Page 105 of Claim Me

“There was an explosion. I don’t know, but you’re safe with me. You’ll always be safe with me.” His face was suddenly closer, his hot breath cascading across my skin.

Something was wrong. Very wrong. Was that a Russian accent?

“No. This isn’t… Where are you taking me?” As he jerked me in the opposite direction, I tried to pull away, but I felt so sick. My God. I couldn’t see anything clearly.

“You’re coming with me. I told you. I’ll take you to safety. Don’t fight me, Marissa. That won’t bode well.”

There was something wrong. Something was very wrong. Fuck. Fuck. “No. Someone is coming for me.”

“You’re right where you need to be.”

His words echoed, the tone different.

Menacing.

“No,” I struggled to say, but my entire head was fuzzy, my words were… slurred. “No!” I pushed hard, managing to break the connection as a rush of people flew by. Survival instinct kicked in and I spun around, tripping as soon as I did. Even before I was pitched forward, a strong arm caught me, yanking me backward by several feet.

“You’re coming with me,” Joseph growled. “If you scream, I’ll be forced to hurt you. Trust me, you won’t like what I’ll do.”

Hurt. Was he kidding me? I bucked hard, flailing to try to get anyone’s attention. They were all too terrified, racing for safety and ignoring my plea. Maybe I wasn’t making a sound. I could barely see anything in front of me.

“Help! Someone… help me.”

A hand was wrapped around my throat, fingers squeezing until I couldn’t breathe.

“Enough.”

I was being pulled away from the others. No one had heard me.

“Help!” The lights continued to dim, my arms refusing to cooperate.

“Marissa.” Teresa’s voice somehow managed to pound into my ears. “What are you doing? Let her go. What the fuck are you doing?”

“Bitch,” he growled.

Wham.

I heard a terrible sound clearly seconds before a sharp scream. He’d hit her. She was down. I was lost.

No one was coming to help me.

As shadows pushed across my periphery of vision, I sensed I was losing the fight. Unable to move, I finally lolled my head and allowed the darkness to take me.

Just as I slipped into a sweet abyss, I envisioned Kazmir’s face. He would find me. He’d save me.

He’d…

Kazimir

“Get the fuck out of my way,” I yelled as I shoved through the throng of guests trying to escape. Smoke filled the air, but I knew the stench. Smoke bombs had been used to terrify the guests. Chaos had ensued, people trying to flee.

There’d been at least two real explosions, enough firepower to augment the terrifying situation.

The motherfuckers had created decoys, inducing panic. And I knew why.

I jumped over people, shoving some aside as I made my way toward the back. My brothers were right behind, the three soldiers told to sweep the area with everyone else. I had to get to her. Marissa was in grave danger.

Why hadn’t I listened to my instinct? Why had I allowed her to come here? What the fuck was wrong with me?