Page 27 of Coercion

“Not a good start.” Nico comments, folding his arms, fixing me with one of those looks that would quell an ordinary man.

“Little ole wifey has run away….” Blaine taunts and Nico smacks him over the back of the head.

“That’s my god daughter.” He growls.

Eleri shifts and from the look on her face I can see this isn’t new information to her. What Blaine thinks about it, I don’t know. Nico gets to his feet but, before he can say anything else, my phone rings in my hand once more.

I narrow my eyes at the withheld number. Surely not?

“Are you missing something?” Levi’s less than dulcet tone echoes in my ear.

“You have her?” I reply.

I can practically hear the smirk in his voice. “It’s been less than twenty four hours, I’d say I’m disappointed but I know my niece likes to play hard to get…”

“Is that right?” I snap.

“I’ll send you the address. We’ll have her gift-wrapped for you.” He says.

“No need to do me any favours.”

“I’m not. Besides, we’re family now, aren’t we?” Levi says before hanging up.

“Well?” Nico snaps as soon as I lower my arm, like he doesn’t know what’s going on, like everyone in the damned room isn’t aware that my new bride has already made a bid for freedom.

I stalk out as my anger flares and I slam my fist into the wall just to lose some of the pent up fury.

Why the fuck would she run? I was nice to her, kind even. I didn’t touch her, at least not in any way she didn’t want. I didn’t hurt her. I treated her better than her family have up until now and this is how she behaves?

And how the fuck did Levi even know where to find her? Neither of them have been in this city before, neither of themknow their way around. Have they been watching the house? Waiting in case she pulled a stunt like this?

For fucksake, I thought the girl was broken, I thought the girl was so afraid of her own shadow she wouldn’t even leave her room.

I guess I was wrong there.

Little Ruby Holtz does have a backbone after all.

The addresshe sends turns out to be in the docks.

As I approach the security gates a man waves our SUV through. Evidently, they’ve been primed to anticipate our arrival and they’re all smiling like this is the biggest joke they’ve seen all year.

I get out, slamming the door shut. Ahead, I can see a circle of about twenty men. I can see Levi. And in the midst of them all, is Ruby.

On her knees.

With a darkening mark across her cheek that I know is from being hit.

Her eyes cast up, she meets my gaze for a millisecond before she succumbs to her fear.

“Ruby,” I murmur, like me saying her name might save her from the situation she’s in. Except, she brought this on herself, didn’t she? She was the one who ran when I’d given her the peace and safety of my home. When I’d shown her I could be trusted.

“You should keep a better watch on your wife, Preston,” Levi lectures as he grins at me.

I walk past him without a word, though I suspect that will only piss him off more.

When I’m in front of her I take in the dirty clothing she’s wearing, clothing I don’t recognise. “You look like shit.” I murmur before sniffing hard. “You smell like shit.”

She narrows her eyes at me. “What do you expect?” She half snaps before her face returns back to one of abject fear.