Page 5 of Finding His Way (The Protetors #5)

T he door flew open and all those in the room jumped, other than the shifter crouched before her. She didn’t take her gaze from the shifter before her, he was the dangerous one in the room. It didn’t matter that his hand remained around her neck, she would watch him out of all the men in the room regardless.

“You’re not scared.”

“Not true. I’m the most scared I’ve been in my life.” She blinked, thanking her lucky stars when he loosened the hold on her neck.

“You don’t smell scared.”

An unamused snort was pulled from her. He lifted an eyebrow. And released his hold on her neck.

“I’ve been held captive, had a bucket of cold water tossed at me for cleaning, I think what your smelling is nasty funk that trumps the fear stench.”

The man before her stiffened before his eyes glinted dangerously.

“Who?” he growled without taking his gaze from her.

Instinctively, Dianna knew that single word question wasn’t for her. He’d used his super shifter hearing to those talking across the room and whatever he’d heard, man was less than pleased. It took every ounce of her ability to remain impassive. Hell, honestly, she wasn’t sure she’d managed, maybe on the outside but he for sure could scent it on her.

Ivan turned toward them, his face overflowing with cockiness. “I said we heard twins were in town.”

A muscle flexed in jaw, but he didn’t turn toward Ivan.

Ivan continued with his sneered words. “My men will take care of them. Never knew why you were so scared of them.”

She couldn’t help it, Dianna barked out laughter. Instantly, Ivan scowled and stomped in her direction.

“You think something is fucking funny, bitch? I’m going to kill you but I can make it last a long time.”

“I’m dead anyway. And yes, I think you assuming this man is scared of anything is fucking hilarious.”

Ivan’s pale face turned mottled as his anger increased. Meaty hands fisted and he stepped closer.

“Stop.”

The predator crouched before her continued to watch her but again, he spoke to someone other than her.

“You don’t touch her. I want to keep this one.” He reached out one more time and dragged a finger down the side of her face and along her carotid.

Yeah, I didn’t miss understand that was a claw against my skin.

The man had incredible control over his animal if he could call forth one single claw and not change in any other fashion. An arrogant, sinister curl of one half of his mouth didn’t set her at ease.

“You and I will see each other again, Dianna Levitt.” His eyes hadn’t softened one bit. “And you will be in this condition, or better because if you aren’t, someone’s entrails will be food for the local wildlife.”

He pivoted on the heels of his heavy boots and strode off, not making a sound over the floor.

“Fucking bitch.” Ivan spat on her.

Dianna didn’t move. “Who was that?”

Ivan didn’t answer her right away, his gaze trailed back to the door. Almost like he needed to make sure the other man had left the room. She couldn’t even say building as she was stuck in a cave somewhere.

Warm. I’m warm and in cleanish clothing. I’ll take it.

His eyes snapped back to her and it hits her, before he can hide it, there was fear she spied in his gaze.

“You’re scared of him, Ivan. Whoever that man is, he fucking terrifies you.” Arrogance leeched into her tone. It wasn’t planned but damn it, she was a cop and knew how to push a witness, knew how to recognize weakness and utilize it to her advantage.

“Shut the fuck up, bitch,” he hissed, stepping in close and kicking her upper thigh.

Swallowing back her whimper of pain, she held his gaze. His eyes darted around the room before landing back on her face.

“He said I shouldn’t touch you but what he doesn’t know won’t hurt him.”

Dianna stretched her neck, popping it on the right side before sighing heavily. “If you think he won’t know, do your worst.” She rolled her shoulders. “That man will definitely know if you lay so much as a finger on me.” A chuckle. “But you know that. You know what he is.”

Yep, more of that fear snaked through his expression.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

She shrugged. “Okay.” It took a bit as her limbs were still stiff and she could use about a week of uninterrupted sleep but she used the side of the cave to assist her up on her feet so she could look this man in the eye on a more level field. “Do your worst.”

He muttered something in a language she didn’t understand and lifted a fist. Dianna didn’t flinch. She jutted her chin at him, waiting for the strike.

Dumb?

Probably.

But the one thing she wasn’t about to do was cower before a spineless bastard of a kidnapper.

