

I slowly walk down the hall. I have no idea what I’m in for. Scar’s clearly furious at me. Is it because of the trouble I brought to his doorstep, or does it have something to do with that kiss earlier? I hope it’s related to the cops and not that soul-rending kiss. Either way, I need to make it clear to him that this, whateverthisis, is over and that I’m leaving. I refuse to be why he’s arrested and thrown in jail … or worse.

As I cross the threshold into his room, the expression on his face is murderous. I’m too scared to close the door, so he does it for me. He’s standing so close I can feel his breath on the back of my neck. I tense, waiting for him to put his big, scary, sexy-as-hell hands around my throat. He could strangle me for bringing the law to his house, and no one would ever know it because nobody knows I’m here. The thought should scare the shit out of me, but instead, it excites me. I want his rough, dangerous hands all over my body. I need him to punish me for being bad and breaking the law. I need him inside me, plunging into my hot, wet, throbbing pussy until I’m screaming his name.

By the time he tears his gaze away from mine, I’m trembling with desire. There’s something seriously fucked up in my head right now. All I can think about are all the dirty, wild, terrible things I want him to do to me on that bed. I should be telling him that I’m leaving. Instead, I’m fantasizing about all the ways he could punish me if I stayed.

Chapter 9: Scar

The depravity of her fantasy catches me off guard. She looks so sweet and innocent until I glimpse her plans for the future. Plans that include a whole lot of naked flesh and very little space between us. I could get into that if I weren’t so fucking furious right now. What the hell was she going on about in the kitchen? Does she actually think she can leave me? I mean, leave us—Nina and the club and me. We’re willing to put our necks out for her, and this is the gratitude we get. What the fuck?

“You’re not leaving,” I growl.

“Scar, I have to. I can’t let you risk your life and your safety. You and Nina have been so kind to us. Staying isn’t the right thing to do.”

“Kind?” I smirk because last night I was anything but that. Violent?Definitely.Rabid?Hell yeah.But kind?Not a chance.

“You know what I mean.” Her cheeks turn scarlet, making her even more beautiful and irresistible. Tossing her down on the bed is one way I could keep her here. I’d make sure she came so hard she wouldn’t dream of leaving me. I mean, us.Fuck.

She takes a step back. “Scar, you’re … don’t look at me like that.”

“Like what?” I back her into a corner and brace my hands on either side of her gorgeous face. I lean in slowly, fighting the urge to kiss her. She’s so submissive and vulnerable right now that the desire to drag her off to bed nearly overwhelms me. I want to consume every inch of her. I want to own her delicious little body and do filthy things to it.

“I appreciate everything you’ve done for Max and me.” She slips under my arm and scurries toward the door. “But we can’t stay. The sheriff won’t give up so easily. I see it in his eyes. If he realizes Max is here, he’s going to tear this place apart looking for him. I can’t do that to you or Nina.”

I push off the wall and turn around, leaning my back against it and studying her. She’s not bluffing. She wants to leave, but I can’t let her go. Not only is she totally ill-equipped to deal with someone like the sheriff, but she’s tempting as hell, and I’m not ready to set her free. I want her in my bed. I want her moaning and crying out my name. I want her on her knees with her face smashed into the pillow while I take her from behind—but I’m not a fucking savage. It’s taking every last ounce of self-control to stay on this side of the room, but I’m managing it. So far.

“Have you tried calling his mom today?” I ask, trying to ignore how her breasts press against that sinfully sexy shirt. Her chestnut hair is piled high on her head in another disheveled bun, just waiting for me to run my fingers through it. I want to mess it up so badly, but touching her would be a huge mistake. I hurt her last night. Hell, I almost strangled her to death. I need to keep my hands to myself. Maybe running away is exactly what she needs to do.

“She’s still not answering,” Julia says.

It takes me a second to remember who she’s talking about. Max’s mom.Jesus, focus!“Do you have any idea where she’s staying?”

“No.”

“Maybe Max knows.” I need to get the hell out of my bedroom before I throw her down and fuck her brains out. I leave before she can protest. She’ll be much safer when there are other people around. I’ll be much less likely to bend her ass over the couch if there are witnesses. And I’d never do something so filthy in front of a kid. I’m not that depraved.

Max looks up from where he’s sitting on the floor in front of the TV. His eyes brighten, and he jumps up. “Scar! My dad tried to get me. Nina took us to her hide-and-seek room with all the TVs. He didn’t find me.”

“Good.” I tousle his hair. “He’s not going to get his hands on you again. We’ve been trying to call your mom, but we haven’t been able to get a hold of her yet. Do you know if your mom was going to France to see anyone? Do you remember any names?”