Page 59 of Forbidden Empire

“We don’t have time for this,” I hissed, but my hands shook, betraying me. “I just saved your fucking empire, but you’ll never?—”

His hand clamped around my arm, brutal and uncompromising, dragging me into his orbit. The heat rolling off him was dizzying, intoxicating, tinged with whiskey and sharp mint.

“I knew I shouldn’t have fucking trusted you.” The words came low and rough, scraped raw from his throat.

I jerked in his grip. “You don’t understand?—”

He leaned in, lips curling just enough to reveal teeth. “I let you go.” He tugged me closer, inches from my face. “And now you’re here, feeding intel to my enemy?”

Something inside me broke.

I shoved him hard, catching him off guard so he staggered a step.

“I would never work for her!” The shout scorched my throat. “You’re a goddamned fool if that’s what you think!”

Behind me, the computer chimed. Done. Heart hammering, I snatched the USB free and shoved it deep into my pocket.

“We need to leave, Aidon. Now!”

The first gunshot shattered the air, exploding concrete from the doorframe.

“Fuck!” Aidon ducked, his arm reaching for me, but I was already lunging for the exit, adrenaline burning through me.

I risked a glance over my shoulder. It was a mistake. Arms like iron bands seized me around the waist, hauling me off my feet.

Hot breath ghosted against my neck as I thrashed, clawing at the vice crushing my ribs, panic turning my vision white at the edges.

My body jerked like a live wire as iron fingers dug into my skin.

Instinct took over. First, I thrashed, and next, I snapped my head down, teeth sinking through fabric, through flesh, until I knew I’d pierced through skin and drawn blood.

"You fucking bitch!" The man's roar rattled my ear, his fist slamming into my ribs.

Something cracked. White-hot pain flared, ripping away my breath.

Concrete slammed against my cheek, grit grinding into my skin. I gasped and clawed for air that just wouldn't come.

Everything seized inside me.

"ESME! NO!" Aidon's shout tore through the chaos, raw and desperate.

Boots thundered around us, black tactical gear surging from every shadow. Two men wrestled Aidon back, straining to hold him.

His face twisted, something wild in his eyes, a terror I'd never seen before.

The wall of men at the doorway split down the center.

Rhea glided in, heels clicking sharp and cold against the concrete. Her suit was midnight-dark, swallowing the light, so her pale face hovered in the gloom like a ghost.

"Well, well, well," Rhea said from across the room, every word sugar-coated poison.

Crimson lips curled as she paced around me, a predator savoring the moment.

"Look who we have here." She knelt, one manicured nail tracing along my jaw, ice trailing in her wake. "Take her away, boys."

Hands like steel clamps hooked under my arms, dragging me upright.

A flash of silver at my ankle, then the crinkle of mylar as it cinched tight. The green light on my monitor went out.