“He’s going to fuck you before he kills you. I’m going to enjoy watching your blood drain from your lifeless body.”

Narrowing her gaze, she smirked. “Yet, you still won’t be able to touch me. Doesn’t matter how many times he fucks me, you’ll never get to.”

His low roar of rage exploded between them and she braced for impact. He swung and his hand stopped barely a millimeter in front of punching her directly in the eye. Skin flushed red with his anger and fury pulsed off him in waves. Still, she stood, not moving, not blinking. Refusing to give this man a damn thing.

“Ivan.”

A warning from across the cave. One the man heeded. Leaving after lobbing another wad of spit on her face, he spun around and stalked off. The other men in the room watched her but none approached.

Wiping her face off on her shoulder, she took a deep breath and centered herself. Was she in the clear? Not even close however, she had managed to put off her death by a few hours.

I hope.

And every second she remained alive, was another second she had at a chance of escaping. Whomever these twins were, they scared these people gathered. She walked along the wall she had been by, not making any attempt to head for the door leading out into whatever waited for her there. At first, the others tensed but still, didn’t approach or attempt to stop her.

She wasn’t pushing them. She knew her reprieve wasn’t infinite, but it felt good to move and loosen up limbs, not move merely to keep from freezing.

Food and drink would be nice. Indoor plumbing. A bed with actual sheets and blankets. You know what, that’s not necessary, just a mattress that’s not stuffed with old, moldy hay.

The warmth seeped into her bones and it wasn’t easy for her to fight it off any longer. Retaking her seat, she stretched out her legs and allowed her eyes to close, giving in to the exhaustion.

Screams woke her. Blurry eyes blinked rapidly as she lurched to her feet, completely unsure of what was coming. The bindings on her wrists were still tight and tingles shot up through her arms as she wove on unsteady legs.

Still, a win over previous situation as she remained warm and had managed to get some relatively decent sleep. Was it because another man threatened to kill the others if they touched her before he could hurt her in his way? Sure, but a woman had to use whatever advantage she could.

And she had.

None of which helped her now. Men lay on the floor of the cave, she saw their lifeless bodies in the flickering glow from the fire that had died down but continued emitting heat. A badge for years, she knew a dead body when she saw them.

The door no longer hung and outside was nothing but darkness. Before she thought it through, she inched that way, desperate for freedom.

A man’s head rolled in the doorway and she paused. Perhaps that way wasn’t the best for her after all. Against the other wall, a man had Ivan pressed up in such a manner the man’s feet didn’t even touch the hard stone of the floor.

Whatever was being said between them, she couldn’t hear. It didn’t matter, she had no doubt the end result was going to be Ivan dead and her along with him if she didn’t get a move on. There was no choice, she had to make a run for it.

Wearing slightly warmer clothing then before, shoes, sure her hands were still bound but she could work with that.

Another look to the bodiless head that she would have to go by, she swallowed once and moved.

“Don’t you dare.”

A deep rumble came from across the room. Like the nameless stranger, his voice also did something to parts of her that needed to shut the fuck up at the moment. More important things that having certain itches, scratched.

At least she thought it was from over there but who, she didn’t know. The one holding up Ivan didn’t even glance in her direction.

No way someone is talking to me.

She kept moving.

“Fucking hell, woman. Don’t you make me tell you again. Stay put. And I swear to whatever God you pray to, you make me chase you out into the cold and I will leave my mark all over that sweet ass of yours.” Words were drenched in forced restraint as they fell from his mouth to her ears.

Ivan crumpled to the floor and the broad shouldered man turned. It may have been a few months since she’d seen him, but she’d never forget him. Shaggy hair which she knew in the right light would showcase as dirty blond, hung loose around his face, hiding part of his expression. Sharp, angled features that had him come off as even more dangerous than she knew him to be. Totally kissable lips tilted down in a scowl, powerful arms flexing as he braced strong hands on lean hips.

Her one night stand of epic sex that she still got herself off to the memory of when she needed relief, which thanks to him opening her mind to such amazing sex was pretty much daily. At least before she’d been taken.

Loner.

Search and Rescue operator.

Friend…sort of…acquaintance might be a better word.

Sexual god. Something she knew from experience.

Leopard shifter.

Jeremy Ruscino.